Job Hopping In Your Twenties Is Okay – I Promise

Number of jobs I have had in my life so far: 26.

At least, that’s how many I can remember. I have a feeling I am missing two or three, but it’s hard to recall all of them from my years of job hopping. And I know what you’re thinking. Holy shit, that’s so many! Yes, it is. But let me tell you why I’m not ashamed of this number.

I started my first job literally the day after I turned 16.

That means I’ve been in the workforce for almost 12 years now. And I’m sure some of you are doing the math: “That means you’ve only stuck around at each job for an average of six months!” Technically, that’s an accurate formula, but also a totally false statement.

My first job was at a Subway, where I did work for only six months. But I did not leave that job by choice — summer meant softball season and a performing arts program I was part of each year, so I was a little too busy for a 16yo.

When I got another job the following fall, it was at a different Subway franchise. That was the only job I worked for about two years, until I graduated high school and moved to Virginia for my first semester of college.

After that, the majority of my jobs were simultaneous.

After moving back home from Virginia, I went to Bloomington for about a year and worked two full-time jobs. When one of my employers made significant changes resulting in everyone’s hours being slashed from 35+ down to 10, I moved back home.

Then, during the holiday season in 2012, I worked three jobs at once. From 7a-2p I worked as a grill cook at Bob Evans, from 4p-8p I was at Things Remembered, and 9a-3a I did floor resets and overnight shipments at Bath & Body Works.

(As a disclaimer, I would never recommend that type of schedule for anyone. The burnout hit me after only two months, and (luckily?) a medical emergency caused me to quit one job while another of the three was only seasonal anyway. It was a rough few months to say the least.)

Shortly following that season, I took a full-time role in Indianapolis.

I stayed full-time for a little less than a year, at which point I had improved the processes within my role significantly enough that it was able to be turned into a part-time position while I went back to school full-time. Of course, financially it wasn’t feasible, so I picked up two extra jobs on the side.

I continued to work two to three jobs at a time to pay bills while in Indy, up until I was hired at Sherwin-Williams, where I stayed for about two years before moving back to my hometown. I transferred to another SW and stuck with it for about another year, and left when I was hired by my current employer. I’ve now been with the same employer for nearly four years.

My point is this: The number of jobs I’ve had do not reflect my work ethic.

On paper, I look “unreliable,” but in reality, I’m one of the hardest workers many of my employers have seen. Truly, I would say 90% of my past employers would rehire me or recommend me if asked. Enough about me, let’s get to the point:

Job hopping in your twenties is not a bad thing.

From my personal experience, job hopping has been a blessing for so many reasons. Let me break it down for you.

‣ It allows you to build skills in various markets.

Restaurants and hospitality. Entertainment. Retail. Contracting. Business and administration. Writing and editing. Digital marketing and media. All of these are markets that I have experience in to varying degrees.

Many of the skills obtained in each field have made me into a more well-rounded individual who better understands the complexity of businesses, and the importance of versatility.

‣ It helps discover your career passions.

The best way to figure out what you want as a long-term career isn’t by going to college and taking a few different classes; it’s by getting hands on experience in the field to determine whether or not that industry is compatible with your future.

I used to think working in restaurants was what I wanted to do as a long-term career. But the more places I worked, the more I realized I am not a people person. I enjoyed the ever-changing environment and fast pace, but I hated dealing with customers on a daily basis.

Had I gone through with my college coursework in hospitality without actual field experience, I never would have realized how wrong that career choice was for me. Same with retail; I enjoyed the organization and floor resets, but hated sales goals and projections.

‣ Job hopping gives you the opportunity to experience multiple industries and business models.

Not only do you learn different skills in each market, you’ll learn about how each industry functions and what business models you prefer. Maybe you prefer working for a company that is strictly professional and corporate; maybe you like a place that is more laid back and personal.

Figuring out the type of business and which industry you enjoy will help you find a job that you will be happy with long-term. Use the time you have now in your twenties to test a few out and see what feels right.

‣ You don’t have to settle for less.

Job hopping isn’t just about leaving one job for a higher paying one. In fact, it can sometimes be the opposite. I left a higher paying job for a minimum wage position because I was unhappy. The money was good compared to my other options, sure, but I wasn’t being treated fairly and was miserable every day.

You are allowed to leave a job behind — no matter how well it pays — to find a position with a company or boss who will treat you as well as you deserve. Standing up for yourself now will make it easier to do in the future. If you hope to put roots down and grow with a company, you need to be willing to ask for what you have earned, and not settle for anything less.

‣ It teaches you what you like/dislike in a company or boss.

Without a doubt, my favorite boss was my first store manager at Sherwin-Williams. Here’s why:

(1) He was direct about his expectations. I never had to second guess what needed to be done.
(2) He was approachable and friendly, but never overstepped the professional boundaries. Anytime he shared personal stories, they were never inappropriate for work.
(3) He was reliable and always willing to help.
(4) He didn’t micromanage. I was able to work independently without him trying to take control.
(5) He offered constructive criticism. Praise is good, but constructive criticism is better.

Any time I’ve had a boss who was the opposite of one or more of those five characteristics, I’ve found myself frustrated or disliking my job. Some of those traits I already had found that I liked/disliked based on past managers. And having a mental list of it makes it easier for me to determine whether or not I will enjoy working for an employer in the long run.

‣ Job hopping gives you the option to leave toxic environments.

Remembering what I said about not settling for less than you deserve? This applies to that same principle. Remind yourself that it is okay to find a new job, even if you’ve only been in your current role for a few weeks. Sometimes it’s necessary for our sanity.

Quick example: I worked at a Buffalo Wild Wings for about a month. After my second day, I already hated it. I liked most of my coworkers, but the GM was the worst. She was off work for a couple of weeks after I first started, but as soon as she came back it was hell. So I quit. #NoRagrets (Not even one letter.)

‣ Job hopping lets you gain confidence in yourself and know how to market yourself.

You’ll know if you’re marketing yourself well by the number of interviews and job offers you receive. And the more frequently you interview, the better you’ll get at it. This will help you gain confidence in your abilities because you’ll know that the skills and experience you have to offer an employer are beneficial.

When I first started looking for jobs in my teens, it was rough. As I’ve said already, I’m not really a people person.

I tend to rub people the wrong way in interviews, or can just completely freeze up because of my social anxiety. But over time, I started to learn how to answer interview questions effectively, leading to more job opportunities.

In turn, those opportunities made me more confident in my own abilities to perform any job function, and I used that to my advantage to find more opportunities.

As the cliche goes, you can’t judge a book by its cover — and you certainly can’t judge a person by their history of job hopping.