Changing Jobs Often....

[disney junky]

Do some people expect too much from their jobs? Do they expect fulfillment from their work? I ask because recently I have become aware of a couple individuals who grow dissatisfied with their work, and soon are asking for connections or leads on other jobs, and frankly, I wouldn't recommend them because of the very reason they are looking. Does anyone else know people like this?

 

[Klayfish]

I've done a ton of interviewing and hiring over the years, and I can tell you one of the biggest red flags when I look at a resume is frequent job hopping. I can understand having a few job that didn't last long, but when it's a pattern, that's a big concern when I consider hiring that person.

There is some variation in length of job depending on the field you're in...some jobs have much higher turn over rate, but if you're on the wrong side of the bell curve for your field, it's not good.

 

[sam_gordon]

How soon are they changing jobs? If they're getting 2-3 years in then changing, I wouldn't be concerned. If they're changing repeatedly after less than a year, I'd pass.

Oh yea... the rule

Do some people expect too much from their jobs? Do they expect fulfillment from their work? I ask because recently I have become aware of a couple individuals who grow dissatisfied with their work, and soon are asking for connections or leads on other jobs, and frankly, I wouldn't recommend them because of the very reason they are looking. Does anyone else know people like this?

 

[sonnyjane]

Do some people expect too much from their jobs? Do they expect fulfillment from their work? I ask because recently I have become aware of a couple individuals who grow dissatisfied with their work, and soon are asking for connections or leads on other jobs, and frankly, I wouldn't recommend them because of the very reason they are looking. Does anyone else know people like this?

I graduated college in 2004, so I haven't been a part of the "grownup" workforce for too terribly long, but in those 13 years, my longest job at the same place was 4 years. Other than that, I usually averaged 2 years at each place. I've been at my current job for a year and so far so good . And yes, I do expect fulfillment from my work.

 

[potterfanatic]

I think hopping after a few years is necessary in today's job market (at least what I've seen of it). My husband worked for the state of Florida for nearly 10 years. He hopped jobs every 2 to 3 years because there were no raises and no cost of living increases, the only way to make more money, unfortunately, was to take another job.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

How soon are they changing jobs? If they're getting 2-3 years in then changing, I wouldn't be concerned. If they're changing repeatedly after less than a year, I'd pass.

Oh yea... the rule

Every 2-3 years for 15+ years would be a red flag for me.

 

[morgan98]

I also do quite a bit of interviewing and hiring. Resumes with people changing jobs every 12-18 months for reasons other than relocation are almost always a red flag, unless there are extreme extenuating circumstances. 12-18 months is often the time it takes for someone to settle into the job, and for problems to occur and then for either the employer to fire the employee or for the employee to find the next opportunity. Of course this can happen to an otherwise good employee. However, once it has happened 3-4 times or more in a row, I do see it as a problem.

I agree that the job market has changed and people rarely spend their whole careers with one or two companies. However, I think it is hard to gain real experience when you are always getting situated at a new place and from the employer's perspective, it is very expensive to replace someone. Therefore, you would like to think people are committed for longer than a year.

 

[Pixiedustaway]

I've been at my current job for almost 9 years... at the last one for 4...I get bored but I'm also
Lazy and don't want to look for a new job. I want to move up and do more where I am now. I think a job a year is a huge red flag.

 

[disney junky]

The one situation was 6 jobs in 7 years. The other one is looking for a third in 4 years.

 

[wilkeliza]

I'll admit I hope a bit in college because I would have a job during the school year and then a different job during breaks. I usually went back to the same company though (so on off with pet co and on off with Starbucks) when I was back at school. I've been with my current employeer for 3 years. I consider 1 year to be a solid amount for a non-career job. So when I worked retail or service I always said I can guarentee you 1 year but after that I do have to see what is out there. Of course 1 year is a long time in what I called "revolving door" jobs. Now my office job I'm not in a hurry to go anywhere. No need to. My company treats me decently and I get decent py and decent benifits. The only way I would leave is getting let go or landing a dream job in the theater.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

If its to "move up in the world" then I don't see anything wrong with changing jobs a number of times.
If they are always staying on the same level but switching jobs then that would indicate to me that they have other issues that they should deal with.

I know one person that does change jobs often and never stays at one for more than a few months.
He's all excited for the first month and then the second month he's not as happy and by the third month he's saying how terrible the job is and that he needs to work where someone appreciates him... then it starts all over again.

Knowing a few things about his upbringing I think there are underlying issues that if resolved perhaps he could commit to a job for longer.

 

[DennyCrane]

Several lateral or lower job changes would concern me. Changing jobs for more responsibility and/or pay wouldn't concern me much.

 

[ronandannette]

I think hopping after a few years is necessary in today's job market (at least what I've seen of it). My husband worked for the state of Florida for nearly 10 years. He hopped jobs every 2 to 3 years because there were no raises and no cost of living increases, the only way to make more money, unfortunately, was to take another job.

I also think it's often the quickest way for one to advance within an industry. It's common that an opportunity will open up at another company and it's perfectly reasonable for people at a certain stage in their career to make an upward move. As long as the moves seem logical, I don't consider it a detriment on a candidate's resume. One thing we do though, is select candidates who state "stability" as something they are now looking for in a job. There comes a point in most people's lives when that becomes a priority in a job - moreso than maybe than a little extra money or slightly better conditions.

 

[Colleen27]

I think it would depend on the reasoning. As someone else upthread said, in some fields it is really the only way to improve one's situation because there aren't raises or cost-of-living increases being offered by many companies right now. In jobs where there isn't a logical "up the ladder" (ie someone in the trades that isn't on a management track), the choice may very well be to stay in one place while inflation and insurance premium increases erode the purchasing power of your static paycheck or to look elsewhere for better-compensated opportunities with other companies.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Several lateral or lower job changes would concern me. Changing jobs for more responsibility and/or pay wouldn't concern me much.

If it's frequent, it's still a red flag. Being viewed as a stepping stone is not what employers want from their new hires.

 

[Micca]

I've been out of the job market for a few years, but I have a sense that things have changed. I'm thinking that truly talented people will continue changing jobs until they reach a level such that they are being compensated & receiving other rewards/perks that suit their needs. If your skill set is just average and you're switching jobs frequently, that's a red flag. In other words, if someone is blowing through jobs right & left they're either really good or really bad news.

 

[3boymthr]

I think it would depend on the reasoning. As someone else upthread said, in some fields it is really the only way to improve one's situation because there aren't raises or cost-of-living increases being offered by many companies right now. In jobs where there isn't a logical "up the ladder" (ie someone in the trades that isn't on a management track), the choice may very well be to stay in one place while inflation and insurance premium increases erode the purchasing power of your static paycheck or to look elsewhere for better-compensated opportunities with other companies.

It's not just trades. I'm a bookkeeper. Bookkeepers frequently have more than one job at once and unless you work in an extremely large company there is no ladder up. And most companies don't want to pay you more even if you've been there years and you know they can afford it.

 

[jt'smom]

I think it also depends on the field. My husband is in sales and has changed companies several times. In his industry, he's frequently getting offers, even though non-competes are usually involved. He has worked with one man on and off through 3 different companies! Back when I was in my career in the 90's, if you didn't have a recruiter calling at least once a week it was weird. From the time I graduated college till the time I stopped working 2 decades later, I worked for 6 different retailers, and changed jobs for promotions, more money, relocation offers. If I had stayed in one place, I would never have achieved the level I wanted to professionally.

 

[Christine]

Depends on the industry, depends on the age of the person, depends on the jobs they have. Overall, job-hopping is a flag, but you have to look more into it.

My DD's first year out of college, she couldn't find a "grown up" job. So she took a job as an assistant at an orthodontics office. She liked the job but it was very dead-end. She stayed there one year and then was able to get a job that relied on her college degree. She stayed in that job only a year. Why? Because the office she worked for couldn't keep her busy more than one hour a day, there was a lot of dysfunction in the office, and she was going crazy with boredom. She has taken a new job that, hopefully, will do better and she can stay awhile because she is mindful of how her resume comes across. But sometimes you have to change for fulfillment. But if every job you take has an issue and it's been 5 or 6 years, I start seeing flags.

 

[kamik86]

I have worked at the same company for 8 years although my job has changed several times in that time.

Honestly given the new descriptions of jobs they just came out with if I were to be hired in I could be hired in a few bands above where I am now. Many of the younger people realize that and are leaving for that very reason. The problem is generally to take another job I would have to move and I'm working to decide if I think that is worth it.