Job hopping has long been considered the ultimate career sin, with countless employers and recruiters citing it as one of the primary reasons candidates get turned down for a job. However, while it may have once been the norm for workers to stay with the same employer for the majority of their career, such loyalty is no longer a realistic option for many.
Julie Bishop, founder of jobhop.co.uk says: “It’s old fashioned to think that you just get a job for life now. These days the focus is on gaining different experiences, developing new skills, being agile and making plenty of contacts along the way. The average life span of a job is just three years. Job-hopping is very much the ‘norm’ – the art is in doing it strategically.”
Here are 5 ways job hopping can boost your career…
Self-discovery & improvement
No two companies operate in the same way and every business has different priorities, morals, and ways of working. As a result, working for a multitude of companies while you’re young can help you learn more about the business world and discover what works for you and what doesn’t. Job hopping can help you discover exactly where your skills lie and which areas you need to improve.
Increase your salary
Job hopping can sometimes make it easier to negotiate a higher salary than you earn at your current job. In most cases, you don’t even have to tell your prospective employer how much you earn. Instead, just tell them how much you want to earn for the role they are offering. Providing you can prove your worth and deliver on you promises, this shouldn’t be a problem.
If you love everything about your current job except for the salary, it’s worth asking for a pay rise rather than looking for a new role. Sure, moving to another company is a great way of boosting your income but is it worth the risk that you won’t enjoy it as much?
Word of warning: If you’re offered a better paid job elsewhere, never use it to try and negotiate a higher salary with your current employer - especially if you enjoy your current role. Your boss might go right ahead and wave you goodbye.
Hone your skills
Switching jobs can enable you to learn new skills and, in turn, increase your value as an employee. Some job hoppers move strategically within the same industry in order to build their knowledge and become more well-rounded.
Koulla Raouna from CareerAddict says: “Job-hopping can be beneficial to your career provided that you do it right and know why you are doing it. Each job change should be carefully planned so that it can meet the short and long-term goals that you have set in your professional journey.
“The key to career success is becoming a lifelong learner. This translates to being curious about things and wanting to pursue knowledge for both personal and professional reasons. Being open to learning is one of the most essential qualities the modern worker needs to possess, in order to survive the ever changing work environment.”
Find job satisfaction
Although it might not be wise to jump ship at the first sign of trouble, there’s no point in sticking around in a job that makes you unhappy. Perhaps your job isn’t challenging enough, you aren’t learning anything new, or you have a horrible boss. If something’s preventing you leaping out of bed in the morning and you can’t find a way to fix the situation, it could be time to leave. Switching jobs can help you determine exactly what you’re looking for in your career and allow you to find job satisfaction.
Build your connections
By working for a number of companies throughout your career rather than sticking with one employer, you can meet more people and build lasting connections with fellow workers. These relationships could prove really valuable in future, whether you’re searching for a new role, trying to find someone to join your team, or looking for help with your own business idea.
