Originally Published: November 20th, 2022
Updated: June 17th, 2023
There seems to be a fear or distaste among the older generations for job switching. For those who want to maximize their careers and minimize the time spent working for the same company, job switching is the way.
You might be the type to value security and fear throwing yourself back into the world of job searching. I can understand that.
The benefits of switching jobs every few years far outweigh the job search process.
It is difficult to learn and understand your true potential as an employee of a company until you participate in the job market.
You can learn whether you are undervalued by testing the waters and maximizing your potential. Doing research on the skills necessary to take your career to the next level and make you more valuable as an employee is also extremely helpful.
A super easy way to get started is to use job posting sites like Indeed or LinkedIn.
Don’t be that guy.
Some people have found themselves at a company for YEARSSS and are discontent, but too afraid to leave. You put yourself in a difficult position when you don’t work on your skillset and have to watch the younger and more intelligent people walk in with higher salaries and a better compensation package.
I want you to keep yourself competitive and know what you are capable of receiving.
Much of your life will be spent working, so making a concerted effort to maximize your earnings and work for a company that you love will give you a better quality of life.
Why You Need to Consider Job Switching
No Pension, No Promises.
It really is just that simple.
The reason that it was more common for boomers to remain at the same job for so long was because their time (typically decades, this retirement was WELL-earned) was contributing to a defined benefit plan, also known as pensions, which they used to secure their retirement.
Stability in retirement is a HUGE incentive that companies used to maintain the retention of their employees.
However, these plans were very costly and they were run on the assumption that people would only live for a certain number of years after retirement.
Presenting…The 401K
Companies have since traded the popular pension plans for the much more affordable 401(K) plan, also known as the defined contribution plan. These plans give employees the option to pay pre-tax dollars into their retirement plans where the money can be invested and the company may or may not offer a “match” to the employee’s contribution.
When I say match, I am referring to a company paying an equal amount of money as the employee into the employee’s retirement. If you pay $10 a paycheck, the company will then pay $10 a paycheck into your retirement.
Please keep in mind that this “match” thing is presented to you as a benefit for joining that company, it is not guaranteed.
Why this matters in terms of loyalty because companies have pushed the responsibility of your retirement onto you (the employee).
Therefore, if it is your responsibility to ensure your retirement then you also have the responsibility to play the field and continuously seek out better opportunities to secure the future of you and your loved ones.
Retirement is wonderful if you have two essentials – much to live on and much to live for. ~ Unknown
You have every right and are justified in seeking out better opportunities for your retirement in order to make the years that you do spend working worthwhile.
It’s Beneficial To Vary Your Job Experience
Not only is it beneficial, but it is highly encouraged for you to do different jobs in order to make yourself stand out on your resume. We don’t want to be one-trick ponies out here. You gotta switch it up!
In order to continuously stimulate your mind or build passion in your career, you should try new things.
You will find that many skills end up being transferable and will get you closer to what it is that you actually want to do rather than climbing the corporate ladder until you run out of steam and settle for what a single corporation may give you.
Not to mention that switching jobs can give you a more accurate representation of your worth.
You can see your strengths and weaknesses better when they are tested in different environments. You will gain more skills overall because you sought more opportunities by job switching and rising to the occasion.
There is also power in options and the confidence you will build knowing that people will pay for your unique combination of skills.
Yes, you are unique and you should use that to your advantage.
It also doesn’t hurt when negotiating your terms knowing that your prior experience is valuable and that there is someone else out there who will be happy to compensate you with money and benefits for the knowledge and skills that you have.
Stop Unnecessary Suffering
Many people treat jobs like the long-term relationships that they have been in.
The scenario usually goes like one person is unhappy in the relationship but they have been there so long and they are so comfortable that the fear of the unknown that comes with leaving surpasses the pain of staying in the draining relationship.
Sound familiar?
I would just like to remind you that the door is open, and you have the option to leave. Every day that you choose to stay is a day that you a declining the possibility of something better.
We always that life is too short because it is true.
We can’t expect every job that we have to be our favorite or the most interesting and fulfilling; however, we should recognize that this job can be temporary and that we can pursue something better.
If you feel stuck, you have to take baby steps to get unstuck.
Job switching can give you the inspiration to rework other things in your life for the better.
There is also no timeline that you have to stick to and I encourage you to go at your own pace. Make sure that you are taking steps to at least better your situation if that doesn’t mean leaving the job altogether.
It’s Just a Business
As a human being, you are in the business of you and you should treat the professional aspects of your life as a business.
If a company was having financial trouble would it make budget cuts? Yes!
Would a company fire an employee who was having a negative impact on the company and costing them money? Absolutely!
There is absolutely nothing wrong with you leaving a company because they do not meet your standards; regarding ethics, pay, benefits, leadership, etc.
Hurt feelings matter little in business and you have to do what is best for you and your family.
It doesn’t make sense to be breaking your back for a company that will not fairly compensate you or heed your concerns and those of other employees.
The employer-employee relationship has to be reciprocal like any other relationship. A relationship where two entities are not contributing fairly cannot exist long-term, at least not without resentment from one entity.
Corporations and Accountability
Corporations have no reason to change their practices towards their employees if the majority of the employees come to work every day and give their best effort without complaints.
Companies evaluate their quality based on many things, but two that can be highlighted are employee performance and retention. Money is an integral part of any business and if low performance impacts the company’s money, then they are likely to investigate what is causing the low performance.
Another indicator of a quality company is employee retention.
If a company continues to see that its employees are leaving, then the performance is likely to drop because of a heavier workload. Low employee retention also deters new people from wanting to work for the company.
If companies see that performance and employee retention are low, then they are forced to reconsider the salaries and benefits that they offer to attract new talent.
They also have to improve the working conditions of the people already in the company in order to stop them from leaving.
So, IF the opportunity were to present itself where your company is in a favorable state and you are able to ask for more, DO IT!
Leverage your skills and talents to create better opportunities. Bonus points if you help your coworkers in the process!
The Internet and the Job Landscape
The internet has dramatically changed how people can earn revenue and monetize their passions.
While traditional “brick and mortar” jobs still exist, people with the ability to work from home or run their businesses from their homes have a freedom that older generations did not.
The internet has made it more accessible for people to build an audience, to which they can provide products or services.
There are more ways to make money now than ever and people do not have to rely on a traditional job in order to make a sustainable living. Might I add that nowadays, some traditional jobs aren’t even covering the bare minimum.
The internet has also provided more exposure to what opportunities are actually out there.
New job titles are created every day and it is easier now to find them using the internet than when going places to apply in person was more prevalent.
Final Thoughts
This is my first set of reasons why you should not fear job hopping.
I’m sure that we could make a collective running list, lol.
I want you to do better for yourself so that you can do better for others in turn.
If you had someone in mind while reading this post, please share it with them! You might even spark discussion with your older family members.
If you have something to add to the discussion or saw something that I missed, feel free to leave a comment!
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If you liked this post, you’ll love these:
- Optimize | How to WIN at Job Searching
- How to Overcome The Shame of Unemployment
- How to Use Your Two Weeks’ Notice To The Fullest
Let’s Keep the Party Going!
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