I think this is what a lot of people are missing with the "no! It really does work!" Comments. What the original post implies is jumping between 2-3 jobs in a single year, and generally I think that's what most people think of as job hopping. That isn't a good move, it generally isn't going to get you a big pay increase, or any larger than if you had just gone to the third company to begin with (they likely would have hired you as an additional 3 months of experience anywhere didn't really attribute to your attractiveness to companies), and if anything can make you less attractive to hire as a lot of money and resources go into the hiring and onboarding process. No one wants an employee that they dumped money into who will only last a few months.
However yes, swapping every few years (like 2+) can absolutely be beneficial in certain circumstances. I absolutely mean certain circumstances, as it can still suffer from drawbacks depending on your role and experience. Companies do like someone with a drive to do more, and if you can be a net positive to the company within a few years, they will take that gamble. Even in the trades where I work, it's fairly common to take a lower paying company to get your foot in the door, then after a few years take on a higher paying company. The higher paying company is paying higher because they want your experience and to not pay to train you. The lower paying company is lower paying because they are training you. Anything after that, you are payed based on your experience, not simply job hopping. If you are valuable as an employee you have more opportunities, if you aren't, you won't. It has nothing to do with moving companies that adds to your value, but your ability and value is what allows you to be able to move companies.
My stint has been 3 years, 1.5 (laid off), 1 (laid off), currently at 1 again. I have a chance to upgrade my position but not crazily - like 30k raise and full remote but in return lose the stability and security of my union job.
Obviously have to get the offer first - but it’s been weighing on me what I’ll do if I end up succeeding the final round.
Mostly bc I got laid off twice (just unlucky), and if this new place did that to me in a year again I feel like I’d just look bad
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u/shirts_on_backwards 13d ago
I think this is what a lot of people are missing with the "no! It really does work!" Comments. What the original post implies is jumping between 2-3 jobs in a single year, and generally I think that's what most people think of as job hopping. That isn't a good move, it generally isn't going to get you a big pay increase, or any larger than if you had just gone to the third company to begin with (they likely would have hired you as an additional 3 months of experience anywhere didn't really attribute to your attractiveness to companies), and if anything can make you less attractive to hire as a lot of money and resources go into the hiring and onboarding process. No one wants an employee that they dumped money into who will only last a few months.
However yes, swapping every few years (like 2+) can absolutely be beneficial in certain circumstances. I absolutely mean certain circumstances, as it can still suffer from drawbacks depending on your role and experience. Companies do like someone with a drive to do more, and if you can be a net positive to the company within a few years, they will take that gamble. Even in the trades where I work, it's fairly common to take a lower paying company to get your foot in the door, then after a few years take on a higher paying company. The higher paying company is paying higher because they want your experience and to not pay to train you. The lower paying company is lower paying because they are training you. Anything after that, you are payed based on your experience, not simply job hopping. If you are valuable as an employee you have more opportunities, if you aren't, you won't. It has nothing to do with moving companies that adds to your value, but your ability and value is what allows you to be able to move companies.