Have you thought about quitting your job? Maybe the culture is not the right fit for you, or your employer is a micromanager who does not know how to effectively lead team on a larger scale. Whether to hop or not, is the real question. While the term is relatively recent, the idea is as simple as it gets; if you don’t like where you work, you quit—at least on the surface.
This blog post will explore why is it so popular among younger workers especially, whether is it beneficial or not for the companies, what are the major reasons for job switching, and how it affects a worker’s mental health.
What is Job Hopping & Switching?
A job hopper is a common term referring to someone who frequently switches jobs. Whether it is for better pay, seeking new challenges, or leaving a bad working environment, moving between jobs is now seen as a common reality in most people’s working lives. While the majority of employers and managers consider it as a red flag, this trend is exponentially growing.
Let’s get into more depth to find out the common reasons for job hopping/switching
Major Reasons for Job Hopping
Some common causes are:
- One of the most common reasons for job switching is dissatisfaction at work
- Enough room for personal and professional development with the company is also another reason to factor in
- Repetitive or monotonous everyday tasks
- Not getting enough job benefits or financial compensation
- Being unsure of which career move is best for them
- Seeking new challenges in one’s professional life
These factors can affect an employee all at once as well, putting stress on them which in turn affects their productivity at work. The reactive decision of moving too quickly can put them in a tough situation other than seeking the right opportunity for them, even though the short-term benefits might be appealing.
Let’s have a look at some advantages and disadvantages of hopping a job.
Pros of Job-Hopping/Switching
Some prominent benefits include:
· Sharpened adaptability skills
When talking about the benefits, switching job frequently enhances the adaptability skills within individuals. A person gets new experiences, meets new colleagues with varied skill sets, and gets to experience new roles and responsibilities.
· Improved communication
Another benefit it provides to individuals is improving their communication skills. This soft skill when developed in people can help them boost their careers as well as grow in their personal and professional life.
· Increased salary
Based on your years of experience, you can get a high paid job as well, which is a major factor in overall job satisfaction.
· Diversified skillset
Every workplace or environment has a different demand and requires work as per their criteria. When a person switches the job frequently, he/she gets to work in a varied workplace of different types and sizes, which eventually increases their skillset. This diversified skillset can have a positive impact on their resume.
Cons of Job-Hopping/Switching
Some disadvantages include:
· Lost benefits
Job switching comes with some cons as well. Among all is losing the benefits or perks of being an old employee. When you start a new job, you have to start it all from square one. So, you lose something to get something.
· Stigma
There is a stigma around job hopping. The employers don’t think of job hoppers as loyal team members to the company. This can lead to less autonomy and growth potential, as the managers might consider them a liability. It can end up leading to more job hopping for the employee as well as the manager needs to be able to trust them to stay.
How It Affects a Person’s Mental Health
If an employee does not have a clear vision or mindset or reason for leaving the job, this may put them at risk of dissatisfaction. So, they are in a constant urge of being in a better place. This makes them feel stressed and anxious at times which in turn affects their mental health.
There is an increased risk of sickness absence, which lowers their productivity. It also can create certain problems for employers as well, the time and effort they in hiring new personnel is irreversible. Alongside this, a company’s work operations seem to cease for longer than usual while hiring a new workforce.
What to Do?
For this very reason, it is advised that employers have open communication with their staff members to find the root cause of the problem. A good start can be to put all employees in the same page, and provide them an atmosphere where they can feel comfortable.
Some courses they can offer include workplace stress training and mental health awareness training, which helps others take their mental health and of others more seriously.
To Finish
There are both pros and cons involved when it comes to switching to a new job or opportunity. Employers and managers need to take into account the major reasons behind staff turnover and analyze the problem to resolve it.
Along with this, employees also need to be clear in their heads and have a valid reason to leave an old place. This content has covered some of these.
