5 reasons Why it’s a Good Idea to Change Jobs Frequently

Job hopping is good in 2018

Are you still at the same company you started with after high school or college? If you are, it’s important to know that companies and employees have changed their expectations since the 1980s. It’s common now for employees to change jobs more frequently to benefit their career and work life. Having a “career” used to be about being established at a company and working your way up the company chain, but that’s no longer the case.

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, in 1983, more than 1 in 3 workers, aged 35 to 44, had been with the same employer for 10 years or longer. Almost the same ratio of workers aged 45 and older had worked for the same employer for 20 years or more. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the average employee tenure was 4.2 years in 2016, down from 4.6 years in January 2014.

Now, employees change positions much more frequently, to further their career or to challenge themselves. If you can explain each jump and have accomplishments in each role, hiring managers usually understand and commend you for your bold moves. It’s important to keep in mind, however, that since workers are typically less loyal to their companies these days, the reverse may be true as well – companies may not put time and resources into an employee that isn’t going to stick around.

More experience

If you have outgrown your role, that is a good reason to switch jobs. If an employee has reached their maximum potential and there’s no room to move up, there may be no reason for them to stay. In other situations, an employee might be waiting for a promotion that the company can’t offer yet. This is something you can explain to a potential employer as well – if there isn’t room to grow it’s time to go!

More money

This is a very popular reason for switching jobs. An employee may either be making as much as the company can offer, or they may be underpaid. There are many reasons that a company might not be paying you enough money; it could be the size of the organization, budget, or employee performance. It’s acceptable to leave a company for more money if you can justify why it was a must for you.

Motivation/Challenge

Sometimes employees are looking for more challenges in their role or the opportunity to expand their knowledge. Many people change jobs because they want to continue growing in their career. It makes sense to move if the company you’re at isn’t advancing in technology or size and you feel stagnant.

New people

Have you ever had trouble working with a co-worker or team member? If you have tried everything to make the relationship work but it’s affecting your work life, it might be a good idea to change companies. Always try to work it out with management first if it has become problematic. When explaining the move to an employer, you could state that the problem was the culture or work environment rather than just certain people.

Company Redirection/Downsizing

It is fairly common for companies to be bought out and rebranded. During these changes, the new management gets to decide who will stay and who will go, and they may also decide to change the responsibilities of existing roles. This can be a stressful time for employees, and some may try to get out beforehand to avoid waiting for an outcome. You can explain this to a hiring manager as being proactive about your career or seeking growth.

Summary

Although job hopping is beneficial for candidates in many ways, don’t forget why some employers may have a bad taste for this term. To this end, it’s helpful to have some sort of steady work history on your resume. Be careful about changing careers instead of just positions. You want to keep your resume and experience as tight and relatable as possible, as the reasons for job hopping often need to be justified to employers.

Let Micro Tech Staffing Group , guide you with your career, and trust our experts to help you get that next role. Contact us today!