Does Job Hopping Impact Your Career?

In the past, the traditional view of working was to dedicate yourself to one company, and in turn, your hard work and loyalty would be rewarded with promotions and pay rises. With Millennials and Gen X making up the majority of the labour market, and more Gen Z’s entering into employment, these traditional beliefs are less prevalent which has encouraged a shift in societal behaviour.

What is job hopping?

Job hopping is defined as a career choice whereby an individual changes job frequently and doesn’t stay with an employer for very long. There are many reasons for job hopping, including but not limited to:

– A dissatisfaction within your current occupation

– A feeling of stagnancy or limitation to progression

– Having a desire to gain a wide range of experiences

– Uncertainty of career path

Can job hopping be beneficial to your career?

There are several benefits that come with changing jobs regularly, some being economic whilst others are non-financial.

Career Progression

Job hopping can accelerate career progression. Rather than staying put and waiting for an opportunity for promotion to arise, changing job regularly can provide you with a varied skillset and expose you to new challenges, widening your experience and helping you to move up the hierarchy more quickly. It also broadens your network, facilitating the possibility of progression.

Improvement to Remuneration Package

Another advantage of changing jobs frequently is getting to explore different benefit packages on offer on the market. Often, companies fail to update their benefits and don’t offer competitive packages, so job hopping gives you the opportunity to improve your current remuneration package. For up to date salary insights, consult our 2023 Salary Benchmarking Guide.

Career Discovery

A significant reason for job hopping is career uncertainty, so changing job regularly is a good way of finding the right career fit for you. It provides you with the opportunity to test the waters in different industries and departments, trying a variety of roles that you may not have explored, or had the chance to try, if you stayed loyal to one company for years.

Job Satisfaction

Feeling stagnant and unfulfilled is common after a long time in the same role. A benefit of job hopping is restoring motivation and work ethic by entering a new atmosphere and taking on new responsibilities. It can also help prevent feeling unsatisfied at work.

Are you curious about what opportunities are out there? Browse our jobs page for the latest postings in your area.

Is job hoping detrimental to your career?

Whilst older workers view frequent moves as a lack of loyalty and commitment to an employer, younger generations see it as an opportunity to expand their skillset and accelerate their careers. However, despite the change in opinion amongst societies younger workforce, job hopping is still considered relatively risky in the long run due to the stigmatisation from senior members of staff.

If you are thinking of fast tracking your career by making frequent changes to your employment, consider these points first to make better informed decisions:

What is motivating you to change job?

Ensure that you take the time to understand why you want to move jobs. Job hopping with a clear purpose will help you to achieve your goals and provide you with a better outcome in the long run, whether that is earning a higher salary or feeling more satisfied with your position and responsibilities.

The length of time you have been in your current role

Job hopping too often can set off alarm bells for hiring managers. As a rough guide, aim to stay in a role for at least 1 year before considering a move. A year is enough time to get you settled into the position, complete an adequate amount of training, and make an impact in your role.

Your age

The age at which you job hop is proven to influence the outcome. According to the Office for National Statistics, workers aged 16 to 24 earn the highest salary gain in comparison to job hoppers aged between 25 and 49. Job hopping is also not recommended in the long run, and can ultimately limit career choices as it can be harder to demonstrate your competence in your skills.

A long-term solution for workers with a desire to job hop is entering into the contract labour market, which allows you to commit to working with a company for an average of 6 – 18 months, across multiple different industries. Contract roles are best suited to experienced workers who have built up a skillset in a particular area, and as you do not receive the same benefits as full-time employees, you often earn higher rates than salaried workers.

Have you got questions about your tech career?

Knowing what your next career move is and when to take it isn’t always easy. The technology labour market is becoming increasingly more competitive for job seekers, so it’s even more important to make well informed decisions about your career.

Our professional tech recruitment consultants are happy to talk through your prospects and share the latest opportunities that might be of interest, and that are relevant to your skillset and requirements. For the latest salary and market insights, and professional advice on the best time to make a career change without obligation, get in touch with our team!