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PrideStaff

The general consensus tends toward avoiding job hoppers as potential employees – the switching from job to job raises a red flag that this person will flake out after just a year or two because of lack of interest, personality clashes, or something similar. But look at the flip side of the coin: Some employees move from job to job because they want to acquire new skills and learn all they can from each one, thus making them more valuable for you.

  • They tend to be high performers.

Job hoppers don’t want to stay in one place for too long – they want to gain knowledge, skills, and experience and seek out new and better opportunities. The fact that they continue to find new jobs can indicate their excellent performance in that other companies seek to hire them away. So look carefully to assess why a candidate has switched jobs rather frequently: Have they earned promotions or continually taken on larger responsibilities each time? Definitely consider hiring. 

  • Consider the climate.

You likely know by now that the days of getting a job out of college and sticking with it for 30-plus years have become the anomaly, not the norm. In the U.S., the Bureau of Labor Statistics says the average has become 4.6 years at one job, and the millennial generation will definitely continue this trend, as they prefer not to get stuck at one job for too long before looking for the next great opportunity. Again, look at the details of each position rather than just the timeline. 

  • They bring valuable skills.

An employee who moves from job to job successfully clearly knows how to adapt quickly and successfully to a new position, plus they bring the background from each prior job with them, adding those skills to the job and those around them. They also know how to quickly make and build contacts, again bringing prior contacts as well – which means potential new clients. And most importantly for you, they have knowledge of the competition, which you can use to your advantage.

Before omitting job hoppers from the mix, look at the details first. You may find the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. For help finding your next most valued employee, job hopper or not, visit PrideStaff.

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