Recession Fading for O.C. Jobless : Economy: Many of the Newly Hired Are Making Less : Travel Agent: ‘It’s closer to home and money was quite a factor.’

Travel agent Stephanie Pullen had one special reason for changing jobs last week: a big boost in pay.

For people like Pullen, the beginning of the economic recovery has opened doors to advance careers--and salaries.

Pullen, 28, began a job last week as an agent at Corporate Travel Unlimited in Dana Point. By changing jobs, Pullen boosted her salary by 20%--about as much of an increase as she received during five years with her previous employer, Associated Travel Management in Santa Ana.

“It’s closer to home and money was quite a factor,” says Pullen, who lives in Laguna Niguel.

Pullen considers her new job to be the direct result of an improving business climate. “If the economy wasn’t good, they wouldn’t have been able to pay me what they did,” she says.

Pullen didn’t go after a new job; it came to her by way of one of her former managers at Associated Travel, who had earlier left for Corporate Travel. When she asked Pullen to join her at a significant pay increase, Pullen said she could hardly ignore the offer.

Still, Pullen said that it wasn’t an easy decision. She had a long history at Associated Travel, having started out as a part-time receptionist making about $6.50 an hour while she was studying psychology at Cal State Fullerton. She ended her college studies short of a degree and pursued a career as a corporate travel agent.

Pullen liked working for a big travel agency like Associated Travel. “They were able to train me,” she said.

At the same time, Pullen saw only modest incremental increases in her salary. And she knew a quick way to lift her pay was by changing jobs.

At Corporate Travel Unlimited, a smaller agency with 10 employees, Pullen said she also sees the opportunity to become a supervisor or manager in the future as the agency grows. “I think I’ll have a lot of opportunities here.”