Job hopping syndrome – Should we stay? Or should we quit?

Job hopping syndrome – Should I stay? Or should I leave? This is a symptom of employees who decide to change jobs frequently, staying in each place for a short period of time. There are many reasons why they change their minds easily or change jobs frequently.

Are you thinking of quitting your job?

If you are past middle age or you are in the oldest generation of the company, you may have a little doubt in your mind why “these days’ kids” change jobs so often or resign so easily? Even though Thai society has instilled since the old days that “suffer today to be comfortable in the future”, but on the contrary, in this era, it has become an era of asking “Why do we have to suffer today? Why can’t we be comfortable today?”

Before you start judging someone as being impatient, or before you start judging yourself as being impatient, you should first understand the concept of frequent job changes. Because in reality, no one wants to change their work environment or work environment frequently if their current job is already good.

What is Job Hopping?

Job Hopping refers to a group of employees or job applicants who frequently change jobs in a short period of time. It cannot be said that doing this is wrong because each person has different reasons for changing jobs. The job you are doing today will cause pain or progress for you. You can consider the following factors:

1. The industry you are working in : In some industries, job hunting is a common occurrence, giving people the opportunity to quickly learn skills. As a result, companies grow rapidly and so do the skills of their employees. More and more startups have emerged in the last few years, and they are looking for long-term employees who can help them grow steadily.
2. Stage of your career : If you’re in the early stages of your career, it’s common to bounce around from company to company. You’re trying things out, gaining experience, and finding your groove in the industry.
3. Format Your Work History : Job hopping is a huge problem when it comes to getting this information into your resume or CV. If you leave three or more jobs in a short period of time, like within a year, hiring managers may consider this a red flag and be hesitant to hire you.
4. Type of Job : Some jobs are for short-term work. If you are a contractor, it is common for you to be hired for a project and then move on to the next one, etc.
5. Your reason for leaving : You may have encountered misfortunes like the first company laid off a large number of employees, the second had a toxic work environment, and the company changed your details along the way. As a job applicant, it is your responsibility to explain in detail why you are leaving your current place.

Are only the younger generations suffering from job hopping?

Among Millennials, those born 1981-1996, the average time spent in each job is just 2 years and 9 months. This shows that job hopping is becoming increasingly popular among younger generations. Conversely, Gen Xers, those born 1965-1980, tend to stay on the job for an average of 5 years and 2 months, and Baby Boomers, those born 1946-1964, are the most committed of the generations, spending 8 years or more working in one job.

Job Hopping is bad?

Changing jobs is really your personal situation, and you have the full right to decide whether or not this is the right thing to do. To support those ideas, here are some pros and cons you should consider before deciding to change jobs.

Advantages of Job Hopping

1. Good adaptability skills. A new position means new experiences, new responsibilities, and new coworkers. If you can grow quickly in a new environment, you are a valuable employee to the company.
2. Developing Communication Skills Finding a new job means networking, interviewing, and communicating your skills and goals to potential employers. These skills come in handy in any job and make you a valuable asset to a team.
3. Salary Increase Finding a new job is the most effective way to increase your salary. If you wait for a raise at your current company, you might get a 4-5% raise, but when you change jobs, that number can jump to 10% or more.
4. Gain a variety of skills. Different jobs require different skills. As you gain experience in different workplaces, you’ll develop a toolbox that’s flexible across your industry and increase the variety of skills you can store in your toolbox.

Disadvantages of Job-Hopping

1. Loss of Benefits Starting a new job means starting over from the beginning in terms of benefits. You may have to accumulate hours before taking vacation or collecting all contributions again.
2. Not Trusted: If your employer thinks you are a permanent job seeker, they may be concerned about your loyalty and that you might leave them sooner or later, which makes them distrust you for the job or promotion.
3. Job Hopping Syndrome If you don’t have a clear reason for leaving, you risk falling into the same dissatisfaction at your next job. It’s important to know what you need to do to get your next job closer to your career goals.

So when should you look for a new job, and when should you not look for a new job?

Sometimes, job hunting is acceptable and necessary for your health and well-being. These are some things you should think about carefully to answer the question of whether or not you should start looking for a new job.

1. You need new skills but your current role doesn’t allow for them.
   For example, if you’re a social media professional but want to write longer blog content, you might seek opportunities that are more aligned with your writing interests.
2. Your job is causing you chronic stress.
   If you have a long list of tasks and they are getting longer, you ask your boss to reduce the number of tasks, but they are not able to relieve you of the burden. In this scenario, you can either ask for a stress-free leave or look for a job with a better working environment.
3. There are no advancement opportunities.
   If you are working at a small nonprofit under a long-term board or CEO, it is unlikely that you will succeed them. It makes sense to look elsewhere for advancement opportunities.
4. Culture is not a fit.
   Work culture is hard to determine during the interview process. After 2-3 weeks, you may find yourself not fitting in with the culture at this company. In this case, you may be better off looking elsewhere.

How to Job Hopping to be successful

The above examples are all good reasons to leave your job, but you need to be confident in your decision from now on, as the path you take will bring you closer to your life goals. If you are looking for ways to do this, here are some ways to help you make the right decision:

1. Make a plan. Take some time to reflect. Create clear goals for how you want to define your future career and life values. Then, make sure your new job will bring you closer to those goals.
2. Follow a job search method. Instead of just browsing LinkedIn job boards and applying to what’s available, visualize your dream job, then make a plan to get there and start looking at job listings with a clear intention.
3. Develop new skills, make the most of your current position, network with your colleagues, take on new projects, and if you have a budget for professional development, both develop your strengths and plug your weaknesses. These will come in handy in your future job.
4. Don’t quit just for the money. Find out if you’re considering all the details before accepting a new job. Look into benefits, vacation pay, retirement plans, and job security. You can also ask about what’s bothering you about your current job. If you’re frustrated by the lack of work-life balance, consider looking for a new employer that offers more flexibility.
5. Don’t cut ties. Even if you don’t like your boss, you never know when that connection might come in handy. Try to maintain the relationship. Your current employer can be a valuable reference for you in the future.
6. Give your current role a chance. If you’ve been in the job for less than a year, it might be worth leaving to see if things will improve. But if you’re struggling or suffering, you should leave quickly.

Conclusion

64% of American workers would rather look for a new job than drive out to their current one, and if you’re looking for a new job more than once, you may be job hopping. While this article makes it clear that changing jobs isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of whether or not to change jobs.

Changing jobs can help you discover what you want to achieve as an employee, push you to find new challenges, develop and diversify your skills. We often leave jobs looking for better pay, benefits, flexibility and more fulfilling work.

If you are considering leaving your current job in less than a year, make sure you have a clear reason for leaving and have thought it through carefully before making the decision to leave. Most importantly, make sure the new job is something you truly want.

“What’s Right for You? Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Job Hopping Syndrome”

Reference:

Should I stay, or should I go? An overview of job hopping syndromeg syndrome