Is it true that being a job-hopper is a good thing?!

klone, MSN, RN · Oct 22, 2015

I stay at a job an average of 2 years. It hasn't seemed to hurt me. I would actually like to stay at a job longer, but I get incredibly bored and restless at the 18-month point.

WookieeRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 22, 2015

From a recruitment point-of-view, excessive job-hopping doesn't seem like a quality I would really want in a candidate. I want someone that is going to last, so if I see multiple job changes in a short period of time I'm going to start wondering about the quality of the candidate. If you're changing your job every year, that's going to raise a red flag. When I did nurse recruiting, we looked for candidates that showed longevity in their previous positions.

SmilingBluEyes · Oct 22, 2015

I am like Klone, I get bored. However, in order to retain seniority I tend not to job hop too much. I have been at my current job 4 years and now considering my next move. I know this won't be where I will stay for much longer than a year or so, because I need to learn new things.

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Oct 22, 2015

I agree with BeachyRN. Employers like to see candidates who retain their jobs versus job hop. I was at my previous job for about 4 years. I've only been at my current job for about 5 months and I am now resigning and have found employment elsewhere. Employers are generally forgiving if you have one position that didn't last very long as they may think it wasn't a good fit but be prepared to explain yourself anyway.

VANurse2010 · Oct 22, 2015

I've had a lot of jobs (including PRN), most of which have lasted 18 months - 2 years. However, each move I've made (with the exception of one) was the result of career advancement opportunities as I worked my way from LTC LPN to critical care RN at a major hospital.

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Oct 22, 2015

From a recruitment point-of-view, excessive job-hopping doesn't seem like a quality I would really want in a candidate. I want someone that is going to last, so if I see multiple job changes in a short period of time I'm going to start wondering about the quality of the candidate. If you're changing your job every year, that's going to raise a red flag. When I did nurse recruiting, we looked for candidates that showed longevity in their previous positions.

You need to look at the employers, if local or well known nationally or regionally...my area is small geographically and management tends to move from company to company making what was once a good place to work, into not so much. And vice versa. Sometimes folks have to move as the bad apples come to their company and upset the cart. At least this is the trend where I live.

RNperdiem, RN · Oct 22, 2015

It helps to have an attractive specialty in a time of economic labor shortages. During those times, a nurse can get away a lot more with job hopping when jobs are easy to get and nurses are in demand.

In a slow market, employers can get picky.

BumbleBuddy · Oct 25, 2015

Sadly job hopping is sometimes the only way to get a raise these days. That's the real benefit. I wouldn't say it's a good thing because an employer will look at your resume and think "why can't this nurse hold a job? Are they dependable? Is there an underlying issue with this nurse?" But because of the economic downturn in '08 along with changes in the healthcare pay structure and requirements some hospitals are freezing yearly merit and cost of living raises. I saw this a lot over the last few years, but I am seeing improvement. This year my facility gave cost of living and merit raises along with bonuses! :)

So I short no, job hopping is not a good thing, not with any job, but sometimes you gotta do what ya gotta do.

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Oct 25, 2015

Have you considered internal transfers? You can have a chance to try a different specialty, but you are still in the same system and retain your vacation hours, benefits and sometimes seniority.

I plan to internally transfer in about seven to eight months, hopefully into my dream specialty.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2015

Four years is the maximum I've stayed at any job, and I don't consider myself a job hopper. Like others, I am restless and I start reviewing my options once I've reached the two year mark.

Larry3373 · Oct 25, 2015

Well if job hopping hurts ones chances of getting the next position, why are we job hoppers able to continue to find new positions to hop to? Lol