Excelle

Great article. This is consistent with the trend of mobile, knowledge workers. With the rising costs of employment, companies are trending towards seasoned (even mature) workers that have a good work ethic and can deliver results.

After graduating in 2000, I worked for 2 companies in one year (2001), and both shut down and moved to Mexico. It was unbelievable, and I knew then I could not get too comfortable at a company. Ironically, I've been with my present employer for 7 years - however, I've held 3 positions ranging from engineering to finance to quality.

When I interviewed for my current position, I knew I was a great candidate because I had a large network of contacts from previous jobs along with operations and finance experience. Job-hopping with a purpose is different than just wandering from job to job.

I just wrote a blog on my website (www.careercougar.com) focused on career development. All of my moves had an express purpose for my long-term goal.

Thanks.

Daphne Robinson
www.careercougar.com
careercougar.wordpress.com

I'm 29 years old, and the longest I've stayed in a job is two years. Apart from the economy, I've never had trouble finding another job (given the expected 3 month wait). Questions about why I left those jobs are only natural, after all companies want to know why you're going to leave them, and they know you will. Unless you work for government, there really isn't much to stick around for anymore. Not to mention the amount of people who get fired after 20+ years service because they are approaching retirement. I don't look at job-hopping negatively, if anything, it says a person is able to cope with change.

I worked for a company for eleven years until it went bankrupt. It was my first "real job" out of college and an experience that while I am grateful for I never wish to do again. In the last two years I have had a job per year (contract work) on account of the economy. It has been awesome. I have learned more than when I was permanent. It has openned new doors and I have received much higher pay. I no longer believe that it is healthy to ones carreer to stay stagnated in the same company. I was told once in an interview that there where two types of employees "the lifers" and "the shakers and movers". A lot of companies are undergoing severe internal transitions, some even trying to catch up with 21st century software programs (fare-thee-well-dusty-old-abacus). These companies are looking for guidance, fresh blood basically, someone whose been on the outside and can shed new light on their dusty cubicles. There is a lot of friction from old timers who are resentful to the shakers and the movers. Eventually I will like to stop being a shaker and a mover but having been a lifer once I think it will be a while before I decide to anchor permanently anywhere.

I agree.. I'm what I guess you would consider a Job Hopper. I have training as a NursesAide, Retail,Sales,Data Entry, Cleaning,Food Service, Supervisory,and Customer Service. I have worked for Goodyear Corporate HQ, Interval Brotherhood Home,Rose Lane Nursing Home, SummaCare Insurance, etc. I'm a hard worker and I can land the jobs, in fact I could train someone how to get the job they want. From Rhonda, Clinton, OH

I just turned 34. I have had nine jobs in the last ten years. I have been in my current position for just over one year and had a very good interview for a new prospect today! I get a lot of guff from family, friends and managers from time to time, and some even make fun of me. But little do they know how much knowledge I have gained and I can easily change jobs even in this economy - Whose laughing now?