Would you consider me a job hopper?

davidboy

I started my job last June immediately after graduating. While the job pays fairly well, I am unhappy here with many things. I want to quit after 11 months. Would this raise a flag for potential employers?

Before this job, I had internships/jobs in college that lasted from 3-15 months. They certainly weren't careers. Before that, I worked 16 months at my other previous job, washing cars.

I really want to stick it out and put in 18 months, but I am quite unhappy here right now.

mokaiba

Does it pay well (eg, able to pay bills/eat)?

Yes/no?

Yes - stay

No - stay but start looking for another

Plantwiz

Yep.

Don't worry, likely to have plenty of folks chime in who don't feel this is job hopping, but I can only give you my opinion. Unless, you have some serious reason for leaving, as an employer, I cannot see it any other way and would not plan on an applicant such as yourself staying with the company for long enough to justify 'training' you to be in our environment.

If you don't quite know what you are looking for, why not try working for a temp agency or such where you can 'see' what may be out there on a project basis. I know three companies who have hired long-term employees through temp agencies as this method allows them to 'test' out a potential applicant first hand.

I don't see 2 years of time as being that long either, but at least it shows making it through all the seasons. First year is always difficult, second, third and later become easier (unless there is a true problem with the place).

Xyro

No, definitely not a job hopper.

davidboy wrote:

I started my job last June immediately after graduating. While the job pays fairly well, I am unhappy here with many things. I want to quit after 11 months. Would this raise a flag for potential employers?

Time and time again I have read on this forum from so many experienced users that the standard time to remain in an entry-level position is 6-12 months. Just don't leave this job until you have another.

davidboy wrote:

Before this job, I had internships/jobs in college that lasted from 3-15 months.

Typical periods of time for internships. I would just be certain to label them as such on the resume.

Before that, I worked 16 months at my other previous job, washing cars.

That's a long time for a job of that level.

ajs1976

@davidboy

If you have a year of solid IT experience and you are trying to make a career in IT, probably time to start leaving those non-IT, pre-college/college jobs off the resume unless the are proffessional jobs or bring something related experience.

If you move after a year at you first job out of school because it isn't working out, I wouldn't consider you a job hopper, but plan on being at your next job for a few years.

yzT

[Thread hijacking]

Back in 2008 I worked 4 months as IT Technician (kind of internship). Then I was studying till January 2013. Throughout 2013 I was looking for job, but until January 2014 I didn't find any. Now I'm working covering a maternity leave, 4 months period. That would make 2 jobs of less than half year on my resume... What are your opinion about that?

[/Thread hijacking]

the_Grinch

I've always held the opinion that job hopping is dead and gone. In our industry it really is getting more common each day. In each position I have held the only way you were going to get a raise was by leaving. I have had only one company ask about my moving around a lot and they still offered me the job. Since working full time I've averaged 18 months per position before leaving. A company sees your resume before you come and if it upsets them they won't call. But thus far going job to job hasn't stopped me.

sthomas

What do you do at your current job? What don't you like about it?

FloOz

I took my first IT job right out of college and stayed at it for just about 1 whole year (I also interned there during my senior year). I left because I wanted to get into a networking role. At that role I stayed for about 8 months and left for a new networking gig that would give me amazing experience as well as look great on my resume. I plan to stay here for awhile because it really is an amazing place to work.

I guess you can say I'm a job hopper, but honestly I feel I made the right decisions. Especially when your just starting your career I think it's okay to move around quickly once or twice. You're not gonna get the pay you want in a short amount of time if you're not willing to jump jobs.

wgroom

How has your attendance been? Your attitude at work? Have you made a positive contribution at your current employer? Do you interact well with others in your department? How about company wide? Are you leaving for a better opportunity? No one can fault you if you are taking a position that will enhance your skill set. However, if you are leaving because you are unhappy, then prospective employers may view that motive with some disdain. Make a good choice on the next employer, with more / advanced responsibilities and you will be fine.

Tremie24

It's time to start getting your resume updated. For the short internship jobs, I would make it clear on your resume that they were internships and how long they lasted.

jthunderbird

the_Grinch wrote: »

I've always held the opinion that job hopping is dead and gone. In our industry it really is getting more common each day. In each position I have held the only way you were going to get a raise was by leaving. I have had only one company ask about my moving around a lot and they still offered me the job. Since working full time I've averaged 18 months per position before leaving. A company sees your resume before you come and if it upsets them they won't call. But thus far going job to job hasn't stopped me.

Agree with the grinch 100%.

It is our IT world we live in. Seems so difficult to move up (not just in pay, but title) internally nowadays. In a 4 year period, I went from a network technician (no certs, 15 months) to a network admin (CCNA, Sec+, 12 months) to a lead network admin (CCNP, 8 months) to lead network engineer (7 months) to where I am now... a network engineer and SME.

I got a healthy raise and bump in job title every move. And in our world, job title truly is important, I dont care what anyone says. I have never been asked in an interview as to why I have moved around, but I have brought it up the lat 2 jobs on my own so I could explain in my own way and kill any assumptions.

It is about the only way to truly progress in an IT career. And just for a little more background info... I went and interviewed for the same company where I was a network technician at company A with no certs about 2 years later. I had my CCNP and was lead NA at the time making about $20k more than I was when I worked for them. They made me a couple offers, but only for the same job I previously held even though they had admin and engineer positions available... they only wanted to hire me for the lowest level position because thats what they remembered me as... like they simply could not grasp that I had progressed.

Now I make more than my boss at Company A because I refused to stall my progress.

kohr-ah

jthunderbird wrote: »

It is about the only way to truly progress in an IT career. And just for a little more background info... I went and interviewed for the same company where I was a network technician at company A with no certs about 2 years later. I had my CCNP and was lead NA at the time making about $20k more than I was when I worked for them. They made me a couple offers, but only for the same job I previously held even though they had admin and engineer positions available... they only wanted to hire me for the lowest level position because thats what they remembered me as... like they simply could not grasp that I had progressed.

Now I make more than my boss at Company A because I refused to stall my progress.

To this statement right here. I really liked the first company I worked for but they Pidgeon holed me into a job and when I informed them this was my 2 weeks notice suddenly money came out of no where.

Here is the thing which reminded me of your story. I was told by them "It will take you a long time to make the money we offered and I can't believe you want to leave to be just a network engineer".
^ THIS drove me to show them I can and will be more than JUST a network engineer. That they need to understand I am leaving to do what I love to better myself and my life. However, they were right. It did take me a long time to earn the money they offered me. 4 months :P

Nobody can take care of you but you and sometimes it takes a few hops to get where you want to be and find a place worth riding out. I would do as previously mentioned and note that internships were internships and how long. I have been told to do the same thing with any contracts I do and label them as such.

Keep going forward