A survey by global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas seems to echo those sentiments.

"Six months after the attacks, workers are searching for rewards beyond salary," said John Challenger, CEO of the company. "They show a greater desire for jobs that are meaningful and relevant and that fit into their newly rearranged life priorities, and they are willing to take calculated risks, even prolong unemployment, in order to find the ideal situation."

The company reported that the proportion of people switching from one industry to another surged 45 percent, while the number of job seekers winning equivalent or better salaries fell to a 15-year low.

"High-paying professions that were once coveted by job seekers may now lose people to lower paying positions that provide more job security, more flexibility, greater personal or emotional satisfaction and are perceived as making a more meaningful contribution to society," said Challenger.