A new Accountemps survey finds younger workers are more amenable to job-hopping every few years, due in part to the fact that almost 5 million new jobs have been added to the economy.  

An Accountemps survey finds that 'job-hopping' is more acceptable by younger people. (AdamGregor, ThinkStock)
An Accountemps survey finds that 'job-hopping' is more acceptable by younger people. (AdamGregor, ThinkStock)
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According to the survey, 57 percent of employees age 18 to 34 thought changing jobs every few years actually helps their careers, as opposed to only 38 percent of professionals between the ages of 35 and 54, and only 22 percent of those aged 55 and older.

There was a difference by gender as well. About 47 percent of men, versus 37 percent of women think that job-hopping is beneficial.

Accountemps Woodbridge Branch Manager Dora Onyschak says employers looking at a job candidate will  ask, "are they going to be able to make the commitment? Is our investment being put in the right individual?"

She says employers are more likely to accept job-hopping if it happens every five years or so, as opposed to every two years.

"Are we going to be getting a return on our investment in hiring this particular individual if they are only going to be here for two years," she said.

Does changing jobs almost as often as your socks help or hurt a career? Onyschak says the jury is still out.

"There's certainly some benefits to job-hopping, such as possibly earning a higher compensation," she said.

According to Onyschak, some workers also enjoy gaining new skills, experiencing a different corporate culture, moving up the ladder and getting promoted more quickly. She also said Forbes research actually shows employees who stay at companies more than two years actually earn about 50 percent less over their career than those that job hop.

"On the flip side, you have to be careful when you are in an interview to really justify that job-hopping to allay some of those employer fears, and letting them know about what you have contributed to your current employer, how effective in that job, as well as perhaps, you know, some of your accomplishments, and why you are looking to move on in terms of your growth and job opportunity," she said.

But compensation isn't all that it's about. There are also other factors that include the benefits, challenging work, being able to really learn new skills and digging deeper into those skill sets, as well as the relationships that you build while you are at your job.  About 42 percent of the professionals in the survey said job-hopping is beneficial to their career.

 

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