Career Resources

Career Resources

Job Hopping: Good or Bad?

Posted August 29, 2013 & filed under Job Search

Job Hopping: Good or Bad?

What is Job Hopping? It can basically be defined as repeatedly leaving jobs after only a year or two. Although it is still typically frowned upon, many employers are coming around and accepting more applicants with the history of “job hopping”. Employers and recruiters are beginning to see that the applicants with decades of work dedicated to one company are slim. Years ago, if employers received a resume for someone who left a company after five years, the resume was almost guaranteed to get thrown out immediately. These days, one job per year isn’t exactly uncommon. Ryan Kahn, career coach and star of MTV’s Hired states, “job hopping is replacing the concept of climbing the corporate ladder.”

Okay, so we are in a new generation where job hopping is more common than not, but how do we get away with it? Some employers might see the point, but others not at all. Therefore, we have to wonder- what makes job hopping acceptable? It really depends on the personality of the employer or what they expect out of their candidates; everyone is different. Here are a few reasonable factors employers accept.

Age- If a person has a few jobs on his/her resume within a short period of time, but is younger, employers may look the other way. Typically applicants who aren’t far out of college, or possibly earlier in their career, want to “discover their path”. Employers may consider the person in hopes that their company may be the perfect fit, and that there is a chance he/she would stay with them for a long time.

Goals- If a person has goals that weren’t met with previous companies, and an employer sees that they might have the right answer, they will consider the applicant. It can get frustrating to be working in a position for a year or two with no raise, no recognition, no additional responsibilities, or no opportunities for advancement; some employers may side with the applicant if they feel their company offers the opposite treatment. By explaining your goals to the employer, you should be able to convince them you’re seeking new employment for the right reasons.

Education- Some people have several college degrees. They may have majored and minored in different subjects. They could have different certifications, or even classes they have taken on their own time for their own knowledge. When beginning their college career, people might not be entirely sure what they want to do- so they switch majors. At a later date, they may also go back to school and get an entirely different degree. If you were working in a position that highlighted one of your previous degrees and you decided that career wasn’t right for you, employers may be hesitant, but still interested.

Career Field- There are not many fields where it can be pulled off, but some resumes actually look better if there are a few different employers listed. Technology is a good example. It looks good for IT professionals to have different backgrounds, working environments, and skills on their resume. Some companies cannot provide different skills or opportunities. Many technology professionals will learn all they can from one company and get bored after a while; they want to use all the valuable knowledge they have. Companies might have a decline in business and aren’t getting enough work, so their employees take their talent elsewhere.

Make sure you know the pros and cons of job hopping. Although nowadays employers are more open to applicants with several jobs on their resume, you still need to be prepared to fully explain your reasoning. You don’t want to come off as the typical job hopper who leaves companies for reasons a future employer may think is invalid. Also, be aware that employers will still be hesitant to invest in you. Your job may be less secure, your judgment may be questioned, and the company will fear that you will leave at the first sign of trouble. Keep this in the back of your mind when seeking new employment and be prepared for these issues to come up in discussion if you get an interview.

 

By: Kaitlin Daniel