Is job hopping really a bad thing?

Planet_Switzerland

I'm not a job hopper myself, I have the opposite problem of working at the same place for too long.


It's often said that job hopping is seen as a bad thing. Whilst it may be a cause for concern when hiring someone, I'm not sure it does someone's career prospects that much harm.


We hired someone who tended to change jobs every year, then 4 months later he handed his notice in with no new job lined up, but by the time he left he had one.


I think most people in my department at work who we've hired in the last 2 years have now left. I know of quite a few people, myself included, who have been there a long time who are looking to leave. The last long term person in my department to leave told me he'd been actively looking to leave for 2 years and was even considering a pay cut because he was so desperate to get out.


That's really the point, people who are job hoppers do so because they keep getting offered the new jobs to hop to.


From an employers perspective it would seem pointless to hire someone, train them up etc only for them to leave shortly afterwards. But a few months back I heard a conversation between 2 senior members of staff about the need for a new hire, but whoever they hire should leave after 2 years because there would be nowhere for them to go after that.

Wyndham

My first 'proper' job lasted 7 years. I've had 12 other jobs since then, and keep getting work. I'm 49, just so you know, so my average (over 27 years) is just over 2 years.

Some of the jobs were contract work - so had an in built end date. This has given me a very different attitude to this compared to most of the population. I know the advantages of going somewhere, gaining really useful experience, then moving on. But also, the fact that the end date is built in is really helpful for my situation. I'm also highly qualified, and can 'sell' my experience at the next job. This is not true of everyone.

And, for my parents generation, the idea of a job for life was true for both the employee and the the employer. I don't think that's the case now.

We're in a changing world (for many, many, many reasons).

[Deleted User]

All depends on the person. You can get to a point where anxiety/lack of confidence sets in where/when/if you end up in the wrong place when you attract the employer who is just recruiting bums on seats.

On the other hand, I've also known it said of long termers not surving anywhere else.

I loved the one employer who ditched the competancy questions and one of their wacky questions was - which job from your CV would you go back to.
(It wasn't the one time 5 year job that could never go anywhere I once held down).

Sadly long rooted job issues aren't easy to solve like if you were having family/relationship/personal problems.

Neil_Jones

The concept of a "job for life" is long gone. You're doing well if you hold down a job for more than about three years. My previous job before what I do now I managed to hold down for effectively 13 years and I've been where I am now for nearly two years, though I'm always open and looking for new opportunities.

I'd say its pretty much the norm to jump between jobs now if you're able to and you're wanted, a string of jobs over a short period on a CV isn't as major an issue as it would have been years ago.

Marcon

The terminology is now 'portfolio career' - sounds so much better than 'job hopper'. Although the meaning is pretty much the same, it's an accurate reflection on how attitudes have changed to match changes in working practices.

The mistake, of course, is to believe that everyone is full of thrusting ambition, which neatly ignores the still-plentiful supply of people who are quite content to have a congenial job which is well within their ability and skill level.

Davy_Jones_II

I spent some years jumping companies every couple Of years, with each job being a step up, but think now that I would have done better staying in place as it’s only once I stopped moving that I was able to move up to senior management,

SensibleSarah

The industry also has a lot to do with it. I work in marketing (agency side at the moment) and agency staff turnover is really high - at all four agencies I've worked at in my 11 years in the industry.
I did 5.5 years at my first place (and was by far one of the most long-serving by the time I left), then my next 2 jobs were just less than a year each, then the current one is just coming up to 4 years.

What works for one person might not for another. A colleague of mine who left the first agency I was at on the same day as me has gone on to have about 8 jobs in the interim, easily less than a year on average - but she's now landed a great management position, partly because of her vast experience in a wide range of settings.

Exodi

Davy_Jones_II wrote: »

I spent some years jumping companies every couple Of years, with each job being a step up, but think now that I would have done better staying in place as it’s only once I stopped moving that I was able to move up to senior management,

Following on from the above, I have managed to 4x my income in less than 5 years almost entirely due to yearly 'job-hopping'. I'm senior management in my existing company on course to being director so will likely stop now but I have no doubt whatsoever that I'd still be earning minimum wage if I stayed in my first job. My friend has done a very similar thing.

I would 100% recommend changing jobs if you have the ambition and confidence to do so. Employers aren't keen to continually promote and pay people more.

kmb500

I have been working for 4 years. I have had 6 jobs and looking for a new job from new year up until summer next year. So this time next year i would be on job #8.

Do whatever makes you happy. If you are not happy in a job, leave it and find another one, at least where I live there are loads of jobs and opportunities as long as you put yourself out there.
I would rather change job than stay somewhere i dont like and get a 5% pay rise for staying there an extra year etc

mimiduck

I've had multiple jobs as well, I think the longest job I have been in is one and a half years. I'm not a perfectionist but i look for a company who value their staff and are able to show this. Job satisfaction I would say is a big part as when you think about it you will spend so much time at work why would you want to work for someone/somewhere where you are not happy. I think where you are located plays a big part if there are other jobs/opportunities as I live in Surrey so there are always companies looking for people and always options.

If you do look for another job I think your personality comes into play as well, I always do say at interviews that I am looking for a long term employment or somewhere where I can settle which is true. it's just very difficult to know how companies work until you actually start and settle down in that company as that is the stage you will know more.

TBagpuss

I think it is one of those things where the answer is "it depends"
It depends on what type of job you are doing and what industry you work in, how long you are staying in jobs before moving on, what stage of your carer you are at, and whether you are never staying in any job long, or whether you have had a few quick moves interspersed with longer periods in one place.

I think it is much less of an issue early in your career when it is fairly common to move around as you develop new skills and need to move because a suitable promotion / advancement isn't available in your existing job.


As an employer, if I see a CV where someone has never stayed anywhere long, it is, if not a red flag, definitely an orange one. Partly because in my field, it is common for people to stay in one place for long periods, personal reputation is important and takes a while to get your name known. Frequent moves can mean that the person isn't able to do the job to the standard expected and are 'jumping before they are pushed', or it can be an indication that they don't / can't deal with the more complex issues and are moving on rather than clearing up those points.

It does depend on whether it is a one-off or a pattern, a single short stint, or a couple of short stays where the person also has longer periods of employment would not raise any concerns, but if there appears to be a lot of job hopping it is definitely going to come up in any interview - so at that point, you have the change to explain the pattern.

And sometimes there are genuine reasons. You may have left one job because you were head-hunted, the next because you found that the hours / travel time were more difficult to manage than expected a third because the company went bust, for instance, but a pattern of short term hops and no explanation may limit your opportunities.

(It does also depend where you worked. Again, we know of one local company which has a huge turnover - they promise candidates one thing then when they arrive, don't deliver, and the pay and working conditions are not good. I wouldn't be remotely concerned to see someone had only stayed a short time with that company because I already know there is a very good reason for it!)