"Job-Hopping" is becoming an inevitable trend in today's labor environment, and this phenomenon is more common among "Millennials or Gen Z employees" than it was among previous generations, with their desire to find a better working environment, higher salaries, and bonuses.So, the question raised is, Is "job hopping" good or bad? What needs to be considered when "job hopping"? Let's break it down with us through the article below. We’ll explore anything you need to know about job hopping. Thus, it will help you determine whether job hopping is worth it for your career or not and when it is the appropriate time to make your move.
If you have been with the company for a while but still can't decide whether to switch jobs. The signs below will help you make a more objective decision for yourself.
After making the decision to go job-hop, the next thing you need to consider is how to do job-hop gracefully. This might sound simple, but it is extremely important. Job hopping isn't as easy as just submitting a resignation letter and quietly leaving. Tactful behavior will always help you leave a good impression on the old company and future employers. You need to quit in a professional manner so that when you leave, you leave a good impression on your old boss and colleagues. Who knows, you might run into them again in the future, and it would be nice if both parties could feel happy and comfortable. Therefore, quitting is also an art that needs to be learned.
Job-hopping is a difficult track to pursue, although it eventually leads to success. When done correctly, job-hopping leads to a diverse line of advancement that is filled with experiences, abilities, and a large number of contacts. Nonetheless, this approach is not suitable for everyone. This is a draining process that requires a considerable degree of flexibility, excellent connections, and a proclivity for risk.So, is job-hopping the right move for you? Only you can answer that. While job hopping may not be the right choice for everyone, it can be a valuable tool for individuals looking to build their skills, increase their earning potential, and expand their professional network. Reflect on your career goals, weigh the potential pros and cons, and make a choice that feels right for you. After all, everyone’s career pathway is special, and there is no universal rule for success. Whether your goal is to stay with one company for many years or search for new opportunities by frequently changing jobs, you must always look for ways to get closer to your personal and professional objectives. The decision to job hop should depend on your career goals, industry norms, and circumstances.Remember, "the grass may seem greener on the other side", but it’s only greener where you water it. Whether you decide to job-hop or leapfrog, let your career development always be underpinned by passion, zeal, and determination. The reality is a successful career has nothing to do with the number of jobs but with the values you expound and relate to your inner self and work on it.
Table of Contents
- What Is Job Hopping?
- Is Job Hopping a Bad Thing?
- Pros and Cons of Job-Hopping
- When Should You Consider Changing Jobs?
- The Art of Tactful Job Hopping
- In A Nutshell
What Is Job Hopping?
Job hopping is simply understood as when an employee continuously changes from their current job to another job within a short amount of time, typically within two to three years at each company. This arises from the desire to gain a more suitable value for oneself that the old job could not meet. This value can be material, such as salary, benefits, bonuses, or other spiritual values, such as a comfortable working environment and fewer constraints, or new opportunities to learn, promotion, as well as new experiences...Previously, it was more common for individuals to stay with one company for a significant portion of their career. However, job hopping has become increasingly prevalent in the workforce, especially among younger workers who are generally young and have digital profiles. This trend has become more accepted in recent years.For whatever reason, job hopping remains an issue for human resource management, as constant employees are needed to sustain the ongoing functioning of a business. As for the employer, his/her attitude is generally negative, and wonders what that prospective employee’s tendency is – whether he/she is a one-man band, a team player, uncommitted, overly committed, loyal, too loyal, readily adaptable to a new environment, or unreliable. If that employer hires his/her prospective candidate, wouldn’t he/she like to know? The employer is looking for employees to commit to the firm with an idea to last at least 3-5 years.What does this mean? If you are someone who likes to job-hop or is forced to do so, then before deciding to make a change on your journey, make sure to create a solid professional foundation for yourself. In other words, you need to be flexible.What Drives Job Hopping?
The intention to change jobs usually stems from two types of motivations: Active job hopping and Passive job hopping.Active Job Hopping
This is when workers are dissatisfied with their current jobs. It is possible that their relationship with bosses, colleagues, working environment, and salary are no longer their desires’ way… People in this group are usually very determined to make the decision on their own to do something incredibly reckless very quickly.Passive Job Hopping
In this case, when workers are still satisfied with their current jobs but want to find new challenges and a new pleasant environment. They simply think that trying to change it into something new from time to time might result in better after their experience and leveling up skills.Is Job Hopping a Bad Thing?
Every coin has two sides, and so does “job hopping”. There is no standard measure to accurately assess whether "job hopping" is good or bad; it largely depends on each individual's choices and considerations of "gain AND loss".The answer to this question depends on how you look at it and also on your own journey. Each work environment will have its own difficulties and challenges, helping you refine your effective soft skills as well as expand work and social relationships.Not all job changes stem from contradictions or negatives in the work environment, but sometimes just because you feel "enough". You should be questioning yourself: "Can this environment still offer you more development and promotion opportunities? Does your job still stimulate your interest? What other skills can you learn while working here? Continuously ponder these questions, and you will know whether you need to explore a more novel and to entice the "Promised Land".However, " too much job hopping is clearly not a good thing". If you're a young person, you might consider changing jobs after more than 2 years of work or after 3 - 4 years if you have more experience. Changing jobs too frequently will certainly have disadvantages for your career development and can easily make you lose points and less appealing to recruiters when applying for a new one.Pros of Job-Hopping
Improved Communication and Mental Flexibility
The very nature of job jumping forces the hoppers to adapt at a rapid pace and mold themselves to new teams and work environments. Here, what the job-hoppers learn is soft skills, as these skills develop over a period of time. It can include skills such as effective communication, teamwork, and flexibility.Working with various kinds of people can help in developing the skills for effective communication and solving conflicts by accepting people and developing relationships. These soft skills play an important role nowadays in the job market where the job market is full of uncertainties. So, developing soft skills can amp up their chances of jumping to better jobs in the future.Difference of Experience
People who frequently change jobs have exposure to a wide variety of work environments and issues. Thus besides adapting themselves better to change, such people often know of more areas of work beyond it. Experience-based knowledge gives an individual the ability to look at any problem from a different perspective.Self-Understanding and Career Definition
Changing careers often fuels self-evaluation; the hopper can establish what worked to her advantage, what did not, and what qualities she would put to best use when pinning her findings to a particular profession.The path to a quiet life is known; it will only have a few turns. The exit ramp from that nice quiet job with a steady paycheck is a narrow one to take daringly.Job Satisfaction
Many people switch jobs frequently, not because they hate their work but because they wish to work in an environment that will enable them to develop their careers as they see fit. Indeed, younger employees perform best when faced with constant change and the discovery of new growth opportunities.Expanded Professional Networks
Job hopping provides the opportunity to meet and build relationships with a variety of individuals, from colleagues and partners to potential customers. All of these connections can turn into a multifaceted professional network that can be a great advantage later on in life, offering new opportunities and ideas.Financial Growth
Job hopping can also lead to financial growth. According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center shares that 60% of professionals who changed jobs reported a salary increaseSkill Development
Job hopping can serve as a fast track for acquiring a wide array of skills in a relatively short time, especially when you move between different roles and industries. It exposes individuals to different mentors, resources, and operational processes, providing fertile ground for continuous learning and personal growth, which may be valuable in today's rapidly changing job market.Career Advancement
As soon as you leave your workplace, you will find plenty of jobs and organizational culture to explore. While almost every industry requires experience, the experience one could gain from a single company would not be sufficient. Therefore, hopping from one job to another gives new insights into different challenging projects to complete, raises personal and professional growth, and increases the demand for you as a specialist.Improved Negotiation Skills
Job hopping often involves negotiating salary and benefits at each new job, which can enhance negotiation skills. Employees may also gain the opportunity to negotiate for other benefits or perks as an alternative to a higher salary, such as flexible working hours or additional vacation days.Cons of Job-Hopping
Inability to Cultivate Patience
Life is never all rosy; there will be difficult times in everyday life and work, and the reward for those who choose to face them is very valuable.However, in reality, many people lack the patience and endurance to go through difficult stages with the company and always have the perspective that "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence".Leaving a job early can create a habit, making one think that if this place is stressful, then find another place that's easier to breathe. Over time, a personality that likes change and lacks patience forms.This is also one of the reasons why job seekers cannot cultivate patience, easily giving up when facing even the smallest unsatisfactory issues.Potential Employer Doubts
Job hoppers might not be seen as reliable, loyal, or long-term committed, and that may prevent you from getting a job. Having multiple short-term jobs listed in your resume, you rarely get the attention of the recruiter since they think client investment won’t pay off. They are firm in their belief that valuable skills and experience are acquired after years of work at the same workplace. Moreover, job hopping can lead to a worker’s employment history leakage, which is also difficult to explain to potential employers. Such behavior also makes it harder to form relationships and your loyalty to the employer. The recruitment of new employees is very costly, and recruiters want to be confident that they will receive value commensurate with what they spend. Therefore, job-hopping candidates still face a tough battle to gain the trust of cautious potential recruiters. In other words, to get a new job, you need a compelling reason to explain why you job hop and a convincing answer to the question: "What will keep you here for many years to come?"Risk of Being Blacklisted
Expect your professional reputation to be damaged if you leave your job shortly after starting it, especially worse if you haven’t resigned on the best terms. If your former employer is influential within the industry, they might actively harm your reputation, as well as lead to you getting blacklisted easily.Strained mental health
To begin with, constant job hopping can bring you new job anxiety, a phenomenon that further enhances your stress levels to the point of burnout. It takes time for a new employee to get used to different offices, colleagues, and ways of doing things, which can affect your psychological health as well.Continual Need to Prove Yourself
Every time you switch companies, you start from scratch to prove your professional capabilities. Your new colleagues and managers won't have the same understanding of your skills as your previous ones. Your new colleagues and managers won't have the same understanding of your skills as your previous ones, necessitating a fresh round of proving your worth.Limited Benefits
When you change jobs so frequently, you get limited to no benefits. This means that you end up with a gap in your health insurance coverage, retirement benefits, and many other perks you would have accrued had you stayed in a company for a long time. These benefits could be essential for your financial stability and long-term career planning.Cultural Fit Challenges
Adjusting to a new organization’s culture, people, and office settings is another challenge that may be overwhelming due to frequent changes. Frequent job changes may not provide enough time for this adjustment, potentially affecting your work experience negatively.Affects Networking Construction
To develop your career, you must maintain industry relationships to support each other during work and connect for future promotions. However, frequent job hopping makes getting to know and connecting with colleagues around become fleeting. In the professional world, people will not be ready to introduce or bring new opportunities to you when they do not truly understand your abilities and personality.Missed Opportunities for Promotion
Continuing to stay at the old company with certain experience and dedication time will easily help you develop in your career. Business managers will tend to consider promoting internal employees before recruiting external candidates, both saving recruitment costs and increasing the match rate between candidates and jobs. Meanwhile, job hopping makes you face more difficulties and challenges, even including starting from zero.Wasting Your Own Time
You may find it challenging to learn about your specialty and understand your role if you frequently change jobs. Each job change can feel like starting from scratch in a new environment with different operating procedures. The process of searching for information, interviewing, and probation takes significant time. By staying at one company, you have the opportunity to experience multiple projects and become an indispensable employee. Typically, a new employee needs at least six months to become fully familiar and proficient in their role. Therefore, even if you can apply knowledge from your previous job to your current role, will it still be relevant in a different work culture after changing jobs?When Should You Consider Changing Jobs?
1. New Plans and Directions are Ready
It's fortunate if your career goals align with the company you are currently working at and for the future. However, when you begin to ask yourself: “What will my future be in 2-3 years here?” you’re not yet certain about the answer. Do you have the strength to keep going, or do you prefer to quit that path in the company’s history for the time being? As soon as the company stops providing you with the opportunity to improve or a development and promotion path in the company, you know that it is precisely the best moment to leave and find a new job.Time changes, and people develop each day. The undeniable truth is that no one works at the same job, position, or company forever. Therefore, if your current job does not match your future roadmap, don't hesitate to change jobs.Moreover, this is the least questioned reason, as not all employers want to dig too deep into someone else's personal plans. Or perhaps, when you share this reason with your current manager, they will try to accommodate you and keep you at the company.2. When the Salary No Longer Corresponds to Your Abilities
When you suddenly realize that your current salary no longer corresponds to what you put in, you will gradually lose the motivation to work, and from there, you can easily give up your current job. Therefore, you need always to monitor the salary and benefits that employees of similar positions receive in the market. If you are being paid too low compared to the common ground, that is a sign that you should change jobs immediately. To look up the average salary in the market in the industry you are pursuing, you can use reliable data from reputable job search sites such as Payscale or advice from HR companies to make a decision. From there, you can confidently negotiate a deserving salary for yourself. At this point, "Job hopping" and finding a new place is a way for you to regain motivation through the appropriate wages you receive.3. You are Not Highly Valued in Your Job
In Maslow's hierarchy of needs, "recognition" is the highest need of humans. If your boss does not acknowledge your abilities, or you feel that this position is no longer worth the effort and talent you put in, then looking for a new job is completely reasonable. As only when your abilities are recognized by others can you gain more confidence and enthusiasm to contribute to it. Conversely, when you feel that you are losing high evaluations in the business, looking for a new job at this time is completely reasonable.4. Work Environment and Office Relationships Issues
Apart from internal reasons, you can completely switch jobs for external reasons. You are professional, excellent, proactive, and sociable. But everything does not go the way you want.Firstly, it is the relationship with the leader. The boss is the person who can influence your decision the most; a troubled relationship with the boss is the main reason why people want to find a new job. Therefore, ask yourself if the problem lies with the leader, whether they care about your rights, listen to you, and empower you or not.In addition, living in a communal environment, you need to maintain harmony and have a good relationship with everyone. If the work environment is unprofessional and toxic, then for your comfort and freedom to develop your career, it is something you should do now. You are not a quitter; in fact, you have been very persistent, professional, and loyal over a period of time. But complications in relationships with your boss and colleagues make you feel tired, discouraged, and lose the joy of working here. You feel lost and feel that you are not treated with respect. Therefore, let yourself find happier and more suitable new destinations and make a new change in your career.5. You are Confident in Your Abilities
After a period of hard work and achieving certain personal accomplishments, everything seems to be going smoothly, and you have dedicated everything you could to the company. If you feel that there is not much new to learn and you want to explore a new landscape, then it's time for you to confidently change jobs and seek a better offer in the market. This new opportunity allows you to bring value and help solve problems for the new company. Besides helping you avoid stagnation or impending dissatisfaction at your current job, a new job that brings inspiration is a truly necessary decision for you at this moment.6. When You Feel "Burn Out"
The term “burnout” has become quite familiar to everyone. It's a term used to describe someone who has worked so much that they no longer have enough physical and mental energy. You feel tired and completely "exhausted" with work. This is also one of the reasons you should consider your current job.Sometimes, it’s not about opportunities or salary increases. Sometimes, it’s a personal matter – like a new job giving you more flexi time to spend with family or being a lot closer to home. Your current role might not be able to offer all of these to you, which is why you should seek another that will give you these things if it makes working life more meaningful and fulfilling.The Art of Tactful Job Hopping
Keep Your Dissatisfaction with The Company to Yourself
Regardless of whether you're leaving due to low pay, an unfavorable work environment, or feeling disillusioned with your job, when job hopping, don't voice your dissatisfaction to colleagues or management. This creates negative emotions for those left behind and makes them think poorly of you. Hence, just keeping quiet about issues you're not satisfied with during the quitting process will make people remember you more fondly.When interviewing for a new job, if the recruiter asks you why you left the old company, instead of badmouthing, try to show tact and use euphemisms. For example, if you quit because of low pay, tell the recruiter that you're looking for higher career advancement opportunities and want to find a more self-developing environment. Or if you quit due to conflict with management or colleagues, you should say that you and your superiors and colleagues have different development directions... In this way, you will easily win the recruiter's favor and be highly evaluated by the recruiter.Provide a Persuasive Reason for Leaving
Words don't cost money, so you can also carefully choose suitable reasons that sound appropriate. A convincing reason to quit will make your resignation letter easily accepted by your superiors and create a more comfortable feeling. What is a convincing reason to job hop? Find the softest, most convincing reason to present to your manager or confide in your colleagues. There are quite a few reasons to choose from, such as wanting to take a rest for a while, wanting to switch to working closer to home and more convenient for commuting, wanting to look for a more leisurely job to have time to take care of the family,... Try to give a reason that least touches on salary and working environment.Remain Professional Until the Very Last Day
You might think that since you're about to quit, you don't need to stick to the exact hours and don't have to complete work according to the schedule... However, this is extremely bad and tarnishes your image in the eyes of colleagues and superiors. In the future, if your new employer seeks information about you from the old company and receives bad feedback, you will easily lose points. Try to maintain a professional attitude until the last moments. Even if you're about to quit, you need to work hard, complete work according to the schedule assigned, and comply with all regulations until the last working day. Do not ever show a casual, careless, irresponsible attitude because you're about to quit. You need to report your work to your superiors and be responsible for handing over your work, books, and documents to the person staying in a complete, enthusiastic way. This not only makes you feel happy, relieved, and light when leaving but also helps your image in the eyes of superiors and colleagues become more beautiful and professional.Finally, update all your new contact addresses and notify customer partners that you will no longer be working at the company. At the same time, when submitting a resignation notice, exchange contact information with your former boss and colleagues to maintain personal and professional relationships in a simple, intimate way.Write a Courteous Farewell Letter
Never leave the company in silence or do not make too much noise. A short letter, a small card, or a little party sent to those left behind will help you leave a good impression on them… It is both a farewell and a polite way for you to show appreciation and respect for those who have collaborated and helped you in the past. Because you would never know that your strong relationship with former colleagues could bring unexpected opportunities in the future.First and last impressions are very important. No matter what job you do or which position you hold, leave professionally and tactfully so that when you are no longer working together, your former superiors and colleagues will always remember and appreciate you. Hopefully, the information above from Rapid Resume has helped you understand what job hopping is and get the smartest way to job hop on your own journey. There is a lot of information about the labour market, recruitment, human resources, and interview tips updated regularly at Rapid Resume as well, so don't miss out on the newsletter!In A Nutshell
