3 Times It's Too Soon to Job Hop — And 3 Times It's Worth The Risk
Today's job market may be huge and diverse, but it's still not easy to land the job of your dreams on your first go around. Sometimes, it takes a few job switches or a career change entirely to find a role or company that feels like a good fit.
Contrary to popular belief, career paths are not linear and job hopping is become increasingly more common as a result. Whether or not this is a good thing depends on your industry, your reasons for hopping and the way you express it on your resume. Read on for helpful tips below.
What is the meaning of job hopping?
Job hopping is when an individual moves from one company to another, essentially "hopping" from one job to the next. Not to be confused with internally switching roles, job hopping between companies can sometimes indicate a lack of self-awareness in regard to one's professional interests or ability to gauge fit before accepting an offer.
In general, the way job hopping is seen across industries and throughout society has changed significantly over the years. With the rise of technology especially, more and more roles have been invented that didn't exist before there was a need. Now, there are more professional avenues for professionals to explore including seasoned vets whose skillset in one area can lend itself generously to another, and recent grads who may need exposure to multiple positions before finding their desired fit.
Do employers care about job hopping?
One job switch on a resume typically shouldn't raise a red flag to hiring managers, but individuals who leave companies after a short period of time or have multiple gaps on their resume can be a turn off for most employers.
To clarify, a short period of time can be defined as six months or less, essentially two quarters of the year, or any period of time that isn't enough to achieve meaningful results within an industry. And resume gaps include pockets of time between jobs that tell employers you were either unemployed during that period or working off jobs before landing the following.
When is it too soon to job hop?
1. You haven't given a new job a chance.
If you've only been at your organization for a short period of time, a handful of months or less, then it stands to reason that you haven't really given the employer a chance. Remember that if you make it a habit to leave jobs quickly, you will raise flags during future hiring processes.
2. You're due for a promotion soon.
Don't miss out on a promotion — and a bigger paycheck! If you know you're due for that promotion soon, then it's in your best interest to stick it out (unless there are extenuating circumstances that make it impossible to stay).
3. There are plenty of opportunities to grow.
Stay abreast of opportunities for growth at your organization. If they seem plentiful, then this is a sign that you might want to stay around and see what's on the horizon for you.
When is it okay to job hop?
1. You're feeling stuck in your role.
Have you been at your organization for a long period of time, without any movement? It's natural to feel stuck, and this could be a sign that it's time to move on to a job where you can grow and thrive.
2. You're dealing with a toxic environment.
If your health, safety or wellbeing are being threatened at work, it's important for you to leave. You need to do everything you can to protect yourself, and sometimes, getting out is the only option.
3. You're changing careers.
It's perfectly fine to change careers at any point. Of course, this means that you'll probably need to leave your current employer. However, if you do enjoy working at the organization, consider whether you might be able to change roles and move into the one you really want within the company.
Industries where job hopping is common
Job hopping doesn't scare off all employers. In fact, some industries are used to it. Fields like education, media, non-profit and STEM are breeding grounds for career pivots, job advancement and short-term project work. For example, if you're a creative producer, photographer or another type of creative who mostly works project by project, your resume will show lots of "hops," which is typical for the industry.
How to explain job hopping on your resume
You have a few options for defending job hopping on your resume. First, you can feel free to leave off certain jobs if you've only stayed for a few months. That way, you can avoid explaining why you left and instead focus on the other professional development you gained during that time.
You can also optimize your resume to be functional, rather than chronological. A functional resume is one that prioritizes your skills and abilities over the order of your past work experiences.
Or, you can format your resume with your employment history toward the bottom instead of the top. By manipulating the order in which your resume is experienced, you may downplay employment gaps, career changes or when you started your career journey (which could help protect you from ageism).
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Stephanie Nieves is the SEO & Editorial Associate on the Fairygodboss team. Her words can also be found on Medium, PayScale and The Muse.
What’s your no. 1 piece of job-hopping advice? Share your answer in the comments to help other Fairygodboss members!
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