I am so, so . . . so ancient have been a working-stiff for a long while now. I’ve never been a serial job hopper but have had several employers. And within several jobs I saw leadership changes at my level and the organization-wide level that resulted in all but a new workplace/environment. So I’ve got some perspective when it comes to workplaces.
Since discovering FIRE, I’ve read a lot about people who job hop as a means to quickly increase their salary. Posts/articles I’ve read frequently detail income boosts of 15% or so from each hop, and that such increases couldn’t have happened but for the hop(s). I get that. And my personal experience jibes with these findings. I won’t deny the allure — much less the math behind the accompanying compounding — of these jumps.
But I’ve worked for some employers/in some environments that sssuuuuucccckkkkkked were suboptimal. In some cases, the work wasn’t enjoyable. In others, the boss was lousy. In yet others, the atmosphere was toxic for everyone. I’ve also worked for some good employers/in some good environments.
Breaking bad
My biggest job-hop-related salary jump came when I left Employer 1, which I enjoyed working for, but at which the leadership had taken a turn for the worse. I’d decided that I was going to leave Employer 1 no matter what. So the pay bump I got when I joined Employer 2 was an exceptionally welcome development. And the job at Employer 2 — at least on paper — looked really great. But on day two of the new job, I sensed that things were totally messed up amiss. Soon I realized that my hunch was right and also that the work environment was toxic. Over time, my stress level increased, and I completely dreaded going into the office. But, I thought, the salary is good, so maybe I should stick it out.
After a few months tho, my priorities for an ideal workplace — tho never really out of place — came into wholly clear focus. Money hadn’t ever been the most important thing for me. But I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t high on the list. My new perspective diminished the value that money had for me in a work environment. By the same token, the value I placed on having good coworkers, a good boss, and an at-least-tolerable work environment went way up.
And so I resolved to leave Employer 2. I also decided that if that meant a pay cut, I’d be OK with that. I’m not sure how much of a pay cut I’d have accepted. But I’d not have dismissed out of hand a pretty large cut.
There’s essentially nothing that would have made me want to stay at Employer 2, and that — combined with my clearer perspective as to what was important to me — was extremely valuable to learn. It’s informed my decision making ever since. I ultimately left Employer 2. And my following work environment was great. The stress I’d felt at Employer 2 melted away.
Hello Goodbye
I’ve also worked with job-hoppers over the years. Like I mentioned, I get the financial incentives behind job hopping. But, speaking for myself, when I sense that a new colleague essentially is just marking days before he or she leaves for another employer — note to jumpers: your plans are often as easy to see through as a cheap rug — I feel much less desire to get to know and, frankly, be overly helpful to that person. I know I’m not alone in that sentiment.
Sure, I do what’s necessary to effectively work with the job hopper. But whereas with a non-job hopper I’d be inclined to go above and beyond — often because I want to be a nice guy (and/or sometimes to pay it forward) — with the job hopper I never know if I’m essentially just being used by them. And there’s usually a good chance that the job hopper won’t do much, if anything, to be overly helpful to me, my group, or my organization. Job hoppers’ goals often are to avoid screwing anything up, maybe notching a win or two (generally heedless of the medium- or long-term (net) benefits, and often by using others in the organization to realize their objective), and then bolting.
I don’t like being used by people who aren’t genuine and/or looking to help me as I am them. At all. Even more if I get the sense that the user thinks he or she is pulling a fast one on me, or, worse in my book, patronizing me. That, Dear Reader, will earn someone a spot at the top of my I’m-done-with-you list. And as for me being a reference for the job hopper? If the job hopper disingenuously used me, forget it.
I’ve also often wondered if The Jumper is ever happy or content, at work or generally. If they’re always chasing more dollars, then is there an end? And do they feel like something is missing if they never form lasting friendships where they work? I dunno the answers, but I have to imagine that a lot of jumpers feel an ever-present sense of angst.
Do you feel lucky, punk? Well do you?
As I’m long-windedly trying to explain, anytime you job hop, you’re taking a gamble that the new environment will be good and/or that you’ll fit in. Sometimes it will. Other times it won’t. Of course, as I mentioned earlier, even if you stay put, there’s no guarantee that things won’t get worse there. Or, for that matter, better.
So I won’t tell you, Dear Reader, that job hopping is always all good or all bad. It’s just probably going to be a roll of the dice. But I will suggest that you thoughtfully consider the pros and cons of a job hop, what you value in a job (beyond compensation), and your ability and willingness to tolerate things you don’t like in a job.
OK, Dear Reader, time to hop along.
