Is 'job-hopping' really that bad if I continue to receive promotions & raises?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also as you get older job hunting is also frequent as care less about your resume.

Plus you could be a start up type person. Around 54 I became a start up person. Not by choice.

A start company has a desperate need to start a department ASAP and pass regulator approval and could set whole thing up quick and fully staff.

I took job with big sign on bonus. Great salary and great bonus. Amazed last 3 years before fired. Once set up they don’t need me.

Next job they did not want to hire me. But hired me direct as a contractor with really food pay but it was a six month gig. Got canned at month five. Was 95 percent don’t and budget ran dry.

Next job a start up. Got a pile of worthless options that luckily are in the money. Salary sucks. Stock price slowing so new grants not attractive so I have to move. At this point I can set up the function in under one year.

I am getting close to retirement, (7 years away) so I care way less about hopping. I care more about salary and jumping before the ax swings

plus my resume has three jobs between 8-10 years each. My hopping was in early 20s and now on back end. The middle 30 pretty secure

I cringed while reading this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also as you get older job hunting is also frequent as care less about your resume.

Plus you could be a start up type person. Around 54 I became a start up person. Not by choice.

A start company has a desperate need to start a department ASAP and pass regulator approval and could set whole thing up quick and fully staff.

I took job with big sign on bonus. Great salary and great bonus. Amazed last 3 years before fired. Once set up they don’t need me.

Next job they did not want to hire me. But hired me direct as a contractor with really food pay but it was a six month gig. Got canned at month five. Was 95 percent don’t and budget ran dry.

Next job a start up. Got a pile of worthless options that luckily are in the money. Salary sucks. Stock price slowing so new grants not attractive so I have to move. At this point I can set up the function in under one year.

I am getting close to retirement, (7 years away) so I care way less about hopping. I care more about salary and jumping before the ax swings

plus my resume has three jobs between 8-10 years each. My hopping was in early 20s and now on back end. The middle 30 pretty secure

I cringed while reading this.

I had an aneurysm trying to imagine them as employed

[Anonymous]

Big red flag for me and something I did a little of when I was right out of university. I just couldn't stick at something beyond 2 years. I covered it with international moves and stayed in big law firms so it kind of covered it. Now I am at VP level at a company I have been at for 7 years and I have learnt sticking it out at a company really does pay dividends. I am on my third role in this company and each has been a promotion. I was poached last year by a competitor, told my current company I was being poached, but then ultimately decided to stay. I am not yet convinced it was the right decision but I do think staying the course (through the boring times and good times) is good for your career and good for your resume. It shows focus and resilience. Then after a decent period you can legitimately move if there is a good promotion elsewhere. I have had to train the "itchy feet" out of myself.

[Anonymous]

yes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Follow up question. What if company did try and retain you as evidenced by resume? Like, got promotion to next rung and you left 2 months later because opportunity was too good to pass up/new job counter offered to beat promotion.

If it's truly just a rungs/title promotion, not a problem for me, although I'd be pushing you hard on judgement (what made you want to leave, what made you decide to stay, what made you change your mind and be talking to me now, what are the chances you're about to use my offer to do the same thing again?)

Leaving immediately after a substantial promotion (e.g. something like taking on a team) would be a yellow flag I would want explained.

I should add... I can't think of a reason to tell anyone you took a retention promotion (vs. just a regular promotion).

Sorry, I was a little too theoretical there. Promotion wasn’t retention-based but regular but I was pretty far down the road with another company unbeknownst to current employer. Took the promotion as I figured I earned it but gave notice as soon as background check cleared 2 weeks later and stayed another six to help transition. Let new employer know in passing and they offered additional RSUs worth about $200K over 3 years. Smart of new employer tbh since it incentivizes me to stay.

But it sounds like the gist is that’s still a yellow flag, which is really helpful to know. I tend to keep getting better offers (many unsolicited) but I agree that gravy train ends at some point.

$200K over three years isn't very much. Some of the big tech companies offer much more a year in RSU's.

I was already taking the job. But lol, thanks for the helpful comment. And my husband is a big law partner so this is my mommy track position. I’m well aware what FAANG (I guess MAANG) pay…

Haha imagine bragging about your husband's job on the internet. This is why women get paid less than men.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also as you get older job hunting is also frequent as care less about your resume.

Plus you could be a start up type person. Around 54 I became a start up person. Not by choice.

A start company has a desperate need to start a department ASAP and pass regulator approval and could set whole thing up quick and fully staff.

I took job with big sign on bonus. Great salary and great bonus. Amazed last 3 years before fired. Once set up they don’t need me.

Next job they did not want to hire me. But hired me direct as a contractor with really food pay but it was a six month gig. Got canned at month five. Was 95 percent don’t and budget ran dry.

Next job a start up. Got a pile of worthless options that luckily are in the money. Salary sucks. Stock price slowing so new grants not attractive so I have to move. At this point I can set up the function in under one year.

I am getting close to retirement, (7 years away) so I care way less about hopping. I care more about salary and jumping before the ax swings

plus my resume has three jobs between 8-10 years each. My hopping was in early 20s and now on back end. The middle 30 pretty secure

I cringed while reading this.

Writing skills are over rated. Math, IT, attention to detail and Writing skills are my only four weaknesses. Other than that I am amazing. I can set stuff up. See big picture. But running stuff I get bored, not a self starter. But setting it up is the big money anyhow. I set it up then they hire a person with the analytical personalities to keep ship going. My startup like 80 percent of firm jumps every two years. My head of HR jumped to go to another start up to set up HR. He has no patience Tickers, running payroll, doing open enrollment just setting it up.

I set up my department on my third go round. Boredom sets in around month 4. But one year I stop learning as don’t care. Why I am on my way in a year or 2. Everyone wins. Company saves a fortune on not paying consultants. Job hopping means I can tell you how multiple companies do a function. Plus I have all the files already.

I had an aneurysm trying to imagine them as employed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It will bite you when it becomes excessive. Eventually, companies won’t hire you when you become a serial job hopper, or at least a lot of doors will close.

I wouldn’t give you a chance at my firm. 4 jobs in 3 years? I’d assume you got let go.

I had 4 jobs in 12 years. 3-4 years at each (just started #4). Long enough to learn a lot and add significant value and justify the investment with me, but each time I saw something that was a better fit and went for it. Is what it is, no regrets.

I am now pretty high level without ever being promoted. Big issue is what if you are doing great but you have a boss and there is no indication they intend to retire or die? Reality is most efficient way to move up is out.

I am not a purposeful climber even I am not gunning for CEO I just wanted a certain income and interesting work and reasonable hours and it took a lot of effort and competitive resume before it all came together. If employer #1 could have arranged that for me I'd still be there now.

With a new job every year though I would wonder what's going on. Are all those moves really steps up? If so you should be the CEO now!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will bite you when it becomes excessive. Eventually, companies won’t hire you when you become a serial job hopper, or at least a lot of doors will close.

I wouldn’t give you a chance at my firm. 4 jobs in 3 years? I’d assume you got let go.

I had 4 jobs in 12 years. 3-4 years at each (just started #4). Long enough to learn a lot and add significant value and justify the investment with me, but each time I saw something that was a better fit and went for it. Is what it is, no regrets.

I am now pretty high level without ever being promoted. Big issue is what if you are doing great but you have a boss and there is no indication they intend to retire or die? Reality is most efficient way to move up is out.

I am not a purposeful climber even I am not gunning for CEO I just wanted a certain income and interesting work and reasonable hours and it took a lot of effort and competitive resume before it all came together. If employer #1 could have arranged that for me I'd still be there now.

With a new job every year though I would wonder what's going on. Are all those moves really steps up? If so you should be the CEO now!

3-4 years is not “hop”. I am exactly in your shoes, I did have to go to a smaller company /less prestige firm to upgrade title, so I don’t think my current role will necessarily translate into an equivalent in a big company.

[Anonymous]

I am on job 10 and not a job hopper but I am 37 years out of college. I left off older jobs. But I some times slip and say oh yea I worked there.

A few companies went under or merger. 2 were bad fits, one was a contractor. I also worked two companies in college so really 12!!

I applied to a job last year at Barclays worked there when 18-19!!! 40 years ago!! I wish I got it as a record gap!

[Anonymous]

I managed a person like this 4-5 years ago. She's in her fourth position since we worked together. I like her but I wouldn't hire her again because it would be disruptive.

If you're in a small field or town (which DC is), you get a reputation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Follow up question. What if company did try and retain you as evidenced by resume? Like, got promotion to next rung and you left 2 months later because opportunity was too good to pass up/new job counter offered to beat promotion.

If it's truly just a rungs/title promotion, not a problem for me, although I'd be pushing you hard on judgement (what made you want to leave, what made you decide to stay, what made you change your mind and be talking to me now, what are the chances you're about to use my offer to do the same thing again?)

Leaving immediately after a substantial promotion (e.g. something like taking on a team) would be a yellow flag I would want explained.

I should add... I can't think of a reason to tell anyone you took a retention promotion (vs. just a regular promotion).

Sorry, I was a little too theoretical there. Promotion wasn’t retention-based but regular but I was pretty far down the road with another company unbeknownst to current employer. Took the promotion as I figured I earned it but gave notice as soon as background check cleared 2 weeks later and stayed another six to help transition. Let new employer know in passing and they offered additional RSUs worth about $200K over 3 years. Smart of new employer tbh since it incentivizes me to stay.

But it sounds like the gist is that’s still a yellow flag, which is really helpful to know. I tend to keep getting better offers (many unsolicited) but I agree that gravy train ends at some point.

$200K over three years isn't very much. Some of the big tech companies offer much more a year in RSU's.

I was already taking the job. But lol, thanks for the helpful comment. And my husband is a big law partner so this is my mommy track position. I’m well aware what FAANG (I guess MAANG) pay…

Haha imagine bragging about your husband's job on the internet. This is why women get paid less than men.

You must not have been on DCUM long. Fully 20-30% of posts are by women bragging about their biglaw partner husbands, or in some cases, women asking about how to snag a rich husband like that. It’s maybe the #1 most disturbing thing about this board to me (I am a woman).

[Anonymous]

OP go get that $$$$. If your boss could hire someone as good as you for less, he would have. He (or she) doesn't care about you.