Find out why job hopping has become more prevalent and what to consider before switching jobs. Learn the pros, cons and even how to explain it if you’re asked about it in an interview.
Job hopping—in a nutshell, it’s the practice of changing jobs frequently. In the past, this was usually viewed with suspicion. Today, however, it has become more accepted as a valid career approach.
The days of being in the same job for 30 years are long gone in most industries. Today, changing jobs within a short frame of time is more common and much more acceptable. In some cases, however, employees make a deliberate decision to change jobs on a frequent basis.
In this article, we’ll explain the benefits and downsides of job hopping, how to navigate job hopping for career success and even how to explain job hopping in an interview.
What Is Job Hopping?
What is considered job hopping? Job hopping refers to leaving a position and starting a new one with a different company within a short period of time, usually within one to three years. This is in contrast to the more traditional approach of staying with one company for a longer time period.
In today’s professional spaces, job hopping is seen as more acceptable than it was in the past. As technology has transformed the workplace and people’s professional goals and expectations have shifted, so have employers’ views on what is acceptable on a resume. With employees seeking more flexibility and increased benefits from their jobs, it’s no surprise job hopping is becoming a popular choice.
There are some caveats to the idea of job hopping as a positive approach. For example, you should avoid switching jobs every few months. For most positions, the general rule of thumb is to stay in a position one to three years. For certain higher level positions, that timeframe can be even longer. Staying at a job can help you build skills and expertise. However, it’s important to note that this doesn’t apply to every situation. If you’re in a position where the scope of the role changes, it isn’t the right fit or you’re jeopardizing your health, it might be time to call it quits.
Is Job Hopping Bad? Pros and Cons
Though the traditional stance is changing, many debate the concept of job hopping. While some see it as a smart move, others see it as a red flag on resumes. The fact of the matter is that the impact of job hopping depends on a variety of factors, such as your industry, career stage and personal goals.
Like most other career practices and trends, job hopping has both advantages and disadvantages. It’s important to think about the potential benefits and downsides of seeking new opportunities before deciding whether to leave your job.
The Benefits of Job Hopping
There are several potential benefits to frequently switching jobs. In brief, these include:
- It could help you find the job of your dreams.
- You might make more money.
- You could advance your career more quickly.
- You might have the chance for greater professional satisfaction.
- You could impress future hiring managers.
- You could expand your network.
Let’s explore these advantages in more detail.
1. It Could Potentially Help You Find Your Dream Job
Changing your job frequently could mean you have opportunities to find your perfect career. You can test the waters at different companies and discover exactly what you like and dislike. This means that when you look for your next opportunity, you’ll know exactly what works for you and what doesn’t in terms of job description, office environment and company culture. Just be careful not to overdo it. Too much job switching might stop you from landing that dream job if the recruiter views frequent job hopping as a red flag.
2. You Might Make More Money
Is job hopping to increase your salary possible? In some cases, frequently changing jobs might mean that you’ll be able to increase your salary much faster than you’d be able to if you stayed with one company. That can happen if you find a job with a much higher salary at a new company.
Let’s look at an example. Imagine you make $35,000 in your current job and stay in the same role for five years. You might only have a 3% (or lower) salary increase each year. But if you’re able to find and secure a job that pays $50,000, and then in another couple of years, you move on to one that pays $60,000. That would mean that by job hopping, you’d be making roughly $20,000 more after five years than you would staying in the same position.
3. You Could Advance Your Career More Quickly
Besides salary increases, job hopping has the potential to help you advance your career. It can take longer to climb the ladder within an organization (especially a small one) than it would to advance by working for more than one company. You may be more likely to continue on an upward path if you’re constantly on the lookout for positions that suit your skills, both within and outside of your current workplace.
4. You May Enjoy Greater Professional Satisfaction
Some people are perfectly happy working for the same company for many years. Others will eventually start to feel bored and dissatisfied. Even with regular promotions, working in the same office with the same people year in and year out can become monotonous over time.
On the other hand, workers who switch up their routine every few years have the opportunity to learn new skills, make more contacts and experience a greater sense of fulfillment and accomplishment.
5. It Might Impress Hiring Managers
Believe it or not, hiring managers don’t always frown on a “busy” resume. In some cases, they even turn away from applicants who have been employed by just one company for a long period. It’s because hiring managers might see their experience as more limited or think they’re fearful of change.
Some recruiters worry about the chance that the applicant will have trouble adjusting to new environments and may eventually return to their previous employers. So, as we’ve seen here, having a bit of variety in your resume can show recruiters that you’re flexible and that you’ll enjoy an easy transition to a new position.
6. You Could Grow Your Network
If you stay with the same company for many years, you might find yourself with a stagnant and relatively small network. On the other hand, working for several different companies over the same period of time can mean that you have a much larger professional contact list.
The key to career mobility is to avoid burning any bridges when you move from job to job. Remember, references can be the difference between getting and not getting the job of your dreams.
Related: Reasons Why You Didn’t Get the Job
The Downsides of Job Hopping
For all its potential benefits, there are certainly some possible downsides to frequently changing jobs. These include:
- You’ll have frequent learning curves.
- You might be seen as having a lack of loyalty.
- You may lack stability in terms of benefits.
Let’s dive into a few of these cons of switching jobs.
1. You’ll Frequently Be Learning New Procedures and Company Cultures
Every time you move to a new company, there’s a new company culture that you need to learn. Also, procedures can vary significantly from organization to organization.
2. Some Employers May See Job Hopping as Disloyal
While this is becoming more unusual, there are still employers out there who may frown on job hopping. They may see it as a sign of disloyalty to your employers, or perhaps as a sign that you get bored quickly.
3. Job Benefits Vary From Position to Position
If you have good perks and benefits in your current position, keep that in mind before you consider job hopping. If you leave your current job, you may not get the same benefits that you’ve been counting on in your new role.
Related: How to Mentally Manage Sudden Job Loss
When Job Hopping Makes Sense (and When It Doesn’t)
Whether job hopping makes sense for you depends on several different factors, including your industry, experience and the opportunities available to you. There are certain circumstances in which moving jobs can help you, and others where it’s probably better to stay where you are.
It’s important to think carefully and know the reason why you want to leave your job. Make sure there’s a strong reason to believe that job hopping will bring you positive results for your career.
How to Navigate Job Hopping for Career Success
There are ways that you can strategically job hop to maximize your career growth while minimizing the potential drawbacks. How you time your job changes matters, and it’s also important to maintain strong relationships with the people you have worked with.
Reflect carefully on your motivation when wanting to change jobs. Don’t let boredom be the only reason you want to find a new job. Think long term about your professional goals.
If you can find a way to use job hopping as a tool for professional development, however, you may find that frequently changing jobs could be a method of achieving career success.
How to Explain Job Hopping in an Interview
There’s a chance that you’ll need to explain your career shifts during interview questions for a new role. As there are still some employers who question job hopping, it’s helpful to think about how you’ll talk about it during interviews.
One strategy is to explain your reason for job hopping. It should have a connection to your long-term career goals and plans for professional development. Frame your job hopping in a positive way, showing that it’s intentional and purposeful.
You can also focus on relevant transferable skills that you’ve gained in other positions. This helps highlight your value to a new employer. In addition, you can convey what makes you want to go after the new position. Seeing your passion for the new role could help the hiring managers understand your desire for the career move.
Making Smart Career Moves
It’s key to be strategic when you decide to change jobs. There isn’t anything inherently bad about job hopping. Many hiring managers and employers today don’t see frequent job changes in a negative light. In fact, if you plan your moves strategically and with your career trajectory in mind, job hopping could be a strength.
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