Changing Jobs: Why It’s Good To Switch it Up.

March 30, 2012

It seems like people are changing jobs more and more often these days. As a recruiter I see it as a great thing! Some hiring managers wary of “job hoppers,” but that shouldn’t always have such a negative connotation attached to it. It is especially common with those in their 20s to switch it up more. On average, people in their 20s change jobs every 1.5 years, and those are in their 30s are likely to switch it up, but not as frequently as twentysomethings.

That makes sense to me – I’m a twentysomething. At that age you are really trying to find your sweet spot in a career. You’re figuring out what makes you happy and searching for more experience – entry level jobs sometimes are not really meant for more than a  year’s worth of work to get your off your feet and discover your strengths (and weaknesses).

So to those suffering at a job that doesn’t work for them, but aren’t searching for other opportunities because they don’t want to be a “job hopper” – I got news for you. It’s normal to make a change, and it could be good for your long-term success. Especially if you’re in an environment that is not a good fit, there is never an excuse to be miserable at work.

It’s important to diversify your experience. There is almost always a learning curve at an organization and it is possible to reach the ceiling of what your company has to offer for you. Instead of leveling out on experience and sticking with your company for the annual raise – seek out opportunities that will challenge you. Those that are always seeking a challenge make great employees – not to be confused with candidates that are looking for the “next best thing” with a “the grass is always greener” mentality. The former is referring to those that have not reached their potential but are just trying to find an easier route out of work. The latter is for those that have become subject matter experts at their duties and it’s time to find a company that will offer a more challenging role.

From my experience working with candidates that have a lengthier list of past jobs, they know exactly what they want and what they are capable of.  They are to-the-point and fairly confident. They have specific reasons why they did leave their last job – not because they were fired or something sketchy. It’s because they did not feel motivated and they took it upon themselves to change that. They are go-getters, they know the market, and they have worked with many different types of people in different environments. They have taken the best pieces of their previous experience and have formed it into a truly unique type of experience. These types of attributes in an employee typically make them an asset.

There is no reason to accept your current employment situation if you find yourself to be complacent, unmotivated (unhappy), with similarly-minded co-workers. Take the initiative to explore other opportunities, a conversation to learn could never hurt and it might turn out to be the best decision to improve your career.

Recruiting Lead - Software

<strong>Katy Smigowski</strong> is the Recruiting Lead-Software at <a href="https://www.fitbit.com/">Fitbit</a>, where she is directly managing sourcing team, recruiting process and recruiting strategy dedicated to driving software hiring in our Boston office. Prior to Fitbit, she was a Talent Specialist at OpenView responsible for recruiting initiatives for both the firm and its portfolio companies.