They say, that if you wish to raise your salary fast, you must change jobs.
Sticking to one job will give you yearly increments ( maybe, and not always). So, staying in one job and excelling isn’t going to help you much, if your goal is to earn big.
It is true that ‘job hopping’ to a certain extent is good for employees, but many people between the age group of 25 – 35 fail to understand how quickly they should change.
Like, in 3 months, in 6 months, in 1 year?
Let’s understand a few things:
Scenario 1:
- You are a fresher and you are starting your career.
- You join a company and your probation period is of 6 months. After this you get confirmation and probably a salary hike.
- That’s great. You get confirmed, a salary hike and you resign.
- You got another hike in a company, after revealing your current salary.
That’s good, but remember, this shouldn’t be a habit. It’s not good for your career graph.
Why?
Let’s understand what employers, especially HR professionals feel about those who change jobs frequently.
They will be considered about your commitment:
One of the primary concerns is the perceived lack of commitment. Employers invest time and resources into hiring and training employees, so they may hesitate to hire someone who appears likely to leave after a short period.
Frequent job changes may signal to employers that the candidate is not committed to staying with one company for the long term.
Employers usually look for candidates who will stay long-term. If your CV suggests, you have been changing jobs every 6 months, there will be companies, who will not consider you.
Because they will be concerned about your Stability:
Some employers may see frequent job changes as a red flag for stability. They might worry that the candidate won’t stick around long-term, which could disrupt team dynamics and require frequent hiring and training.
Your Loyalty will be questionable
There might be concerns about loyalty to the company. Employers invest time and resources in training and development, so they may prefer candidates who are likely to stay with the company for a reasonable period.
Potential Skill Gaps:
Employers may also be concerned about potential skill gaps or lack of depth in expertise. If a candidate changes jobs frequently, it may indicate a lack of opportunity to develop deep expertise in a particular area, which could be important for certain roles or industries.
It will impact on team dynamics:
Constant turnover can disrupt team dynamics and productivity. Employers may worry that hiring someone who has a history of job hopping could lead to instability within the team, impacting morale and overall performance.
There will be nothing like team building, team spirit and productivity will certainly be hampered.
There are companies working hard to building team dynamics and no one is going to like this.
Skill Acquisition vs. Job Hopping:
Employers may differentiate between job hopping and career progression. If a candidate can demonstrate that each move was strategic and resulted in skill acquisition or career advancement, it may be viewed more favorably.
But someone who changes jobs in 6 months is certainly not considered stable.
Read: How do you encourage women to work?
Adaptability:
On the flip side, frequent job changes could indicate adaptability and a willingness to take on new challenges. Employers may see such candidates as versatile and able to quickly integrate into new environments.
Industry Norms:
In some industries, such as tech or creative fields, frequent job changes may be more common and less stigmatized. Employers in these sectors may be more understanding of short tenures.
Pattern Recognition:
Recruiters and hiring managers may look for patterns in a candidate’s job history. If there’s a clear progression or logical reason for each move, it may be viewed more positively.
But, candidates shouldn’t always worry about these. Instead, they should be prepared to address these concerns proactively during the interview process to reassure potential employers of their suitability for the role.
Then How Frequently should one change jobs?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
It really depends on the industry, your career goals, and what feels right for you.
Imagine you’re at a restaurant trying out different dishes. You wouldn’t want to take just one bite of each dish and then move on to the next one, right? You’d want to give each dish a fair chance, savor it, and see if it’s something you really enjoy.
Well, changing jobs is a bit like that. You want to give each job enough time to see if it’s the right fit for you. But at the same time, you don’t want to stay too long if it’s not making you happy or helping you grow.
Think of it this way:
Tech Industry: In fast-paced fields like tech, it’s pretty common for candidates to switch jobs every 2-3 years. That’s because the industry moves quickly, and there are always new opportunities popping up. Plus, switching jobs can help you learn new technologies and advance your career.
Retail or Hospitality: Jobs in retail or hospitality might have a bit more stability. It’s not unusual to see people stay in these roles for 3-5 years, especially if they’re moving up the ranks or getting more responsibilities over time.
Creative Industries: If you’re in a creative field like graphic design or writing, changing jobs more often might be seen as a good thing. It shows that you’re versatile and can adapt to different projects and teams.
Healthcare or Education: On the other hand, industries like healthcare or education often value long-term commitment. Employers here might prefer candidates who stick around for 5-10 years or more, especially if they’re in specialized roles or leadership positions.
Just remember to give each job enough time to see if it’s a good fit, but don’t be afraid to move on if it’s not working out.
After all, life’s too short to stick with something that doesn’t make you happy!
Is it good to switch company after 3 years?
I have been suggested many times, that the ideal time to shift companies is 3 years. It is the perfect time because:
- Increment starts declining after 3 years.
- The candidate might stop growing if there is no skill addition
Switching companies after three years can be a good move in many cases, but it really depends on your individual circumstances and career goals.
Let’s break it down with some practical examples:
Think about the Technology Industry or the IT sector
In the IT sector, things move quickly, and staying with one company for too long might mean missing out on valuable learning opportunities.
Let’s say you’ve been working as a software engineer for three years at a tech startup. You’ve gained solid experience, but you feel like you’ve plateaued in your current role.
Switching companies could expose you to new technologies, projects, and ways of working. Plus, it could lead to a bump in salary and benefits.
So, in this case, switching after three years could be a smart move to keep your skills fresh and advance your career.
Suppose you are part of the Healthcare Sector
Now, let’s consider a different scenario in the healthcare sector. You’ve been working as a nurse at a hospital for three years, and you’ve become an integral part of the team.
You enjoy the work, and there are opportunities for advancement within the organization. In this case, it might make more sense to stay put for a bit longer. Building relationships with patients and colleagues takes time, and the stability of staying in one place can be valuable in healthcare settings.
So, switching after three years might not be necessary if you’re happy and seeing growth opportunities within your current role.
You belong to the dynamic Marketing Industry
Lastly, let’s look at the marketing industry. You’ve been working in marketing roles for the past five years, hopping between a couple of different companies along the way.
You’ve gained diverse experience in digital marketing, content creation, and social media management.
However, you’re starting to feel like you’ve hit a ceiling in terms of career advancement. Switching companies now could be a strategic move to find a role with more seniority or a different focus that aligns better with your long-term goals.
So, changing jobs every five years in this case could help you continue growing and evolving in your marketing career.
So….give it a chance.
