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Millennials, Stop Apologizing For Job-Hopping

This article is more than 7 years old.

Reports are mixed on if millennials are actually job-hopping more frequently than previous generations. What is clear is that job-hopping is becoming the norm for the average twenty something.

One LinkedIn study says millennials job-hop more than their predecessors, however this only contains data LinkedIn members actually report. Gen X and Baby Boomer members of the site may be less likely to report their extended history of employment, but rather the few most recent jobs.

On the flip side, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that Baby Boomers job-hopped in their twenties just as frequently as millennials do now.

Regardless of the assumptions and unclear conclusions around young employees, I’m convinced that they shouldn’t apologize for job-hopping. A Careerbuilder survey showed that 45% of employees plan to stay with their employer for less than two years, so we ought to get comfortable with the idea.

Millennials can earn a higher salary, grow their career, change locations more frequently, and find a better cultural fit from job-hopping. The negative stigma is on its way out, so people should lean into the positive outcomes from making a change.

More Money

Most people assume that talented employees who change jobs frequently are always chasing a dollar. This may be partly true, but is only a piece of the puzzle. It’s true that most job-hoppers can raise their salary faster by changing companies than they can by going through the annual review cycle. It certainly doesn’t happen for everyone though.

According to Legal Technology Solutions (LTS) figures, in a healthy economic market, a 8-10% increase is about average for a job change. Other reports show as much as a 20% increase possibility.

In fact, staying at the same employer for over two years on average can cost you 50% or more in lifetime earnings.

If money is your main motivator for work, then job-hopping can certainly help you along the path, especially if you are early in your career.

Many individuals will actually take a pay cut to change jobs, though. A culture mismatch can drive an employee out the door faster than a smaller paycheck can. Poor work-life balance can also contribute to a job change. Working for a purpose is especially important for millennials. Any of these reasons can cause an employee to accept a lower salary in order to change.

Career Growth

A LinkedIn survey on people who have changed jobs showed that 59% of respondents chose their new company because they saw a stronger career path or more opportunity there.

This is a bit of a given for job changers, but many organizations, especially those with fewer employees, are unable to provide the ability to advance through the ranks quickly.

Changing jobs allows employees to be choosy in the direction they head and avoid any preconceived notions from colleagues about their advancement.

Ability To Change Locations

The ability to move to another city with your current employer does not arise often, but moving due to a job change is common. In fact, 77% of Cornerstone survey respondents considered relocating to another city, state, or country as a desirable career move.

Marriage and home ownership are at their lowest rates among young adults, so job relocation becomes easier and more desirable when people have less holding them in place.

Many new employers will also offer relocation packages to employees who relocate to a new city, making it more affordable to discover new places to live.

The Negative Stigma Is Nearly Gone

In days past, HR managers would disregard a resume that shows tenure less than two years at more than one job. These days, the stigma is quickly losing steam. According to a Robert Half survey, 57% of millennials who were asked, “Is job hopping losing its stigma?” responded yes.

As millennials rise into management positions and start hiring other employees, they will change in perspective on job-hopping. To be clear, I don’t see any hiring managers preferring candidates who have been at jobs for a three-month period or less. Transitional job-hopping would involve a change after 12-36 months on the job. Some employers may even prefer candidates who can bring knowledge of their competitor and the ability to learn quickly.

Further, since industries are rapidly changing, don’t be surprised if you rarely see employees who consider themselves “lifers." A 2015 Elance Odesk survey found that 52% of millennials believe employee loyalty is overrated, so the idea of staying with one company for an entire career is unpopular.

Job-hoppers should be prepared to give an explanation for their changes when asked. Employers see some job-hoppers who change to learn new skills, add new challenges, or break into a new industry as top performers.

Culture Fit

Millennials have created waves across thousands of organizations. They prefer to have stronger relationships with their coworkers and blur many of the lines at work that previous generations haven’t.

It’s not surprising that millennials are always on the hunt for the right corporate culture fit. This looks different for each millennial, so don’t be surprised when they aren’t interested in the game tables their company recently had installed in the break room.

A 2015 survey by LinkedIn stated that 36% of respondents changed jobs because they were unsatisfied with the work environment or culture. Couple this stat with the knowledge that millennials are less likely to be loyal to an organization and you’ll find that they will leave in flocks when they don’t see the opportunity for change where they are.