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Job hopping has become increasingly prevalent, especially for those in their early 20s who are just starting out in their careers.
This trend, which actually began before the pandemic, truly took off during the pandemic, when employees – rather than sticking with an employer for at least a year or so – started leaving companies within a matter of months, or even mere weeks after joining.
- In 2022, workers aged 20 and older spent a year or less at their jobs, marking the “highest percentage with a tenure that short since 2006,” as indicated in the article. Additionally, around 33 percent of workers aged 20-plus spent two years or less at their employers. Furthermore, a survey conducted in May revealed that 74 percent of workers between the ages of 18 and 26 were either currently looking for another job or planning to do so in the “next six months.” (This article was published August 8.)
Despite the cooling in the job market over the past few months, this job-hopping trend is expected to continue at pace, if not escalate.
On average, individuals tend to stay in a job for 4.1 years, and this tenure tends to increase with age: after all, as we progress in life, we tend to take on more responsibilities such as marriage, family, larger financial commitments such as homes, retirement planning, which necessitate a degree of income stability.
So, go ahead: “hop at it!”
But plan to slow down your hops by your late 20s or so. Certainly by your early 30s.
Why? Because employers will start wondering about your maturity/ability to make a commitment.
Even if you’re still in your 20s, having a history of leaving three or more employers during this period can lead employers to question your decision-making skills and judgment. Hiring managers also find it challenging to assess a person’s performance in a job that lasted less than two years.
GOOD NEWS? – There IS a solution to job hopping
One which allows you to move from company to company, earn a higher income and acquire valuable new skills, all while maintaining a stable employment history.
Working as a contractor with companies like ours offers you the opportunity to work long-term with exceptional organizations that value your high-level skills.
Contract assignments can span from months to years.
Whether you move from one three-month contract to another lasting a year, and then to a four-week project, followed by a four-year engagement, you’re still EMPLOYED by us.
In other words, your resume will consistently reflect your employment with one primary employer.
This way, you can reap all the benefits of job hopping without the associated downsides.
The advantages of this are:
- Higher Salary: Working as a contractor does tend to pay more than being an employee for a company. How much more? For example, com reported in 2019 that the average salary for “tech pros” that were employed by a company was a bit more than $93K. But a contractor, who was assigned to the company by a staffing firm, made about $98K. Salaries are higher now, but we wanted to give you a bonafide example.
- Comprehensive Benefits: Working on a contract basis under the aegis of a company such as ours means you also receive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; a 401(k) plan; flexible spending accounts (FSAs) as well as health spending accounts (HSAs); an employee assistance program; and more.
- Supportive Recruitment: This means, as a Dexian contractor, you have a dedicated recruiter who can help you transition seamlessly between contracts ensuring minimal gaps in income. In other words, no weeks without a salary.
If you’re going to “job hop,” hop on over to Dexian!
Take a look at our current job opportunities and apply to all those that appeal to you. Even better, send us your resume because we often fill positions before they are listed on our website.
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