Jobs: a hop away?
The
pros and cons of job hopping
Today’s young generation of dynamic, qualified, and
success-hungry corporate executives is driven by change. Gone are the days
when employees considered it a moment of pride to have served in their
organisation for over a decade. These days, a single work experience on the
resume is sometimes considered an indication of professional stagnancy. The
trend among young professionals nowadays is to stick to an organisation for
a maximum period of a year or two (in some instances even as less as six
months!) and then switch to another company. Gen-Z is so obsessed with
finding the ‘dream job’ that they don’t mind extending the timeframe for
getting a job to long after their graduation in order to get into an
organisation of their choice for a role of their liking. However, the
nuances of the job come to the fore only after actually entering the
workplace and not by merely reading the job description.
IS JOB HOPPING GOOD FOR YOUR CAREER?
While a series of short stints on a resume might give recruiters the
wrong impression about the integrity of the job seeker, changing jobs
frequently can actually prove to be advantageous in more ways than one.
Good salary hikes: This is perhaps the main
reason why people look to frequently switch jobs. Young executives desire
frequent jumps in their paychecks and this is possible only by moving on to
organisations that offer a higher compensation package and an enhanced
role;
Diversified work experience: Professionals
who change jobs often experience a diverse range of technical and business
environments with access to advanced tools and technologies and new
processes. They not only hone their individual skills, but also understand
and get a feel for a different business culture, corporate processes and
other softer aspects of the workplace. All of this helps enhance their
skills and make them more seasoned professionals;
More challenges: Employees who switch jobs
are immediately challenged to live up to the expectations of the new role.
This sets into
motion a motivational trigger forcing the professional to think outside of
their comfort zone and move to higher levels of performance. A resume
highlighting frequent job changes to higher hierarchical levels serves as a
testimonial to a prospective employer, who probably sees the value-add the
applicant is capable of bringing in to his/her company.
ARGUMENTS AGAINST JOB HOPPING:
A majority of experienced executives will vote in favour of sticking on
to one job for a considerable period of time. Rightly so, since the adverse
effects of job hopping can be quite disastrous.
Questionable loyalty: A frequent job hopper
raises doubts in the minds of future employers as to loyalty and dedication
towards the company. Unless the shift is purely due to reasons for career
advancement, a candidate who has changed jobs within a short span of time
is often considered high-risk. Employers are hesitant hiring candidates
where they cannot justify the costs of training and development, as they
are not sure of the staying capacity of the new hire.
Unclear career ambitions: Constantly moving
between jobs shows a lack of commitment towards a particular career path.
Employers look for talent that can help them work towards a common
organisational objective. In the eyes of the prospective employer, constant
job jumps project a negative image of the employee as one of distrust and
indecisiveness. Frequent job changes can also leave employees disillusioned
about their future growth path.
Whether for monetary reasons or work satisfaction,
professionals need to determine what they want from their jobs and act
accordingly.
Narayan Thammaiah ETHF140506
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