In a world where job security has risen in importance many people are afraid of job hopping. But it remains a very strategic career tool if you are able to utilise is. Job hopping historically has been seen as an indication of a lack of loyalty; naivety which is the luxury of youth; a display of an employee who lacks self-awareness or an inability to adjust or an individual who is merely money hungry.
Hopping from employer to employer allows the employee to gather expertise, experience and coverage of arenas that allow them to gather best practice from across an industry or organisation, allowing the employee to become the jack of all trades and potentially being able to drive innovation and implement new industry trends.
There is a disadvantage however of moving too soon allows you to gain superficial experience. In climbing the corporate ladder you are usually given a probation period of three to twelve months in order for you to gain an understanding of the role. To master the role and become proficient usually takes eighteen to twenty four months, so moving prior to that can be disadvantageous. In considering if and when to move you must carefully weigh the pros and cons.
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Leaping from an old career to a new career where you might not have as much experience requires you to answer a number of questions. The first being am I internally ready for the external changes such as being in a new environment or earning less pay? How will I effectively explain my reason for job hopping to both the recruiter and the potential new employer? How can I show my previous experience no matter how brief would add value to the new role I would be taking on? In effectively answering these interrogations one can effectively address any concerns that a potential employer may have in considering hiring you.
In job hopping you must ensure the decision to jump ship is aligned with your career strategy. You must be able to mitigate or accept the risk that comes with incessant changing of employers. You must be able to satiate your potential new employer when they as: “Why are you leaving your current role?”. If in doubt make sure you liaise with your career coach or a mentor to give you fresh insights regarding the ramifications of your decision and how to better position yourself.
Vumile is the Chief Executive officer for Hesed Consulting which a coaching and consulting firm specializing in commerce acceleration; career coaching; women empowerment; facilitation and training on the African continent, with presence in Nigeria; South Africa; Botswana; Rwanda and affiliates in Namibia; Ghana and Uganda. She has previously worked for reputable multi-national institutions such as Barclays, Investec, Nedbank, First National Bank and Vodafone. Vumile is an Operations; Finance and Strategy executive with experience in both the telecommunications and finance sectors. She has successfully led global teams in Africa (Nigeria; Kenya; Democratic Republic of Congo; Zambia; Lesotho; Ghana; Tanzania; Mozambique and South Africa); and Europe (Scotland; Isle of Man and England).
