• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer

PHONE: 240-277-6224|EMAIL: meredithtseu@gmail.com

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

MLT Careers

Love Mondays Again

  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Serve
  • Services
  • Testimonials
    • Resume Samples
  • Blog
  • Contact

Job Hopping Syndrome: Can It Really Be a Problem?

April 20, 2022 by Meredith Tseu

The generations view job changes differently. Many Boomer workers have spent their entire career with one employer. They don’t understand why my job seeker clients need help. Why don’t they just stay in their jobs?

The world of work has changed so much. Even if someone wanted to stay with one company long term, mergers, acquisitions, and other changes prevent that. So, it’s not unusual to see someone go from job to job today in a short term. This isn’t the red flag it used to be for a hiring manager.

Could You Have Job Hopping Syndrome?

In some cases, past trauma can be an issue. If someone working in the restaurant industry encountered harsh management, they may feel triggered to quit their job when the same situation comes up again. They are good at their job, and everyone is looking for a good server. It’s an easy decision to switch jobs. But they should watch out for this pattern.

The job market is unfair with discrimination and ageism, sexism, all kinds of ableism—all the isms are there. You can’t say that staying somewhere is always the healthier choice. It may not be. A workplace can be very dysfunctional or unhealthy in some ways. Sticking it out might not be in the best interest of your mental health. In fact, some industries are brutal. Legal assistants in downtown D.C. are a good example. You hear terrible stories of what happens to them right out of college in big law firms. Journalism, where I got my start, can be a vicious field, too. I’ve been in workplaces where editors threw chairs!

My response to that kind of toxic environment: always be mindful of what a job is bringing up emotionally for you. You don’t have to be a robot going along without feelings; but if you find you leave jobs repeatedly, consider if you are in the right field!

Examine Your Choices

I recommend Hand Me Down Dreams by Mary K. Jacobsen for info on why we find ourselves in jobs that are not a good fit. Sometimes we inherit career dreams of our families and try to live them out. If we aren’t careful, we may end up in a profession that is perfectly respectful for others in our family, but it’s not for us.

You can try your very best to try to stick it out in these professions, but deep down you know it’s not for you. Maybe you try another version of it, like another law firm. Well, maybe it’s not the firm. Maybe law isn’t for you, and you are meant to be doing something else.

Want to Stop Job Hopping?

Take a look at your job opportunities for insight into your next career move. Create a decision grid, where you list your qualities and values. Check off the ones that match what you are finding at the different companies. You probably won’t find the “perfect job,” but try to get as many hits as you can. It’s a start toward greater career growth.

No matter what the results, the act of sitting down and creating the list of criteria is empowering. It’s a step that can bring clarity. It allows you to say, “No more of this.” And at least you are not procrastinating on your search!

Do a work history review. You should see constant evolution, but this does not always show up as linear growth. You might make lateral moves, change industries, and change careers. You’re allowed to do that at any age.

I don’t buy into the musical chairs concept that at age fifty, the music stops, and we’re all stuck in our chairs. If we live to eighty and want to work for the rest of our years, then why not change careers at fifty, sixty, or even eighty?

Explaining What Happened

If you are someone who stays at jobs a long time, will that you get farther in your career? And is the opposite true? Too many job changes can have an impact on us, and those who support us. Our network of friends and family can be a good mirror when our tendency to leave jobs is having a bad effect.

Some people who are older than us might have less job hopping. Some people who are younger might have more. But if you can stick out jobs for at least a year, you’re better off. If not, you’re going to have some explaining to do. And it’s okay to have explaining to do, but what’s your explanation?

There are personal reasons: we’re mad at our boss, and we quit. We make that decision on our own.

Then there are factors outside of our control. We are fired, meaning the termination is caused by something we do. These situations happen, sometimes through no fault of our own. They can even happen repeatedly! That’s tough to come back from.

Or we get laid off, meaning the employer is responsible. A merger and acquisition situation might cause you to be let go because you’re redundant. The firm you’re merging with has a version of you in it. That’s not your fault!

Or technology can cause your job to be automated. Again, not your fault.

Beware the Quick Job Search!

While waiting, some seekers pick up short-term employment or term jobs to get their foot in the door. For example, software developers pick up a job from a job board. They leave when the project is finished, or they get hired away before the term is up. It’s not uncommon. It doesn’t reflect poorly on them.

But sometimes we are too eager to end our search. We don’t ask for the money we deserve. We settle. That’s too bad! Nobody wins if you don’t negotiate for what you want. You should always shoot for the best terms. Gain negotiating skills so you don’t leave behind a lot of money and benefits. Learn to work them into the deal.

It’s OK if you do settle. Maybe this is just one step of many. But always keep your preferences in mind. If you want longer term work, or to make more money, go for it.

The Final Word

Whatever you do, keep your network in mind. That’s your stability in this world. Some people think networking is a dirty word, but it’s a great backup plan. The value of network is that it covers your contingencies. There’s a lot of value in that!

Share this post:

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn Share on Email
Category: mltcareers

About Meredith Tseu

What do you get when you combine a B.A. in religion and an M.A. in counseling with stints as a journalist and career coach? In my case, you get a resume writer and job-hunt coach with decades of experience helping job seekers find their true north.

Previous Post: « Sample Letter Explaining Gap in Employment
Next Post: A Teacher Career Change Resume Example »

Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • How to Get a Job After Four Years’ Gap
  • How to Find a Job After a Long Gap
  • Crafting Your Teacher Resume for a Career Change
  • Job Hopping in Your 20s? Five Ways to Explain It
  • Your Employment Gap: An Explanation Letter Sample

Enter your info to receive your free guide, 3 ways to use your non-traditional background to get the interview!

MLTCareers-LeadMagent

mltcareers

MEREDITH TSEU, CPRW

Ellicott City, MD

Phone: 240-277-6224

Email: meredithtseu@gmail.com

PHONE

240-277-6224

EMAIL

meredithtseu@gmail.com

FOLLOW US

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Copyright © 2022 · MLT Careers · All Rights Reserved.

  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Sitemap
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Go to mobile version