Is there a secret to job security?
Or is it all a crapshoot?
Thanks for reading ZenCareer. This is my love note to the worker bees, the game-changers and the quiet leaders making the world a more delightful place - all while doing their best to make a living that supports and sustains them, their families and their communities. 90% of what I do here is paywall-free, although every single paid subscription tells me that talking about work and identity isn’t the crazy idea some people say it is.
Ever been told you’re a risky hire because you’re a job hopper?
Probably not, because most recruiters don’t want to get into that back and forth with candidates. It’s an “argument” nobody wins.
I’ve met more than my share of hiring managers (some who moved rapidly during their mid-career in order to achieve their current status) tell me that they weren’t willing to interview someone who had moved every year or two.
“They’re job hoppers.”
“Maybe they are job hopefuls?” I counter.
Usually to no avail.
In the game of hiring - particularly for in-house corporate recruiters, the focus is on “sure things”. The candidates with a logical career progression and what appears to be a track record of movement within the same field and same specialty.
Having holes in a team is a time and money suck and hiring and training new people cost time and money. Remember, even companies with track records of putting people first (Dr. Bronner’s comes to mind) must continue to make a profit in order to stay in business and put people first.
Always keep that big picture in mind when you’re job hunting.
Every job opening is a door. It’s the beginning of a potential relationship, or the opportunity to cross it off your list. Just because “everyone” says that new Korean-Italian-Soul Food fusion restaurant is worth the three week wait for the table, doesn’t mean you’ll agree after you eat there.
Same with companies.
Do your own research and walk into any conversation with your eyes wide open - even if the company is led by the next wunderkind that “everyone” says is a game-changer.
That’s the secret to longevity - doing your homework.
The best time to start planning your career progression is when you’re looking for your first job, and every year (or five) after that. The next best time is today.
When you know what you want, why you want it and how to be an asset to the organizations and teams that can provide that, your value to a company rises. The more valuable you are, the more likely you are to be happy where you are and the more likely your employer will be happy with you.
Neither of you will be viewing the other as the “path of least resistance” or “the devil you know.” In other words, you’ll both be receiving mutual benefit from your symbiotic relationship.
The added bonus is that you will have been cultivating your expertise and network while managing your career on your terms so that if anything untoward were to happen you’d be ahead of the game when and if it came time to move.
Most people perceived as job hoppers are simply trying to plan their careers on the fly. When you’re flying by the seat of your pants, it’s hard to focus on the long term. When you’re making decisions from a calculated and joyful place, you’re more likely to land exactly in the next best place for you to continue to grow - financially, energetically, emotionally and intellectually.
As always, it’s your life and your choice. You can’t miss what’s meant for you, it’s just harder to find without a plan.
Want help with a career plan?
Use this link to schedule a time for one-to-one coaching. We’ll create a plan for your next move and identify the blind spots that are keeping you stuck.
Know someone who keeps hitting “easy apply” and doesn’t get any traction? Are you tired of hearing them complain about the job search system being “rigged”? Share this letter with them and help us both out!