Should You Stay or Should You Go?

You’ve heard both sides of the story by now – the pros and cons of job hopping. At one end, it’s a great way to get a salary jump… but on the other hand, if you job hop too often, it may not look too good on your resume, leaving the interviewer to wonder if maybe you’re not really committed to any job.

Here are more pros and cons of job hopping for you to think about:

Pro – Yes, the salary thing
It’s true that you get a significant pay raise if you move from one company to another, especially if you’re really good at what you do. Unfortunately, staying in one company may not give you the same raise, even if you get a promotion. The increase is so gradual sometimes that you don’t even notice it… and some promotions might not even come with more money unless you move in terms of management level.

Con – Companies are more likely to promote from within
That’s what grooming talent is all about, to equip them with the right skills so that they can move up the ladder. Because of this, trying to find the ideal role for you may not be as easy as you think unless you have a unique specialty. So it’s probably best for you to upskill yourself and be rewarded at the end of the day in the company that invested in you.

Con – Your future employer may wonder if you’re actually loyal
It’s no secret that HR hates to see a resume with frequent job hunts because it screams, “Will this person be worth our training and investment?” Companies are more likely to lean towards a candidate who has proven some sort of loyalty to a previous company than a serial job hopper as the former is more likely to want to build a long-term career than just jump on to the next job that pays higher.

Pro – You have to start over again
Sounds like a con? Not really, if you think about it. Going into something new, you’re usually more motivated and excited to do better. Which gives you a renewed sense of inspiration and energy. Who knows, you may just hop to the right fit and stay there permanently!

Con – Is the grass greener?
Since you’re used to seeing what else is out there, you’re most likely to constantly think of whether there is a “better” job for you instead of the one you’re currently at. And because you’re so used to job hop, you always think to yourself next when you become disillusioned at work instead of giving it a better go!

Pro – New job, new experience
This is how you can sometimes add to your skills as with every new job comes new responsibilities that may require you to learn something new. Nothing wrong about that!