Job hopping, or rapidly switching between jobs, can be a tricky business. Many employers and job seekers alike view this kind of career trajectory with skepticism, and rightfully so. There are potential advantages to jumping between jobs, such as building up a versatile skill set or finding more satisfaction in your work life, but also definite downsides. This blog post will explore the pros and cons of job hopping so that you can decide whether "jumping" is right for you.

Job hopping is a thing.

Switching jobs often is something that some people do for various reasons. For example, in one's career, there is a good chance that you may change jobs because of certain circumstances, such as:

• Looking for a better-paying job, as well as benefits
• Your current employer may have terminated you from your job
• The company you are currently working for is in dire straits, and the future doesn't look bright
• Lack of promotion or movement in the career ladder of your current employer
• There is a lack of fulfillment and motivation with your present job
• You are relocating your residence, so you need to find a job near your new location
• Building up your skill set
• You get bored easily with your present job

There can be other reasons why someone would keep on job hopping to find a new job that suits their needs and interests. There is nothing inherently wrong with being a job hopper. However, changing jobs often is something that is not seen positively by some employers. While seeing four jobs or more under work experience in your resume may seem impressive, signifying a well-rounded individual with considerable skills, some may interpret it as you having difficulties in commitment. It is usually preferable for companies to hire employees that will stay with them in the long run instead of continuously hiring new workers because it is costly to train new employees only to see them leave later. So if you plan to job hop often, think about the following pros and cons of it, and see if it can work for you.

Pros

• Perhaps the best thing you can get from job hopping is an expanded skill set, primarily if you work multiple jobs in different fields of interest. This will only happen if you learn new skills whenever you land a new job and apply and remember them when necessary in your other jobs. Having multiple skills in your possession can open more opportunities for you.
• Job hoppers usually switch jobs in hopes of finding the ideal job for them in terms of pay, benefits, and satisfaction. Of course, there is no perfect job, but you can at least find one that checks most of your expectations and needs. You can only know that a job is okay once you are in it, and this is something you can find if you move from one position to another until you find the one that satisfies you the most.
• When you job hop, it is possible to have a higher salary in your next job or even have benefits you didn't have in your previous job. This is even more so if you move to a job that involves the same skill set but with a different company. Your new employer may compensate you better, and you may not even have to start with an entry-level position if they see your work experience.
• Your communication and social skills can improve if you keep on job hopping. Every time you get a new job, you get immersed in new company culture and interact with new people. As a result, you will learn how to deal with various types of people, and you can use your communication skills for multiple purposes in whatever job you get next.

Cons

• Job stability can become an issue for someone with a habit of leaving jobs and moving to another often. While times are changing and some employers become more accepting of such movement, others remain skeptical and wary of people who have three jobs or more on their resume, and all of them show a short tenure, such as one or two years, or maybe even months. Some will hesitate to hire a job hopper because employers think they will leave later anyway and can't commit for a long time to any company, thus wasting money invested in training them. On an individual level, job hopping can also put the job hopper in a state of unemployment since there is no guarantee that they will always get hired in their next job.
• Tenured employees have the advantage of getting pay raises and accumulating their company benefits, and this is something one cannot get if they keep making frequent job changes. A job hopper may get a higher salary and better benefits in their new job. Still, they start again from the beginning regarding their benefits in their new company unless they can transfer or continue accumulation from their previous employment. Job hoppers may suffer a loss in total accumulated money for benefits that can be obtained at the end of their career, such as retirement bonuses and insurance.
• Job hopping may cause someone to get quickly dissatisfied with their current job when they see something faulty or irking them. Likewise, you may find it hard to get satisfied and feel fulfilled if you keep moving from one position to another, such as when the pay is not good or you don't get along with the people around you.
• While job hopping can make you learn many things as you job switch from one to another, it can also lead to a lack of mastery in one specific field of interest, which can lead to difficulty in getting a promotion if you can't do well or excel in your current career path.

Should you job-hop or not?

Job hopping is not a requirement in one's career. There are different reasons why people do it. Usually, it boils down to finding one job that gives satisfaction and fulfillment from being compensated well, having the company of good people, and liking what you are doing. Once somebody finds such a job, they may stick with it for years and only move again when the situation changes or becomes unfavorable. Job hopping can be risky, and one must ensure that one can get hired in their next job or at least have a good chance of getting hired due to one's abilities and competitiveness. Employers can also be wary if they see you have a short tenure or have gaps in the multiple positions you have held, so at least try to work for two years in one job before moving to the next. Also, before leaving your current job, try to ensure you have exhausted all options available to you and make all the adjustments you can to be comfortable in your current job. If all else fails, nothing works out, and you only feel stressed with your present job, then that's the time for you to leave, mainly if you have found a better opportunity elsewhere. Do expect you will probably work more than one job in your lifetime, which is normal. What's essential is trying to stick with a job once you find one that meets most of your demands and interests.