Does HR Prefer Job Hoppers?

Jump, Don’t Jump … Jump: Years ago, having a spotty job history was a surefire way to get eliminated from consideration when applying for a job. Human resources directors generally frowned on people who moved from job to job, interpreting it as a lack of commitment (and by extension, dependability). That was then. Now, it is the person who stays with the same company that is apt to apt to be viewed unfavorably, according to Dr. Judith Sills. In a column published in Psychology Today, Sills writes: “A person who stays with the same company for more than five years—without signs of skyrocketing upward—might trigger suspicions” about lack of initiative. Over the course of their careers, however, Sills notes that most workers look to do both: jump when a good opportunity presents itself, even while pursuing the ideal job. “The trick is to get your timing right,” Sills says.

The article provides food for thought for job seekers, who may need to be aware of changing attitudes toward switching jobs. It also gives HR professionals reasons to consider creative ways of keeping people interested in their work, such as job rotation or other types of on-the-job training experiences.