The Upsides and Downsides of Job Hopping: What You Need to Know
Job hopping! One of the most common terms that has acquired attention in the market today. The candidates believe that job hopping would get them several benefits. But there are visible drawbacks as well. Job hopping is the practice of changing multiple jobs in a short span of time.
The word job hopping has no fixed definition. It means when a person has four or more than four jobs in five years. Job hopping has become increasingly popular among millennials.
The reasons for job hopping vary among individuals. It can be anything including wanting a promotion, monetary reasons, flexibility in work, or various other reasons. Precisely, anyone cannot say that these reasons are bad, but you must be aware to navigate the career path in a way that is beneficial.
As per a survey by Talent 500 around 87% of the professionals are seeking a job change and there are numerous reasons, they are hopping from one job to another. The recent job hopping trend has made some of the interviewers uneasy because it makes it difficult for the company to trust the candidate.
The Trend of Job Hopping in Today’s Market
Earlier when the employer saw job hopping as a risk and that the candidate is noncommittal. Job hopping has become a trend as the candidate seeks higher pay and position in the current competitive market. The desire for job hopping can be numerous like stress, career change, health reasons, personal reasons, etc. Moreover, with the different opportunities like remote work and redefined organizational needs sometimes a candidate opts for a job that is not under their control. This also necessitates fast job change.
The recruitment agencies do recognize that there has been a fast job change unlike before. If any candidate has too many positions on the resume the staffing partners still would like to know the reason for a frequent job change. Nonetheless. Job hopping today is more acceptable for the recruiters in the market today. The advantages of job hopping are:
- Increase in salary
Undoubtedly this is one of the primary reasons for the candidates for job hopping. Whenever a candidate changes position it often comes with a salary hike. Many of them prefer changing jobs rather than waiting for a bonus or increment. So, they choose to shift jobs and look for a job with a higher salary.
- Change in location
In the case of job search there are a plethora of reasons for an employee to hop from one job to another. In case an employee wants to relocate but the current organization is unable to provide the options for relocation it leaves no choice but to opt for a job placement services who can bring you closer to the right job. As a candidate if tackling new challenges, exploring opportunities and hoping for a new location appeal to you. You can always contact a staffing agency. These agencies will comprehend your needs and provide you with the company of your choice.
- Expanding professional network
If you work in the same company for a long time, there are chances that you meet a limited number of people. An employee who believes in expanding the professional network prefers job hopping. This expands their horizon of interacting with a wide pool of networks. If you work in different spaces and build strong relationships with multiple colleagues as a professional, you achieve a lot. You can use these connections for a lot of things like improving job prospects and getting career advice. Here are some of the benefits you get by working in different spaces and building relationships:
- Gaining access to knowledge and skills
- Learning from a wider range of people and perspectives
- Build strong relationships with colleagues
Additionally, to the benefits of working in different spaces there are also personal reasons for that may necessitate job hopping. A few reasons include disorganized work, the need to relocate, unprofessional bosses, etc. However frequent job hopping can also impact your career. You can face difficulty in getting a job in the future because employers may see you as a flight risk. Moreover, job hopping can also have negative impacts because then you may not have an opportunity to build a strong network and know people.
Whilst there are visible advantages of job hopping there are disadvantages as well. Contacting a professional partner can help you figure out the differences very well.
- The employers can doubt your loyalty
When any employer looks at resume that has been changing jobs frequently looks unsavory to the recruiters. These candidates are seen as non-committed, unstable, disloyal. They might have left the previous office at the best terms, yet it becomes difficult for the recruiters to trust that candidate. Plus, the employers who work with a traditionalistic mindset become extremely skeptical about selecting those who are job hoppers. These employers live under the impression that an employee who isn’t committed for the long haul isn’t their time and effort.
- Job hopping can weaken you CV
The candidate who switches jobs faces difficulty in showing notable achievements. If remarkable achievements are not boasted on CV, it can make your CV look weak. Hence, in the case of job switches it is extremely crucial to give an appropriate reason of job change in the CV otherwise your application may not be considered in front of the employers.
- Starting new again
Whenever you join any company, you need to get familiarized with the work and environment. This is a time-consuming process which requires patience to get adapted to a new place. Not just this, you will also have to work strenuously to prove your worth and capabilities as one of the latest additions to the organization. All of this has to be started again.
Can Job Hopping Benefit Your Career?
To be precise, while joining a company the intention should be always staying for a longer tenure. However, for some reasons if you plan to change roles after staying two years at your current jobs there are a few techniques:
If employers study your resume and your career story is genuine, they might understand the reason for job hopping that works in the favor of you. Shifting roles is considered fine when you focus more on growing skills. The recruiters sometimes understand that job hopping makes sense like in the case of layoffs or a toxic work environment. But when you show a visible pattern of job hopping it can affect your candidature. Try the maximum to minimize to minimize the employment gaps as the staffing partners will then see you as a valuable candidate.
