What do you think of someone who jumps jobs frequently?

When I was growing up, showing loyalty to the company by working hard for years was considered a good trait. I think it was in the 80’s that companies discovered that they could increase their profits by letting go the loyal employees as they cut into the profit margin from the benefits they received. That’s when they started promoting employees changing jobs about once every 12 months. The new person coming in could be hired for a greatly reduced salary & given less benefits. So, although I’m NOT happy with your friend’s attitude, she’s probably on the right track as long as she can improve her salary & position with each move.

I think that any judgement based only on the frequency of someone’s job changes, is a judgement made with insufficient information.

@LadyMarissa @Zaku I feel a bit weird because it isn’t just the frequency, but also the scenario is always the same each time. And every time she lays eyes on a new job she is certain it’s the right job and she will never change, and then it happens all over again. This has been going on for years now ever since I knew her. Also the jobs have very little to do with each other. She has tried her hands on various things, from animation to content writing to deck jobs. It has got to the point where I have come to distrust every time she says she has found her dream job, because months later she will come crying about how she is mistreated and how she wants to get out.

I said “yearly” but actually it would be “every six months”, because she already shows signs of frustration month into the job and she only stays for a year so that she is eligible for quitting.

It depends on why you are job hopping. For many, it’s a strategic way to gain more valuable experience while negotiating higher salaries. That’s what I do, you’re left no choice if you want to progress in your career in certain fields. Every two to three years is the rule of thumb. Then there are those who just can’t settle and don’t like work. That’s not good.

I agree with those above that changing jobs frequently has become less of an issue over time and is, to some extent, expected.

Perhaps your friend has some underlying reason for this behavior. I know it is common for neurodiverse people (e.g., autism, ADHD, anxiety, trauma) to have a work pattern like this. It can be due to challenges with engaging with or understanding/interpreting coworkers socially in the workplace or difficulties understanding unsaid and unwritten rules or workplace culture. Some people have go-getter personalities where they work very hard to make a good first impression but then have some kind of burn-out.

Having more details helps.

I still caution against framing a judgement based on less than a good understanding of what is going on.

Also consider that when someone’s friends and family form judgements and expectations about them, those ideas can directly and indirectly influence them in negative ways.

And, there are many unpleasant and unhealthy work environments out there, and some people may either have higher standards, or require certain relationships towards work that may be less common. But there are many different work environments, and some of them are not unpleasant nor unhealthy, and/or may be a fit for a particular person, and it may take many tries to find such a place.

All that being said, there are also people who tend to struggle to find anyplace they can tolerate working. When you’re the friend of such a person (as I have been on several occasions) it can be challenging to understand what response as a friend would be most helpful for them. It really depends on the specifics and the person, how it makes sense to be about it, particularly since some of them may be stuck in behavior patterns that involve enrolling their friends and family in a problematic pattern.

To me, most jobs are stepping stones. Hopefully in an ascending manor…

Someone being fired from most jobs they’ve ever had, is a different thing. That does suggest a problem. Especially if the person can’t remain employed anywhere for more than a year…