Job hopping (and job hoppers more specifically) can sometimes get a bad rap, but that could be changing. These days, job hopping is better understood, and people are realizing that changing jobs every few years could actually be really good for our careers. We should reconsider the concept of job hopping so that we can better understand the advantages it offers. Let take a closer look at a few of them.
(Photo Credit: Dean McCoy Photography/Flickr)
1. You could earn more.
We all know that it’s important to negotiate salary if we want to earn more. However, workers who stay at the same job, on average, can expect only about a 3 percent increase per year. But, when changing jobs, the average employee sees a pay increase between 10 and 20 percent.
Changing jobs could certainly be one path to a higher salary, particularly if that’s what you set your sights on during the job search process. Just remember to factor in other things, like vacation time and benefits, when deciding whether or not the move is advantageous.
2. You’ll expand your network.
The more people you meet, work with, and get to know, the bigger potential professional network you’re working with. So, when you change jobs once in a while, your number of contacts expands, which allows for more and greater opportunities for the future. It could even lead to yet another job change. Employees hired via referral are often hired much faster than ones who come to a job through some other avenue.
3. You learn new skills.
One of the greatest benefits of changing jobs (and employers are coming to understand this as well) is that it’s a great way to gain new skills. It’s important to keep learning and growing in today’s economy in order to stay competitive. This is especially true in some fields.
“For those in technology, for example, it allows them the opportunity to gain valuable technical knowledge in different environments and cultures,” Laurie Lopez, a partner and senior general manager in the IT Contracts division at WinterWyman, told Forbes. “This can be more common for those specializing in development, mobile and Project Management. While job hopping has a negative connotation, this is more about a resource providing value to a company, and then realizing there is nothing more to learn in that environment. In order to keep their skills fresh, it is necessary for technologists to remain current in a highly competitive market.”
Job hopping is also good on an individual level. Learning new things is good for you – it fuels innovation and boosts confidence, for example.
4. You’ll be more excited about what you do.
It helps to love what you do. Changing jobs and feeling more excited about your work is a good thing in its own right. But, it also stands to reason that if you are feeling more passionate, more enthusiastic, your productivity and growth will accelerate, too. And, this could lead to promotions and other advancements that could keep this cycle of excitement and performance going.
It’s important to note here that there are some known drawbacks to job hopping, especially when it comes to future potential employer’s perceptions. If you hop too frequently, you could risk being seen as disloyal, or unreliable. So, carefully consider both the costs and benefits of this move before making it.
Want to know how much you could boost your salary by changing jobs? Take PayScale’s free Salary Survey.
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