thoughts on job hopping

Until pretty recently it was frowned upon when you apply for a position with a resume that shows you worked only 2-3 years for each of your previous employers. A few generations ago an employee often stayed with one employer for the majority of his/her professional life, and loyalty was high on the list of desirable traits employers looked for when hiring. Modern career paths are different in the sense that you can actually weaken your career by staying too long at any one company, because of the way it limits your exposure to new challenges.

So how long is too long and how short is too short? ☺ Here are a few thoughts from the experts:

• The Pros and Cons of Job Hopping (Eat Your Career)
• How to Stop Job Hopping Once and For All (Forbes)
• How Long Should You Stick with a Job You Really Hate? (Brazen Careerist)
• Career Lessons from a Serial Job Hopper (Huffington Post)
• Job Hopping: Career Killer or Saviour? (Monster)

I believe that trying out a few options at the beginning of career is not the end of the world and can actually help you decide what you would like to specialize in later on. But I would also be sceptical of a resume that shows a pattern of repeatedly leaving after a year or two.

What do you guys think??