Job-hopping. Should you do it or not? To answer, let’s look at a situation.
You’ve landed what you think is an awesome position with a company that seems to be on the cutting edge of technology and innovation. You show up on your first day of work primed to shine and soak up as much knowledge as humanly possible so you can climb the rudders of that career ladder like nobody’s business.
Flash forward in time.
As your first month on the job comes to a close, and the next few months of your career begin to dawn before you, your vibrancy fades because the position and your colleagues are not at all what you expected. Your gut tells you to quit and find something better. Enter the job-hopping dilemma.
What if this isn’t the first time this happened to you? What if this happened several times? Do you continue to quit and find more appropriate work that will keep you energized and fulfilled or do you stick it out and hope for a miracle?
How does job-hopping look to potential employers? What hurts more: to stay, or to seek the right fit?
Let’s take a look at some pros and cons of job-hopping.
PROS of Job-Hopping
Self-discovery offers a chance to find the right fit.
You’ve got one life to live and put forth great efforts that can yield great results. If you free yourself to discover the right environment for you, one day you may find it. If you never try to find it, you won’t.
You’ll develop targeted skills.
Inevitably, by exploring various work environments, you’ll learn new skill sets that can be transferred to different situations. Your range of experience will grow, and you’ll place yourself in a unique position to see the work world through a wider lens. Ultimately, you’ll have more to bring to a future employer’s table.
Access to more information and resources.
The more experiences you gain, the more you’ll grow. Placing yourself in the seat of learning and acquiring news skills grants you access to a lot of information that can be applied across various mediums.
Exposure to different businesses and people.
Shifting your environment keeps you fresh, socially and professionally. You’ll meet new people and potentially develop the necessary communication and interpersonal skills to be successful in a business environment. You’ll gain new perspectives, good and bad, from those with whom you work. You’ll also grow your network and pool of people to contact for specific information in the future.
CONS of Job-Hopping
An employer might view job-hopping as irresponsible.
You run the risk of missed opportunities with potential employers because they may form a negative opinion without ever having a chance to speak with you or see your great potential.
Your skills might be in question.
Employers may view frequent job-hopping as a weakness when it comes to your skills. They may question your ability to get along with others, understand direction, or grasp critical concepts.
Employers will be hesitant to invest in you.
The process of hiring an employee is laborious, especially in large corporations where entire committees are formed to decide on filling a position. Job-hopping may be one of those red flags that employers will automatically apply to a candidate’s resume as a way of cutting the pile down to a manageable pool of applicants.
Employers may not trust your level of commitment.
One too many jobs within a short period may spell trouble to potential employers, eliciting a fear that if they hire you, you may run at the first sign of trouble. They may question if you leave positions rapidly because of an inability to manage stress and outcomes.
Solutions:
Don’t quit right away.
Stay on the job until you find a better fit.
Volunteer
Volunteer in between employment gaps to show you are focused and professional. Volunteering will allow you to build a reputation of being reliable, committed, motivated and willing. Many of the shadows of doubt employers may experience when analyzing job hopping on a resume can be put to rest if volunteerism outshines in the areas that really matter to them. Chances are, you will be applying to positions that interest you and where your skills – earned by volunteering your time and energy — directly match their needs.
Ultimately, the decision you make today will affect your future. By weighing the pros and cons, you’ll be in a better position to decide what is best for you future.
Your Turn:
Have you had to evaluate the pros and cons of job hopping, and how did it turn out for you?
Always in learning mode,
Your friends at ISD Now.
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