Rules are constantly changing. While it was once ideal to stay with one job for most of your career, many employers now value candidates who have changed jobs every few years.
Let’s compare the pros and cons of staying with one job as opposed to being a job hopper.
The Pros
- Gaining expertise: The longer you are there, the more practiced you become at your job, AND the more likely you’ve earned yourself a mentorship position. A significant length of time means that you’ve had time to gain expertise in the company. If you’ve been a consistent member of your work team and have demonstrated your loyalty and ability to produce high-quality work, your employer may consider you for promotion over newer employees.
- Predictability: The longer you stay with a company, the easier it is to plan your personal life. You can predict with accuracy the time you will leave work, when you will have vacations, and other factors that will affect your life outside of the office.
- Dependability and trustworthiness: Your employers clearly trust you if you are still there years later. Your employer can rely on you as a good worker who is loyal to the company.
- Stability: By remaining at a company for many years, you have a heightened sense of job security. You know the strength of the company and feel comfortable with your position.
The Cons
- Risk of complacency: As the job gets easier, you may lose interest in your work. Because it can be costly for businesses to change their methods and systems for producing work, many businesses continue to use the same processes for years… perhaps even decades. Unfortunately, this means that long-term employees can fall behind in their growth tract.
- Lower earning potential: Statistically, you are way more likely to boost your salary by switching jobs rather than relying on a promotion.
- Missed opportunities to network: By staying at a job too long, you may not be able to grow your network. It may be difficult to meet new people and grow your skills, knowledge, and reach within the industry.
- Lack of motivation: While remaining with a job may provide stability, many people just remain at the same position. Changes in title, pay, and responsibilities can encourage motivation. Employers want to see growth, professionally and personally.
- Area of expertise may be limited: Most companies have a certain way they do business, so you will have less exposure to different methods and styles. It may be difficult for you if you move to a different company after being exposed to limited methods of doing business for extended periods of time.
It’s important to find a balance between staying at a job and looking for a new one. If you have been with your current company for a long time and they are still providing new opportunities, then it’s perfectly fine to stay there. But if you have been in the same position for years with little or no growth, it may be time to discover new opportunities.
JDI can provide a career consultation to help you determine what path is best for your career. Contact us today for a consultation.