Dive Brief:
- Sixty-four percent of professionals think job hopping helps their careers, a 22% increase from four years ago, according to a report from Robert Half. Executives, however, don't necessarily agree. Forty-four percent of CFOs responding to a recent survey said they're not likely to hire chronic job hoppers for fear of losing them soon.
- There also was some variation based on age, with those employees age 18 to 34 being most likely to view job hopping as beneficial. And when asked what constitutes a serial job hopper in a 10-year span, executives said six job changes while professionals said five.
- In a tight labor market, employers should focus on retention, Robert Half recommended. To attract and keep candidates, the company recommends that employers become a workplace of choice; engage in succession planning and discuss with candidates how they can advance in the organization; and invest in employee development.
Dive Insight:
Retaining employees is more critical than ever, thanks to the low unemployment rate and a shortage of workers who have the skills employers need. Under other employment conditions, candidates with a history of job changes might not be quite as risky. But in this labor market, finding and holding onto quality talent is essential. This is especially true for small businesses that sometimes aren't as agile as bigger companies in coping with labor and economic shifts.
Employers are getting more creative about attracting and retaining talent. They're looking at previously untapped talent pools to fill positions. Many now offer flexible work schedules, paid leave, training and voluntary benefits to appeal to candidates and keep workers happy. More companies are hiring contingent workers to get the high-skilled workers they need and remain agile at the same time. And even in retail, an industry known for low wages and high turnover, employers raising wages and offering bonuses to compete in the war for talent.
