Confessions of a job hopper: Was it really worth it?

“Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.”                                                                                        ~ Abraham Lincoln 

 I was recently interviewing a sales guy for a job and found that he had changed 6 jobs in a span of 11 years. As an employer, I was skeptical and spent most of the interview understanding his rationale behind such frequent switches.  

If you were to look at my career trajectory, you would identify me as a “serial job hopper” (Haha!).  

Yes, I changed a lot of jobs.  

However, I advise people, including my sons, not to do it.  

Switching jobs for me was not intentional. But the situations I got into demanded it.

These included: 

• Working in the wrong company 

• Feeling stuck in the organization 

• Strategic changes that could cause problems in the future 

If you have experienced any of these or are struggling to survive, then job hopping seems to be a fair option.  

But Job hopping for the sake of money makes no sense, because you lose more than you gain.  

Job hopping might help you earn 20-30k more per month. But there is a hidden cost involved in changing jobs. You have to put in an extra effort to establish yourself. Right from improving visibility to creating relationships with peers and managers, even with experience, your professional stats is a clean slate.  

A LinkedIn survey in 2024 revealed that almost 37% of hiring managers consider job hopping a red flag. 

Why would a company invest its resources in a candidate who they know is going to leave within a year or two?  

Switching for a few bucks here and there is for a short run.  

Careers and promotions happen in the long run. Organizations like to invest in the growth of employees who stay.  

So, unless you are an employee who has changed too many jobs and managed to create a set of special and unique skills that are difficult to find and replicate, chances are that you won’t be able to build a fulfilling career through job hopping.  

When high performers are loyal to the organization, sooner or later they will definitely be recognized and promoted for their efforts.  

When I was struggling to get hold of my career, my friend advised me to look for: 

• A small but high-growth company in a high-growth industry (better chances of building a career as growth will lead to better positions and roles) 

• A leading company in a high-growth industry (stay for 10-15 years and reach the higher-level management)  

Tips for professionals: 

1. Evaluate and assess your career and its trajectory to make an informed decision 
2. Switch only when the pay is abysmally low and you are struggling to survive  
3. Have a unique set of skills  
4. Know that careers are made in the long run, while job hopping is for short-term gains  

Conclusion:  

Whether job hopping is good or bad depends on an individual’s circumstances. If you have the luxury to go for a high-growth industry and thrive, do not miss that opportunity. But if you are struggling to get that break and feel stagnant, move towards the next best opportunity. Remember, true careers are not driven by money, but by passion to create something larger than life.  

We’ll see you in the next article with more insightful topics.

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