Job hopping – Boon or Bane, a critical analysis

Changing jobs frequently, within a fixed duration is termed as ‘Job Hoping’. The duration in each job is considered relevant to the sector and the role. At certain jobs, such as BPO, six to eighteen months is a short span. Whereas in manufacturing, even three years can be termed as the same. This may happen due to several reasons. The generalization may not justify the diverse grounds. It may be structural, systematic and individual initiated. The decision to change job is crucial and may blur boundaries. Let’s consider each area to understand what brings it up. The trigger to change jobs depends on the following areas:

Individual initiated: At certain time, due to a misfit between what an individual wants and what is required by the environment, an individual may change jobs. There are several factors which leads an individual to take a call.

Professional: Every professional expects a certain degree of growth in a role. If the current situation doesn’t offer what was expected, it leads to a job change. Though, promotion may not always be the reason greater learning through newer challenges may lead to the clarion call.

Emotional: This becomes reason when there is a dissonance in the values. The employee may look for a fostering environment. Yet, may find the responses from the surrounding, hostile. Office politics are the biggest example of this. Few people may survive as they can attenuate to it. Whereas, others may keep jumping from the boat till they find a favourable environment