Well, the deed is done at work. Monday, I informed my team of my impending departure, and they didn’t “Effective Immediately” me like I was half-expecting. Which means if all goes according to plan, one week from today will be my last day at TobacCo.
Surprisingly though, instead of being hit with a barrage of project tickets, that well has all but dried up. Maybe this is just a normal business ebb, but we are nearing month’s end, so it’s a bit unusual. I told my team to take advantage of me while they can, but so far, nobody has stepped up to the plate. Because I hate sitting around with nothing to do, if there still isn’t sufficient work come Monday, I might just peace out then.
I have to say, the management team has been very supportive; they all agree this is a great opportunity, and don’t blame me for leaving. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: never burn bridges, folks! I always leave jobs on good terms, and have been rewarded with follow-up opportunities nearly every time.
Speaking of, I recently lamented to my friend Ashley that I never planned on being a job-hopper. And blogger Deb left a comment that sort of echoes that sentiment. What is it with all you young whippersnappers! she wrote (thanks for calling me young, Deb!). Changing jobs on a whim. My son does the same thing and it drives me crazy. Back in my day you got a job and you stayed there until they boxed you up and shoveled dirt over the box…I can’t make sense of any of it!
Ashley had the opposite take (and she called me old; some friend, huh?): lol okay boomer 
studies show job hopping leads to more satisfaction over time than staying put.
I suspect the truth, like my age, lies somewhere in the middle. I see both sides: as someone who refuses to settle for anything and has changed states with the same frequency that some folks change their socks, I’m the first to acknowledge that finding the perfect fit can take time. But I also see the comfort in stability. I’ve lived in eight different states and cycled through nine adult jobs now.* I may not fear change, but I no longer embrace it with the same gusto I once did. I finally killed my Indeed job alerts and ripped up the paperwork for that passport to Michigan. I ain’t goin’ nowhere, baby.
* I should specify, jobs as an adult, not jobs in the adult industry. I’ve never Dirk Diggler’d.
Job-hopping has its pros and cons. On the plus side, you demonstrate adaptability, learn diverse skills, boost your potential for career advancement, and 60% of the time, increase your salary. On the not-so-good side of the ledger, your benefits start over from scratch, it’s difficult to gain consistent experience, and some employers view job-hopping as a red flag, though the stigma is fading.
Landing a job is hard. You’re competing against many other people with similar skills and experiences. It takes time and effort and is a nerve-wracking experience. Get past all that and you still have to somehow be the cream that rises to the top and convince them to hire you over all the others. Getting a job offer is an ego boost. Imagine that happening 10 different times. You might just feel like you can walk on water by that point!
The job-hopping I’ve done has been the result of a bunch of different factors, some beyond my control. Twice in my career, I’ve been “made redundant” as our British friends like to say when my position was eliminated — once after 10 years, another time after six. Not my fault, guys!
Two other times, I’ve moved and been forced to resign my job — once after six years, the other after two (but I would have stayed with CenturyCo forever). OK, those were my fault. But when done with intention to further your professional growth (or bring you closer to cheese), experts agree switching jobs is a smart move.
The others simply didn’t fit my long-term career goals, were desperation gigs to keep a roof over my head, or the companies were so incompetently run, monkeys could have done a better job. Names withheld to protect the ignorant.
Look at it this way: if I still worked for my first employer after graduation, I’d be an inside sales representative for a pneumatics manufacturing company instead of the writer you all know and love. Well, some of you love. Or at least like. Tolerate, maybe?? ANYWAY. That would represent a life of unfulfilled potential, one lacking passion…which to me is the greatest sin of all.
I’d go so far as to say job-hopping saved my life.
Job-hopping: yay or nay? How long have you worked for your current employer? What factors, if any, might persuade you to leave? How many professional jobs have you had in your adult life?
Mark My Words 
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