Is Switching Jobs Too Often a Bad Thing?

Career Hot Potato asks: "I've been out of school for little more than a year and I have only good things to say about the job market. So far, there doesn't seem to be any lack of demand for a good .NET developer. I've got to admit, though, I feel a little disloyal at this point. Several great job offers have come my way and I've taken them. My resume is starting to make me look a bit restless and it worries me. Until now I've just chalked it up to 'I'm just settling in,' but now another opportunity has been dropped into my lap. Would I be digging my own grave by taking this job? It'd be my fourth job in 16 months but each offered a promotion and a 30% to 40% raise. I know better than to put a price on job satisfaction but I'm pretty certain I'd be happy there. Is being branded as a 'hot potato' enough to keep you from switching? What's your price on this stigma?"

Comments

Good .NET developers?

[Whiney Mac Fanboy]

So far, there doesn't seem to be any lack of demand for a good .NET developer.

Excellent! What's the market like for evil .NET developers?

Job hopping is bad for career

[asb]

Yes! Switching jobs often makes you look like a "job hopper". You can do it once but your resume should have a job that spans several years right after it. That way you can lie about the short job and get away with it.

Re:Job hopping is bad for career

[Whiney Mac Fanboy]

You can do it once but your resume should have a job that spans several years right after it. That way you can lie about the short job and get away with it.

Hmmmmmn, I'm not so sure, while a job change every four months is a little much, while the offers keep flowing in (ie, he's not actively job hunting), no problem.

As far as resumes go, who cares, fluff it out. Drop off the the job who'll give you the worst references/referee & extend the other jobs in a month, with a two month 'sabbatical'* in the middle.

Switching jobs can be bad, but if you're being offered jobs, basically, don't stress about it. Take the job if you think its better (pay, stability, working environemnt, proximity to home, etc).

* When you're asked about your sabbatical in your interview, say you wanted time to learn $.Net_related_thing and had enough saving to take some time off.

A job is a job

[DsNchNtD]

The way I see it, if you end up getting a job you are pretty much set. The only thing it could hurt is your ability to GET a job, not KEEP it. As long as you are happy with the latest offer and stick with it you should be able to put in enough time to get passed the whole 'hot potato' phase before you need to look for another. Go with what will make you happy while making the most money =P

Not if...

[Vexinator]

I've got a book here by Gordon Miller, called Quit Your Job Often and Get Big Raises.
Switching jobs regularly can be fantastic for your career - but you have to do it intelligently: leave AFTER you finish a big project.

(disclaimer: I'm a contractor - it's a whole other way of making a living.)

Yes

[Anonymous Coward]

Is Switching Jobs Too Often a Bad Thing?

Yes, doing anything too often is a bad thing.

Hope that helps.

Girl hopping is bad for marriage

[nacturation]

I've been out of my parent's basement for little more than a year and I have only good things to say about the dating market. So far, there doesn't seem to be any lack of demand for a good geek. I've got to admit, though, I feel a little disloyal at this point. Several girls have come my way and I've taken them. My list of ex-girlfriends is starting to make me look a bit restless and it worries me. Until now I've just chalked it up to 'It's just hormones,' but now another chick has been dropped into my lap. Would I be digging my own grave by taking this girl? It'd be only my fourth time speaking to a woman in 19 years but each offered benefits and a 30% to 40% increase in cup size. I know better than to put a price on satisfaction but I'm pretty certain I'd be happy with her even though all I ever do with girls is hold hands. Is being branded as a 'hot potato' enough to keep you from switching? What's your price on this stigma?