Source
r/AskMarketing•
QuickityJacks

Job frequency/job hopping (x-post r/copywriting)

Hey folks, A year and a half ago, I got laid off from my first in-house gig (and first copywriting job) after a 2-year stint. I found work about a month later, and have been in that role ever since (a copywriting/comms manager role).

One of the companies I interviewed with in that month interval 18 months ago recently contacted me out of the blue, offering me a job. To be honest, I would rather work for them. Better culture, better benefits, better salary, and more writing, less lever pulling.

Here's the question, though: is three jobs with three organizations in 4-5 years too many?

My dad has me convinced that anything less than a 3 year stint at any location flags me as a "job hopper" to hiring managers. I've also heard this is an outdated idea nowadays, though.

What do you think?

Posted Aug 15, 2016, 1:50 PM UTC

15
axxurge•

Opportunities never come every 3 years, they come when you're ready for them.

Job stability has been really sought after in the past but if you want to get good working conditions and a better salary, it's better for you if you move on after 2 years or so.

If you're rapidly changing jobs, just be sure that it's for a good reason, that your bosses understand what's happening and that you're always in good terms with people your worked with.

TL:DR Don't be a douche but don't stay at a your job only because it pays.

2
GenXpert•

If you're under 30, I wouldn't worry about it at all. Things have changed, and while corporate-land-world might still be catching up to this fact, it's not uncommon to see someone with a couple/few jobs within 4-5 years. Gone are the days where you can stay at a company until retirement and get cost of living and performance raises each year - new wisdom says job hopping is a must to raise your income.

That being said, if I looked at your resume, it might raise an eyebrow. If I saw increasing responsibilities/job titles, it would make sense to me. Any chance you can get the new job to give you a title that sounds a little higher than the last (adding Sr, lead...)? If I asked you why you left that job to go to your last one and you told me it was for better pay, better benefits and so on, it wouldn't cause any concern at all for me.

I'd take the job and not look back - it's still a tough job market and you have to take the opportunities when they come.

Source: I've hired a lot of people in the Digital Marketing space.

2
QuickityJacksOP•

I'm a bit over 30 but I also graduated college about 6 years late, so hopefully it's a wash.

Cool, thanks.

2
GenXpert•

Do your job well, make sure you have successes that can be explained on your resume and you'll always be able to get a job in Marketing.

I'm self-made, never finished college, and walked into my last interview the day after getting terminated from my previous job. I got the job offer two days later. People are hiring in marketing because they want results.

2
adamkru•

Doesn't matter. Everybody understands the reasons - especially when you are young. It's easily explained in an interview. Get the job and don't look back.

1