A lateral move provides the best of both worlds in terms of changing jobs. You preserve your benefits, work environment and relationships with coworkers without the stress of a job search. The most open-minded companies encourage their employees to explore other options in-house before leaving for another company, possibly a competitor. As with any change in your career, you need to do some research first. So while you are considering a lateral move, you need some measurable objectives in order to determine if the move is in your best interest. Here are some questions you can ask yourself: