Today, job-hopping has become a routine occurrence for many people. This number will probably only continue to grow as employers compete to offer employees more perks and benefits.
It wasn’t that long ago that the ultimate career aspiration was to work for the same company for your entire life. Of course, this is no longer likely to happen, given how rapidly technology advances and changes.
There is nothing wrong with changing jobs if you are not happy with your current position. However, it would help if you weighed the pros and cons before making a final decision. If you are tired of the same old routine at work each day, here are some hard truths to consider before heading off to find a new job.
Job Hopping Impairs Your Career Development
Some employers have a policy against employees who have a history of frequent job-hopping. Since you will be leaving your current position and may not explain, employers may blacklist you as someone who will not stay with the company for long.
Job hopping may cause employers to lose confidence in your work ethic and ability to do the job well, mainly if they frequently see you leave the company without any notice. Therefore, you should carefully consider this before making any decisions to change jobs every few months. The longer you stay in one place, the better opportunities arise for career advancement.
Job Hopping Means Less Security for You
Job hopping may decrease your chances of getting security for employment benefits and obligations such as health insurance and retirement plans. Some employers will refuse to continue these arrangements if they think you will leave the company soon.
Some companies will ask for a higher deductible for health insurance and more money for retirement plans if you have a history of job-hopping. They do this to recover the losses from hiring new employees who do not last long.
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Job Hopping Can Affect Your Contract
If you have a contract with your employer, there is a chance that it may expire when you leave the company. It means that your employer can legally break the contract and stop paying you. As a result, you may have to fight the company in court to get what the company owes you. It can be very disruptive and costly. You may need to seek a legal advisor who can provide you with employment contract services and advice.
There are some instances where you can negotiate with your employer to pay you a sum of money to settle the contract dispute. However, it depends on how hard you have worked for the company and how long you worked there.
Changing Jobs Means Changing Pay
One of the biggest reasons employees decide to quit their jobs and look for a new one is to get a higher salary. It is a great reason to make the switch, especially if your employer underpays you for your work. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that your next employer will be willing to give you a raise in pay or even as much as your current salary.
It could very well go down instead of up. It is difficult to predict what your next paycheck will be. However, you can negotiate a raise before you accept a new position. The good news is that many employers are willing to hire people with a history of job-hopping.
This means that you may negotiate with them to keep their benefits and privileges if you take their first offer. However, it would be best if you prepared that the pay rise may not go as high as you anticipated and most likely will not compensate for the cost of changing jobs.
It would help if you also ensured that the company was stable enough and reputable before accepting a new offer.
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