How many jobs have you had in your career? If you’re a Millennial, the answer is probably “a lot”. In fact, the Bureau of Labor reports that on average, Millennials will hold 11 jobs before they hit 34. While this kind of career approach may be acceptable to others in our age group, other generations may take this as a sign of unreliability.
Before you go handing in your “I quit” letter or starting up the job hunt again, let’s talk about why you’re ready to quit your job. Maybe your reason is legit (in fact in most cases, it probably is). However, it’s important to remember – “job hopper” is the one label you don’t want to touch with a ten foot pole.
Are you bored?
If you’re feeling uninspired, there’s definitely a problem. At this point in your career, you should be busy carving out your path and learning as much as you possibly can. Naturally, this requires you to be challenged. But maybe the problem is less about the challenges your employer is presenting and more about those that you are accepting. Are you putting yourself out there when opportunities for leadership open up? Are you taking ownership of your own personal career growth, or are you waiting for others to present them to you?
Before you quit, stop and think about what it would take for you to feel challenged again. If at all possible, have a candid conversation with your boss about how you’re feeling – just be sure to rehearse what you’re going to say beforehand and think of several solutions to the problem – otherwise, you may come off as whiny.
Are you burnt out?
Young people are all about moving at the speed of light. Unfortunately, this can lead to exhaustion. If you’re starting to feel the squeeze, tell someone. Express your workload concerns with your superiors or take some time to investigate your own capacities for delegation. Perhaps you’re one of those people who just cannot say no, in which case there’s no time like the present to learn. Above all, make sure you’re taking time to unplug. Just because you can check and respond to work emails at 10pm on a Saturday night doesn’t mean that you should.
Are you feeling under-appreciated?
Welcome to the real world! You’re likely one of the low men on the totem pole and everyone is looking to you to prove otherwise. Sure, you got the job. Bravo! But the boss isn’t just going to hand over the reigns to you, regardless of what your GPA was. Work your tail off until you deserve to feel appreciated by consistently showing your value to the organization and then both appreciation and respect will naturally follow. If you’re someone who is motivated by recognition and rewards, consider keeping a notebook of your professional accomplishments. If all else fails, talk to your mom – moms are great at dishing out praise!
Does your job feel meaningless?
This is a big sticking point for Millennials – we’re all very concerned about how the actions in our tiny corner of the world impact the greater good. While this is fantastic, the truth is that not everyone can be out saving the whales. Perhaps you don’t need to look for such a direct path of impact and instead need to consider how your salary or just your mere employment can be best leveraged for a humanitarian cause. Also, consider volunteering your professional skills to help out an organization in need. Almost every nonprofit could use a little extra help!
So, are you really ready to walk away from your current situation? Perhaps you are, and it may be founded – but before you cut the cord, be sure it’s a good move for your career. While we’d never suggest that anyone stay in a job where they’re truly unhappy or a poor culture fit, it’s important to think twice before jumping ship. The downsides of job hopping are abundant and extend far beyond just the negative stigma associated with the term. It limits your opportunities for internal promotions, suggests an inability to keep your nose to the grindstone, and limits how involved you can become within any one organization which consequently stifles your opportunities to let your performance really shine.