Job hopping is a rising phenomenon and there are both advantages and disadvantages of it. In this article, we have discussed in detail both these considerations.
Gone are the days when people used to be devoted to a job and enjoyed working at the same place lifelong. In the current work scenario, job hopping has become very common. But what has led to this tendency of frequent change in jobs among the employees? Well, in most of the cases, it is boredom that evokes from the routine job and lack of job satisfaction that makes people change jobs. Search for better work opportunities is also one of the reasons for frequent change in jobs. In the olden days, people preferred working at the same place, and stability was the factor that held high priority among the employees at that time; there was less bothering about growth or monetary benefits among people then. But, is it safe for employees to change jobs too frequently? Does it hampers or boosts the career of the person who changes jobs frequently? These questions need to be addressed.
The aim of this article is to make you aware of the long term advantages and disadvantages of job hopping. Especially the disadvantages, because frequently changing the jobs can either make or break the career of the person. Yes, job hopping indeed has advantages, but the disadvantages shadow out the advantages. We have covered both the negatives and positives of job hopping. In this CareerStint article we have covered both these aspects in detail.
Advantages
Helps You Learn New Skills
Whether it is changing job in the same domain of work or hopping to a completely different domain, it will surely help you learn new work skills. You may have come across many people who have the experience of working in many different work areas. Like they have degree in particular field, but have worked in multitudes of career like writing, software development, or even sports. This is an advantage of job hopping as it widens your skill set and adds to your knowledge of various fields. Through working in various jobs a person will definitely know something of many things.
Serves Good Change
Any job is accompanied with the same routine, and with time it is imperative for a person to get bored of mundanity of work. Changing the job thus, serves a good break and will keep you enthusiastic about the life and work. In the case of job hoppers, boredom takes control over them very soon and thus, they have the tendency to change the jobs of a more frequent basis. As you change jobs, you will meet new people, this will thus add to your contacts in various industries.
Better Opportunities
The want for better job opportunities is the prime reason people hop between the jobs. Job dissatisfaction in the person makes him change his job more often. Job hoppers are always on the lookout for better job opportunities, and shift the moment they find a better job for themselves.
Helps Find Area of Interest
Many people have this tendency of changing job because they have the desire to find their true niche or area of expertise. Through working in different fields you would be exposed to various work domains and subsequently you would find the field that is best for you.
Disadvantages
Affects Trust and Confidence
Very often employers are wary of hiring employees who have a record of frequent job changes in their resume. This is because an employee with many job record portrays someone who cannot be trusted in the long run. There are some organizations who expect some form of commitment from their employees as far as the duration of work is concerned, and the record of frequent job changes makes the employer think twice before hiring the person. Negative qualities like lack of sense of responsibility and commitment, immaturity, lack of mental focus also are associated with a person who changes his jobs frequently.
No Job Security
It would not be wrong to say that job hopping is synonymous with lack of job security. A person who changes jobs more frequently is less likely to get any long term benefits from the job. This is because a person who shifts his jobs more often falls short on the experience factor, which counts a lot in making a long term successful careers. For example, if it is your aim to become a manager, then this position demands the will to take responsibilities, putting in hard work and characteristics or qualities of a leader. Frequent job change is thus, not recommended if you want to fit in this position.
Lack of Depth in Knowledge
A big disadvantage of shifting jobs too frequently is that the person generally lacks in in-depth knowledge about his subject of specialization. Of course as it is in every aspect of life, you must have come across some exceptional people who can challenge this general belief, and get away with. A person with a history of too many job changes often comes across as someone who lacks stability, focus and dedication, apart from sound knowledge of his work area. A person gains sound knowledge of a subject only after he works on it for a certain duration of time.
So, what is the reason you want to change jobs so rapidly for? Candidates should keep in mind that it takes time to settle down and get used to any job. Once you are in a job for sometime it will shower upon you many benefits in terms of new contacts and career growth. You should thus, not change your job too frequently; job change is recommended only if you are dissatisfied with the job, or have issues with current job, or have got a better job opportunity. Experience is must if you want to progress in your chosen career; so important is stability. Job hopping is not bad, but from the point of stability and experience you should not change jobs on a monthly or even a yearly basis. Do give a thought to the advantages and disadvantages we had discussed before taking any decision.
