corporate jobs: job hopping? (employees, apply, average, interviewing)

[sunkilmoon]

for some reason i can settle down at a job, but i don't want it to look that way. I have about 2.5 years of work experience, and have already worked at 2 Fortune 500 companies...now I'm looking to move to another. i really don't like job hopping, but this next one seems like a really great opportunity.

is it too much job hopping? should i stick out my current position for at least 1 year?

thanks

[Hopes]

What industry? Your specific talent in that industry? That's relevant because some careers hop more than others.

If your career isn't in an industry where hopping excessively isn't the norm, consider staying where you're at and hopping within the company.

If you want to apply just to see if you get the offer and if the offer is sweet enough, go for it. You don't have to accept the job.

Make sure you don't burn any bridges if you're blowing through all of the employers in your region.

[manderly6]

I can tell you this would absolutely be an issue if you were interviewing in my department. You would definitely be looked at as a flight risk unless you have a very compelling story for why you were looking to move again.

[kattwoman2]

As Hopes mentioned, some jobs are actually more suitable for job hopping than others. It's better to stick it out for at least a year or two, but if this job seems even better then you could accept this job and spend a few years there. Though, I wouldn't recommend transferring again for at least a few years.

[hnsq]

Originally Posted by sunkilmoon

for some reason i can settle down at a job, but i don't want it to look that way. I have about 2.5 years of work experience, and have already worked at 2 Fortune 500 companies...now I'm looking to move to another. i really don't like job hopping, but this next one seems like a really great opportunity.

is it too much job hopping? should i stick out my current position for at least 1 year?

thanks

Stick with a given company for 2-3 years at a time until you get to mid-level management. Changing companies more often than every two years is showing future bosses that you will abandon them for a higher paycheck, and no one wants to hire someone who will be disloyal. In the corporate world, your reputation is your most valuable asset.

[katestar]

I don't want to highjack the thread, but is relocation a sufficient enough reason? How could you prove to a potential employer that you are here to stay?

[tuteishungry]

All the above are great explanations. I don't work in HR but I do work closely with them since i'm a supervisor. I would definitely be wary of hiring you if i'm looking for someone that wants a career not a little job you're not going to take seriously. But there's a fine line between working at one position to short and too long. I've been told if you don't grow in a company and have been in the same position for 5+ it's also an issue. Isn't that weird?

Either way, I think the employer would be concerned in hiring you.

[Spokanejobseeker]

Employers want loyalty but how loyal are they to their employees right now? According to predicitions we are going to see a job hopping trend coming soon similar to the one the job market saw in the 90s with the Dot.com boom due to the number of Baby Boomers that will be exiting the job market. It might be your industry or it could that you are at the tip of the spear of a very near future trend. If this other company offers you a better deal and you like the company, and see yourself enjoying working there, I say take the offer.

[Charles]

My personal experience (if it helps) starting in Dec 1986
Dec 86 - March 91
March 91-Jan 97
Jan 97 - Feb 2005 (same company as 4/2006-2/2010)
Feb 2005 - April 2006 (shortest time)
April 2006-Feb 2010 (same company as 1/97-2/2005)
Feb 2010 - present

Three to five years is probably a nice time to be at a company. If you can leave after then for a 15%-20% raise then it is probably OK. Do that a couple times and most likely you'd do better in the long run than sticking with one company for 40 years at a 3%-4% average increase.

[manderly6]

Of course it is all relative. If the employer is looking at 10 resumes and they all have short time periods of work then it won't look odd. If 7 of the ten show longer work time periods it could stand out.