Job hopping
What is it and why is it so common?
Job hopping is a common trend among Millennials and can pose a challenge for companies in terms of talent development. Those born between the early 1980s and the mid-1990s make up nearly a third of the entire workforce, both in Italy and around the world.
While previous generations (Baby Boomers and Generation X) took pride in having a single job for life, the same no longer applies to today’s workers.
Job Hopping: Definition and Translation
As is evident, job hopping literally refers to a worker who jumps from one company to another over relatively short periods of time. This happens due to a radical cultural shift that leads Millennials to not hold the same attachment to job stability that their parents had.
Therefore, their ambition drives them to constantly seek new challenges, easily leaving unfavorable work environments behind.
Job Hopping: who practices it?
Job hoppers are primarily workers aged 25 to 35, who tend to change jobs every two years. This phenomenon is shaped by two key factors:
- on one hand, there is the social aspect: growing economic instability makes it increasingly difficult to secure stable employment, forcing people to hop from one job to another until they find a position where the salary and company policies align with their interests
- on the other hand, there is a radical shift in how Millennials perceive life, being more independent and less attached to the formalities of the past
According to a report published by The Guardian, Millennials don’t expect to work anywhere for more than five years, 90% of respondents refuse to stay in a job for more than five years, and 37% prefer to leave after the second year.
How to Identify a Job Hopper?
Once the initial screening of applications is done for a recruitment process, the first interview with the selected candidate will follow. To identify a job hopper, it’s important to analyze the dates of previous jobs, how long they stayed in their last position, and the reason for resignation or dismissal. At the same time, we need to be able to identify the candidate’s values and interests, as well as the type of information they provide.
Three Types of Job Hoppers?
Naturally, there is a wide variety of reasons that can lead someone to continue job hopping. However, to fully understand the professional, it is essential to grasp the nature of their frequent job changes.
✅ Necessary Job Hopping
This occurs when a person’s profession is simply temporary, or when the relationship with the employer is interrupted.
✅ Job Hopping as an Opportunity
This happens when a person, after a certain period of time, finds an opportunity to develop professionally that offers greater benefits. It’s not just about a salary improvement, but also about the ability to balance personal life with work life.
✅ Problematic Job Hopping
Although it is not the most common type, this category of job hopper is someone who struggles to adapt to the work environment. Difficult bosses, unbearable colleagues, and general negativity are just a few factors to consider during the recruitment process.
The Challenge of Valuing Young Talent
In addition to Millennials, the new workforce entering the market soon will be from Generation Z. A significant challenge for companies in valuing young talent also involves job hopping. In fact, the new generations are even more nonconformist and skeptical towards traditional institutions, including the traditional work environment.
These new generations are more concerned with and oriented towards social, political, ethical, and altruistic causes over their personal gain. This is reflected in the results of a study conducted by Hootsuite, Everything Social Marketers Need to Know About Generation Z. Personal life balance, prioritizing family and friendship bonds, and mental health are just a few of the new generation’s priorities. All of this makes it even more complex to attract young talent in a conventional manner
How to Avoid Job Hopping in Companies
At this point, it is clear that job hopping is inherently bad news for companies, as it affects the ROI (Return on Investment) in the onboarding processes of new employees. The best way to avoid it is, first of all, to optimize the onboarding process, ensuring that new hires are not only capable of fulfilling their daily responsibilities but also align with the company’s values and group dynamics among different teams.
Secondly, we must ensure that we always rely on the concept of people-centricity.
Lastly, but by no means least, we should offer individuals the opportunity to grow with and for the company. This means investing in growth plans that help them envision a medium- to long-term future within the organization.
Job hopping has been around for several years and indicates that the trend of staying in one job for short periods will only increase. It is therefore the responsibility of companies to develop innovative ideas and strategies aimed at attracting, nurturing, and developing the interests and values of their employees to remain operational and competitive in the market.