For the generation of our parents, loyalty to their company was paramount. Many started and ended their professional journey with the same organization. Contrast this with the present scenario, where many employees frequently switch between companies. Everybody seems to be on a mission to land their dream job, and oftentimes, they spend a few months in a role only to leave out of frustration due to slow career progress or unmet expectations. While job hopping can have benefits, it’s essential to consider that patience and persistence in a role may provide the requisite skills and experiences for future success.
Job hopping, though enticing at first, may actually jeopardize your career progression. Here are several reasons to contemplate before submitting your two-weeks notice.
Your skill development could suffer. Continually focusing on the next opportunity means you might not be fully invested in your current role, and therefore not fully developing the skills that it could impart. The acquisition and refinement of any skillset require time; at least a year to grasp, and even more to perfect. Continual job changes could lead to gaps in your knowledge and skills, which may not be immediately evident but could become prominent later, possibly alerting future employers.
Job hopping might red-flag your candidacy. Younger generations view it as a means to expedite skills and experience accrual, but more traditional employers might disagree. Interactions with executives of older generations often reveal that a resume demonstrating job hopping could be an instant deterrent. It may invoke hesitation in hiring you as companies might hesitate to invest their resources in training someone who might leave in less than a year. You would regret it if job hopping were to cost you your dream job.
You might price yourself out of the market. For some, job changes are primarily about increasing salary. Continuous wage increases, however, might render you too expensive for potential employers. Companies consider your “cost” when hiring, and though they may occasionally pay a premium for the right candidate, you must guard against pricing yourself out of your job market. This could stall your career or keep you from jobs providing rich experiences, albeit with lower pay.
Your professional network could be compromised. The old saying goes, “It’s not what you know, but who you know”, and this holds true in the job market. While job hopping might seem like it expands your network, it could equally be damaging, potentially leaving you with unfavorable references and diminished connections.
Job hopping might render you easily replaceable. In a market prone to layoffs, job hopping could seem like a reasonable solution. But if you haven’t spent significant time with a company, forming solid relationships might be challenging. Employers might undervalue your contribution and, during layoffs, often show loyalty to long-serving employees. Thus, you might find yourself more expendable if a company must downsize.
It’s undeniable that generations following the baby boomers have faced a challenging job market. Despite graduating with commendable credentials and aspirations to excel, early roles often fell short of matching our skills or adequately supporting us financially. This, coupled with unrealistic experience expectations for entry-level positions, resulted in a generation frequently switching companies, seeking valuable experiences, and roles matching their skills and passions.
Job hopping isn’t always detrimental, but it isn’t a decision to take lightly either. Pause and ponder before you resign. Are you making a helpful move or simply courting future harm? What has been your experience with job hopping? Has it been beneficial to you?
