Wood Words

Think Job Hopping is Bad for Your Middle TN Career? Think again.

Statistics cited in this earlier Wood Personnel post on hiring job hoppers show that frequently changing jobs is becoming the norm:

  • Average job tenure in the U.S. is at 4.6 years, and 45% of employers expect new college grads to work for them for less than two years (CareerBuilder).
  • The majority of employers (55%) have hired a job hopper and 32% have come to expect individuals to frequently change jobs (CareerBuilder).
  • Millennials typically change jobs every 4.4 years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  • According to a 2014 CareerBuilder survey, 1 in 4 workers has held 5 or more jobs by age 35.
  • High achievers (especially young managers) leave their employers after an average of 28 months (Harvard Business Review).

While job hopping still has its downsides – burned bridges and employer concerns about your loyalty, focus or judgment, to name a few – frequent job-changing no longer carries the stigma it once did. In fact, intentionally changing jobs can be good for your career (especially in fast-changing fields like technology) if you do it the right way!

Here’s how to make sure your job changes yield the benefits you want: more experience, more money and enhanced career prospects:

  • Stay at least a year (unless a job is a complete disaster). Anything less than that is a big red flag to potential employers.
  • Max out your growth opportunities before making a change. Work with your employer to take full advantage of internal opportunities to learn and advance. Sometimes small tweaks to your schedule, team assignments or job responsibilities can spur growth.
  • Think “big picture.” When considering a move, think about your career – not just your current job. If the new position doesn’t add significant value to your resume, or won’t enhance your marketability, brand or earning potential, tread carefully.
  • Avoid the “serial job-hopper” label. If your resume already carries a record of several short employment stints, develop a pitch that will spin your diverse experiences as an asset. Show how job changes have made you agile, flexible and equipped to learn.
  • Remember that “settling down” isn’t necessarily “settling.” Your ultimate goal should be landing a great opportunity that provides the challenge, flexibility, growth and earning potential you desire. If you’ve found it, there’s nothing wrong with staying put for several years! Even the most open-minded employer will shy away from a candidate whose career consists of nothing more than an endless string of job changes.

If you’re a temporary employee who’s looking to “settle down” into a direct position, this earlier post explains how to present your temping experiences in the best possible light on your resume. And if you’re searching for jobs in Murfreesboro, you can find them right here on our Middle Tennessee jobs board.

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