Job hopping is often seen as a bad thing, even though it's becoming increasingly common and a vast portion of the modern-day workforce does it. You don't have to work at the same company forever in order to experience healthy career development; in fact, some people find that jumping around helps them grow (both in their professional and personal lives).
On a related note, a change in career path or profession, or even a decision to pursue education on something new doesn't mean you're a failure or can't succeed! It just means that you're still figuring things out, trying new things, while building on the experiences you’ve accumulated so far —and who knows when or how they'll change your life for the better?
Job hopping may be more common than you think.
First, let’s get over the stigma of job hopping being undesirable/frowned upon. According to a recent North American study, about 40% of workers have changed jobs in 2022. On paper, there are always tactics to frame the professional experiences on your Resume such that your best qualities are highlighted to each prospective employer – so don’t worry about how job hopping might make you look bad on your Resume.
With that being said, it’s advisable to proceed with caution - while job hopping can often lead to better opportunities, it can also be a sign of failure if you're not careful. Some people are constantly looking for something new because they don't want to stay at one place long enough to learn anything valuable or build relationships with their coworkers. Unless you are struggling in a toxic work environment etc, you should always ensure that you have gained a significant volume of transferable skills and added to your professional network/affiliations before considering the next move.
You don't have to work at the same company forever, but it might make sense to stay in the short term while strategizing on the side.
Working for multiple companies can be beneficial because it allows you to gain experience in different fields and industries. You can also learn about yourself as an employee and grow your skillset by learning from other people's mistakes and successes – these experiences are often repetitive if you are stuck in the same department/company.
If you want a career change but are worried about how it will affect your current position, there are ways around this problem:
- Discuss with your manager before making any decisions about leaving so they know what's going on and why it's happening (and hopefully won't hold this against you). They may be able to help find another way for them both parties could benefit from changing roles within the company or even outside of it! Eg. If you are looking to increase your supervisory responsibilities, employers who are serious about retaining you as talent would put in the effort to create those opportunities for you.
- Look into taking courses at local universities or community colleges so that when/if time comes up again where one needs their services I'll already know exactly what kind of job positions are available out there."
A complete career change could be the right choice – better late than never.
This brings us to the next point. Some of you might be thinking about pursuing a different profession or specialty within your field, which isn’t really job hopping per se.
It's normal for people to change careers, jobs, and even industries throughout their working lives. Something might have changed in your life that prompted you to consider a career more appealing or interesting than the last one. Whether it's switching industries or moving on from one role to another at the same company, there are many reasons why someone might decide they need a change of scenery in order to stay engaged with work and happy at home.
Regardless of the number of years you’ve put into your current profession/job, the skill sets built are never wasted even if you shift careers. Find a way to continue growing as a resourceful professional and realize that at least you have the guts to make that move (as opposed to sticking it out in your current state and constantly complaining).
It's okay to not know what comes next.
It's okay if you still have questions about your future, or if it feels like the path ahead is unclear. It's not a failure or a weakness to admit that you're still figuring things out--in fact, it can be an opportunity for growth and development!
As long as we're in this stage of life where we're trying on different hats and learning new skills, it's important not to worry about what other people think of us (yes, even if those people are your bosses). You don't need anyone else's approval or validation; whatever course of action seems right for YOU is the best one for YOU at this time in YOUR life!
Job hopping can be scary, but it's important to remember that everyone goes through this at some point in their career.
You don't have to stay at one company forever and there's no shame in admitting that you're still figuring things out. The most important thing is to listen to your instincts and do what makes sense for you.
If you would like to have a friendly chat about your career, please reach out to us at 204-952-6597 or jonathanseah.87@gmail.com. No strings attached, we just love what we do - offering advice wherever possible and pointing resourceful professionals like yourself in the right direction!
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