Yesterday’s workplace where employees stay in one place for their entire career is a thing of the past. Today, changing jobs more frequently is the norm. However, there is a line between what’s acceptable and what’s considered a red flag. Knowing how to use a job change as a positive rather than a negative is a bit of a gray area but there are some guidelines.
Staying in a job for less than six months can be viewed negatively. One short-term job likely won’t hold you back. But more than one in a relatively short time period and you’ve got some explaining to do…that is, if you get a chance. Landing interviews may be harder.
From the recruiter side, I am often shocked at how many resumes I see with four, five, or six job changes in less than 10 years. And when the positions held are largely unrelated, I have to wonder if the candidate even knows what they want to do. Many job changes within the same industry begs the question of whether the candidate is hard to get along with, keeps getting fired, or just stops showing up and then finds a new job.
While you can explain that you’ve left jobs because of a horrible boss, toxic work environment, or no work/life balance, you might be thought of as too hard to please where no job will make you happy. You could be viewed as lacking commitment and perseverance and that if things get tough, you’re going to bail.
Bringing on a new hire is expensive for companies and the learning curve can be steep depending on the job and the industry. Companies want to hire someone who is going to stay at least long enough for them to get a return on their investment.
From the career coach side, I wholeheartedly support leaving a job that isn’t a good fit. But I also wholeheartedly support CHOOSING WISELY. Before you apply, or at the very least, before you go into an interview, do some deep research on the company. During all interviews, ask the tough questions about the culture, management style, work hours, expectations, how your success would be measured, etc.
To take one step further back, do some career assessments, personality tests, or create a vision board. Create some long-term personal and professional goals. Try to get your career and personal journey aligned as closely as possible. Make a list of your deal breakers and nice to haves so you can evaluate each job opportunity based on how it fits your needs.
The “job hopper sweet spot” appears to be 18 months to 3 years for employees moving on to better opportunities, higher level positions, positions that will expand and enhance their skillset, or larger companies with more room for advancement.