A job hop, skip and a jump right out of the corporate sector

Maryanne Tiedemann

No, it isn't. Well not if you want to maintain any credibility in the corporate sector in future anyway.

Here's the thing, job hopping (more than three jobs in four years or less) not only looks bad on your CV, but it also sends a subtle message to potential employers that you're not the best person for the job.

Why? Because you don't seem to be loyal; you appear to bore easily; and any time and effort invested in you on the part of the employer would essentially be wasted a year down the road.

Alarm bells for employers

That's the picture painted by constant job changes. This rings alarm bells for employers who are hiring, as they're looking for candidates with good track records and good references - neither of which you're likely to get if you can't stay in a job for more than a year.

The acceptable length of tenure to remain at a company is three years. That doesn't mean you must stay in a company for that time regardless of mitigating factors; if career advancement opportunities have stagnated, or your articles have been completed, or you know you're being underpaid; or liquidation or retrenchments are on the cards, feel free to move sooner.

Just make sure you're jumping ship for the right reasons; this means you can honestly explain to future employers why you left previous companies without damaging your integrity and your professional reputation in the process.

Sadly, affirmative action has created a culture of job hopping among prime candidates who tick all the right boxes for professional posts. As good as it feels to be in demand and to be able to command the roles, responsibilities and even salaries you want, you too should resist the urge to swap jobs frequently.

To avoid being branded a job hopper, always give your best, gather strong references and only move for good promotional prospects after at least three years with a company.