Rubicor : Pros and Cons of Job Hopping

Pros and Cons of Job Hopping

Once upon a time when shoulder pads and fax machines reigned supreme it was commonplace for people to work for the same company for most of their working lives. Post Millennium, that is no longer the norm and since the Global Financial Crisis in 2008 the number of people changing jobs every couple of years has increasedeven more significantly.

A decrease in global job securityseems to be at the heart of this change, as well as the nature of employment and career progression.

So, does this mean changing jobs on a regular basis will work for you? Here are the pros and cons to help you decide:

Advantages of job hopping:

- Changing jobs every two to five years (the magic number) demonstrates ambition and drive without looking disloyal.

- You will hit the refresh button on your motivational levels.

- It shows that you are adaptable to different work environments.

- There are greater opportunities for you to grow your network of contacts and build your personal brand.

- Your salary can potentially increase by larger amounts than if you stay with the same company for a long period of time.

- Working for different sized companies, different roles and/or different industries will give you a broader knowledge base, which will make you a more well-rounded employee.

- A more diversified work experience will give you more options when deciding what your next career move will be.

Disadvantages of job hopping:

- If you work in a small or niche industry where there isn't a big pool of jobs or companies to choose from, changing jobs regularly can negatively impact your reputation and leave you stranded.

- Changing roles after only a year or less will potentially make employers and recruitment agencies nervous about working with you, as it can demonstrate indecisiveness, fickleness and a lack of loyalty.

- You are more likely to be promoted ifyou have worked for your current company for a significant amount of time, as your past performance is easier to measure.

- You build a stronger rapport with your co-workers and customers if you stick around for longer.

Changing jobs can definitely help your career progression. The key takeaway, however, is to take a balanced approach and not change roles too often or just for the sake of change. You need to consider what will work best for you to get you where you want to be. As the saying goes: 'different strokes for different folks'.

Written by Alisa Moore, Research & Community Manager at Gaulter Russell Numero.