Are job jumping and career success related? What effect does one have on the other? How long is too long to stay in a company? I have to admit, the resumes that cross my desk lead me to conclude that layoffs are very common.
Job hoppers do this for a variety of reasons. Often times, they may not know what they're getting into. Sometimes it's because they don't know what they want and therefore aren't ready for the challenges ahead. Job jumping and career success are interrelated.
I think skipping a job negatively affects career success. Think about it, what signals are you sending to your potential employer if you are fired too often?
Two Year Rule
I have a two-year rule that I tell my employees and potential employees. The two-year rule is this – you must be mentally willing to spend at least two years with the company before you leave. The reason is this; You have to deal with the learning curve. If you skip work too often, you won't learn anything important.
It takes at least a year for me to know the ins and outs of the company. Then you have another year before you can be truly productive about adding value to the company. It will take me at least two years to see the real results of your contribution to the company. So, if you're prone to job-skipping and career success is on your mind, it's time to rethink.
Educating You
Many established companies have training programs. They are willing to invest in recent graduates and startups. However, they need to look at their past performance records before they can make that decision. Ask yourself, if you're a manager - who would you most invest your training time and money in? Is it a Job-hopper with a Job-hop inclination or a stable person? Companies are more likely to invest in stable people. The reason is simple. They can contribute back to the company. Everyone wins. If you're constantly skipping work, you're sending a signal that you're not ready to commit.
Companies like to invest in people who see their career goals aligned with their corporate goals. Job seekers often don't see career paths beyond next year.
Reducing the Incidence of Dropouts
One of the best ways to stop jumping out of work is to know what you really want. Once you know this, you will be a single focus in the pursuit of your career goals. Of course, it's understandable that this is hard to know as a recent graduate or a newbie. You may also be interested in other industries.
If there are other areas of interest, make a plan to learn them. Start with the Internet and then ask your friends who know people in these areas. talk to them; Ask them about the company's expectations and the role of the position you're interested in.
You may not have all the answers, but at least you'll get an idea. This will reduce your chances of being fired.
Make Learning a Key Aim
If you're new to the workforce and have been skipping jobs for a while, my advice to you is – find what you really want. Once you know this, find a company that is willing to provide training or find out how their employees are willing to commit to their careers in the long run. If there are structured training programs, join them.
Make learning relevant skills and knowledge in that industry your primary goal. The skills and knowledge you learn will contribute to your career success in the long run. Something you can take with you for the rest of your life. Once you see the benefits of sticking with a company that has been willing to train you for more than two years, hopefully you won't be out of work as often anymore.
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