Should you stay in your current position or jump ship for a potential better opportunity? ?Here are the arguments for both sides.
It wasn?t that long ago when a resume filled with short stints at different jobs could kill your chances of getting ahead.
But the days when employees would get a gold watch or a bronze plaque for 20-plus years of service are mostly over. U.S. workers stayed in one job an average of 4.6 years in 2014, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A recent PayScale survey found that only 13% of millennials believe workers should stay in a job for at least five years as opposed to 41% of boomers who favored hanging on.
What makes a person a job hopper? Data from Ajilon, a career services firm, revealed that HR professionals didn?t totally agree on a definition. Some 51% believe changing jobs once a year qualifies, while 34% stretch that to every two years.
It also depends on the industry. A survey by CareerBuilder found that certain sectors were more likely to see workers move around more frequently:
? Information Technology?42% are likely to leave their jobs within 1-2 years.
? Leisure & Hospitality?41% are likely to leave their jobs within 1-2 years.
? Transportation?37% are likely to leave their jobs within 1-2 years.
? Retail?36% are likely to leave their jobs within 1-2 years.
? Manufacturing?32% are likely to leave their jobs within 1-2 years.
While attitudes about changing jobs frequently are shifting, there are definite pros and cons to skipping around as opposed to staying put. Stay too long and you might be considered not ambitious or able to adapt to a new role. Skip out too soon and run the risk of being perceived as unable to commit and be loyal to an employer.
THE CASE FOR LEAVING YOUR JOB
More Money
If you want to earn more, it may be best to leave your current position and seek out one that will bump up your salary. The average raise last year was just 3% which outpaces inflation but doesn?t actually line your pockets.
ONE ESTIMATE SUGGESTS THAT STAYING AT A JOB FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS COULD MAKE YOU EARN HALF OF WHAT YOU MIGHT IF YOU JUMPED SHIP.
If you leave though, you could earn as much as 10%-20% more than you do in your current position. One estimate suggests that staying at a job for more than two years could make you earn half of what you might if you jumped ship. Just don?t forget to negotiate wisely when you do get a better offer.
Bigger, Better Network
Those who?ve been working in a variety of places are able to grow their networks without necessarily having to attend a cocktail party or send a cold email to a friend of a friend on LinkedIn. Four out of ten people found their “best” role through a personal connection.
A healthy network can be as valuable to a new employer as a skill set. It also broadens the potential pool of people who can provide you with a good reference. It helps to remember that and you can get better at it with practice.
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