Forget the travel bug, have you been bitten by the job bug?

The pinnacle of any advice when searching for a new job is to not appear ‘jumpy’ on your CV. Job jumping is a debated topic within any industry and in the recruitment world. Some believe it is the fastest way to getting ahead, while a large majority see it as a warning sign of a character flaw.

Are you getting itchy feet and considering moving jobs?

Climbing the career ladder in the 1980’s was considered a reward for loyalty. An individual would be with one company for 40 years and make their way up through multiple management levels and promotions. But as those layers have been stripped away to create minimal team structures, promotions have become fewer and farther between. The new technique to getting ahead is to move from company to company.

For millennial's job jumping is the norm, professionals know how easy it can be to lose a job or be replaced so at the first sign of change or concern they quickly jump ships as a defensive mechanism. There has been a noticeable increase in people side stepping from a role that was only ever intended to be a stepping stone. Professionals well into their 30’s and 40’s are still switching jobs after a short amount of time when it used to be procedure to join a company in your 20’s and stay there till retirement.

Up until perhaps a decade ago, hiring managers and recruitment consultants would frown upon a CV that betrayed you as having a jumpy career. However, this attitude has shifted with industries especially in technology, retail and marketing. Jump careers are now a lifestyle and a necessity to keep up with industry changes especially within start-ups.

In the more traditional industries job jumping is now considered as ambitious and no longer a negative representation of you as an employee. According to some recruitment consultants if you have stayed in a job for longer than five years and are not in a management position, then you have some serious explaining to do.

Does switching jobs regularly really help you get ahead in your career?

This is very much a split opinion across the recruitment industry and with brand hiring managers if switching jobs regularly can help you get ahead. It very much depends on the role itself and what industry you are moving within. For example; a digital designer within the start up sector, may need to change regularly so they can be at the forefront of setting up new websites and managing projects. However, you rarely hear of an analytics professional switching their role even after three – four years.

A recent survey across staffing recruiters, corporate recruiters and hiring managers found that job jumping damages employment prospects more than lack of skill set and unemployment. Unemployment can 90% of the time be explained down to personal circumstance or travelling. According to the results, even though recruiters see a high demand for people in their late 20’s, early 30’s, a 52-year-old with a steady employment history is easier for recruiters to place in a new role than a 30-year-old who has had four jobs in the past two years.

It is important to remember that not all recruiters reject ‘job hoppers’ – you may remember being told if this relates to you, that as long as you have an explanation for the moves then it cannot be held against you.

Can changing jobs so quickly be done right? Is there a way to avoid the bad rep?

As touched upon above, if the reasons someone has made a move makes sense, then it will rarely become an issue. Hiring managers are people. Sometimes it can be down to company issues, redundancy, lack of support, a bad environment or personal reasons as to why you must leave.

A few top tips to consider when looking to leave a role after a short period of time;

• Find a role you can commit to at least 18 months to 2 years of employment. This will give you stability and credibility that you can stay in a role for longer than one year.
• Try as much as possible to not move for the sake of it and on a whim. Sometimes holding out for a little more time can either spark change of heart or give you the chance to find the right role for you.
• Leave your current role better than you found it. No matter if you are in a job for 6 months or 6 years, leave on a high and with the knowledge and reassurance you did an amazing job. Making an impact in each place you go will speak volumes over the time you were there.

Consider these questions when you feel that job bug getting ready to bite;

• What do you have now?
• What do you really want?
• What is missing?
• Who can help you with your decision?
• What is the plan of action for my career?

The trouble with itchy feet in a job is that it can sometimes pass very quickly. If you have looked for a new role and on the first try found a job and been given an offer, the excitement can sometimes leave quicker than expected. But, if you can leave the company better than you found it, then your move is likely to have positive results for both yourself, your past employer and your future employer.