Job Hopping

Till about a decade ago, job-hopping was not a very popular thing. People spent their entire career life working for the same company and happily retired. But that's history! Today, things have changed immensely and job opportunities have opened up like never before. You are spoilt for choices with lucrative offers, great career options and other perks - things that keep enticing you to frequent job shifts. Experts opine that switching jobs is perfectly fine as long as it’s done sensibly and with justifiable reasons. A recent Bureau of Labour report suggests that people in their 20s change jobs every 18 months and that 75 percent of all workers are job hunting.

Stability is a rare word as companies, under the reeling  pressure to keep up with the roller-coaster economies, indulge in layoffs, downsizing, re-organisation, etc. without prior notice. So obviously as old paths to stability no longer work, the employees do not want to be caught off guard and therefore are on the look out for new openings. Actually speaking, staying in a job forever is today considred a recipe for career suicide.

But wait, there is a word of caution too! Some scoff at the job-hopper word with a sneer. So, if you shift just for the heck of it for frivolous reasons, it serves no purpose; rather harms your prospects. Recruiters also might have reservations about hiring someone who has a frequent job-switching history; essentially because the company wants to hire someone, who will stay and grow with them. Also, mindless job switches tell the prospective employers about your lack of stability. They might brand you a flake who can't stick to a job. Also, they tend to think whether you have been sacked previously or not. So, if you change job and move to another company, do it for more logical reasons like:

• Better opportunity with more responsibilities
• Higher designation with clearly defined roles
• Good salary hike
• Excitement and the desire to learn new things
• Relocation to a better city/ country

Whatever be the reasons, be honest in stating that in your interview. Frequent changing can act as a silver bullet if you are passionate about your career. Switching jobs for more serious engagements in your career could be a smart move. But first understand what motivates you? At the beginning of your career, it is almost impossible to find the job of your liking without trying out a few options. But after a steady growth, you can think of staying at a place for sometime. Here are some ways how frequent job changes can add stability in your life:

• Build your skill sets: See that your learning curve is not straight. The faster you build your skills, the faster you can move out with better jobs.

• Making the most of in-between times: You obviously get some free time at work. Use the same judiciously and explore what interests you. Sometimes you may rediscover what you actally want to do and can then explore further and work towards it. If you want to try something else after a long stint at a particular job, hopping can make the transition easy.

• Building your network: By shifting continuously, you can build a strong network of people. This can be your key to earn more professional respect and secure a job, whenever you need. Keep your contacts alive and don’t burn your bridges. You never know who, when and where from, your dream job wil pop.

Bring in more stability by getting good at choosing jobs for yourself. Remember, stability is when you have a life where you can do what you love, during your life and not at the end of it. But if you are sure you want to take the leap, make sure there is nothing stopping you.