Is job hopping helpful or harmful?

For many of us, the path to professional success isn't a straight line. We start in one field and spend years developing our skills, then make a bold move into another industry or market segment. If you're reading this article, you may be thinking about job hopping—and wondering if it's the right choice for you.

In this article we'll look at both sides of the argument: how job hopping can help your career, and how it could hurt. Then we'll explore what you need to consider as you think through your decision.

Job hopping benefits

Here are some of the benefits of job hopping:

• Job hopping can help you learn new skills. When you change jobs, you’re exposed to a new set of responsibilities and challenges that may force you to tackle tasks that were outside your comfort zone. By taking on these unfamiliar roles and responsibilities, you gain valuable experience in different areas and improve your ability to adapt to future changes or unexpected circumstances.
• Job hopping allows you to get promoted more quickly than if you stayed at one company for too long. If the position that’s available is higher up than the one where they currently work (and they feel like they have what it takes), job hoppers are more likely than non-job hoppers to apply for it because they want something better for themselves—and their career path as well!
• Meeting people is another top benefit of job hopping: While most people think about this only from an interpersonal standpoint (i.e., meeting friends or romantic partners), many others see this aspect positively as well—for example when one needs someone who knows their field well enough without having worked together before so they can learn something new from them efficiently without risking too much time spent together on things unrelated such as office gossip...

Job hopping drawbacks

There are also some drawbacks to job hopping. It can be a sign of a lack of commitment, loyalty and ambition. You may not get the loyalty bonus or career advancement opportunities you would have earned if you stayed at one company for a long time.

Also, employers might perceive job hoppers as risky employees who are not reliable and don't stay for long-term purposes. Job hopping can also affect your resume because it shows that you're jumping from company to company and never committing yourself fully to any particular work place or role in life (aside from being registered as unemployed).

What to do if you want to job hop

• Research the company - Do they have a good reputation? Are they growing? Are they financially stable? Do they have a buzzing social media presence?
• Research the industry and market - How do you see them compared to others in terms of size and influence, as well as their influence on society at large, such as having an impact on politics or making social change
• Research the job itself - What are your responsibilities, duties and tasks as it relates to this position/company/industry
• Research the team you'd be working with by interviewing people who work there already or who used to work there (and ask them why they left) (or just simply searching for reviews online)
• Research whether or not this city is one where you want to live long-term based on weather conditions; cost of living; access to public transportation; safety concerns etc., especially if you're relocating from somewhere else like another country or state/province

How to stay the course

• Ask yourself if you are ready to leave your current job

If you are not 100% sure that it's time for a change, then stay put. If you want to be sure before making any rash decisions about leaving, ask yourself:

• Do I feel like I'm not growing at this company?
• Am I feeling stuck in my role?
• Is there anyone at my company who inspires me and pushes me forward? Or am I surrounded by people who keep telling me that this is all there is and that's all they've ever done?
• Ask yourself if your current position is right for your future goals or career path

The decision to job hop should be carefully considered.

Job hopping is not for everyone. If you're in a position where there's no opportunity to grow, or if you need job security to support yourself or your family, then it may be better for you to stay put. You should also consider how long the average person stays at a job before quitting and remember that there are many factors that affect this statistic (such as location). In addition, make sure that the time you spend at each of your jobs helps move toward your career goals rather than just filling time between gigs. It can be harmful if someone doesn't know what they want out of life and simply hops from one thing to another without any real purpose behind their decisions. However, job hopping could be beneficial if used as part of an overall plan in which steps are taken towards achieving certain goals (and those steps include leaving one job in favor of another).

Conclusion

Job hopping can be a risky move these days, because recessions and economic uncertainty are common. But it can also be beneficial for millennials who want to switch between careers. While I’d say that job hopping is still a good idea for many people, especially if your current employer doesn’t offer the development opportunities you need and want, there are many things you should take into consideration before making that leap. For example, there may be a reason why they don’t offer those opportunities: maybe they can’t afford them or perhaps they don’t believe in investing heavily in their employees' personal growth outside of training programs (which can be helpful but often only last a few months at most). So really think about what kind of change would actually make sense for you right now—and not just because it's trendy!