Pros & cons: Are you on a career ladder or just job-hopping?

Career Ladder: Pros and Cons

When you think of a career ladder, think of the stereotypical Hollywood story of the mailroom worker who works diligently upward from the bottom rung of the company, making it all the way to the corner office. It makes a great story (look at what Anyman/Anywoman can achieve!), but that story leaves out a lot: namely, all the steps in the middle, and all the skills sets that have to be built along the way. Creating a career ladder requires a strong commitment, and a strong set of goals.

The Pros: Career ladders are based on stability. If you feel most comfortable plotting out a career course where you don’t have to make a lot of changes, where you can put down roots, this might

You’re not necessarily tied to one place. Many companies have offices or opportunities throughout the country (or even the world). Just because you’re committing to one company for a long time doesn’t mean you’re saying you’ll stay in one place forever.

It doesn’t have to be your entire career plan. A career ladder could be just a portion of your career (say, the next 10 years), where you want to get from Job A to Job Z. That doesn’t mean you have to spend the rest of your life in Job Z.

It shows upward mobility, while also showing you’re a good investment. A company that has promoted you numerous times is one that thinks you’re a worthy investment.

Companies like to promote from within. Hiring from outside can add new dynamics and diversify your employee pool, but it can also be expensive, time consuming, and a big gamble. Developing talent has significant advantages for companies, including developing a strong, committed employee base. It’s less of a risk because they know you, and know what you’re capable of doing. If you’ve ever experienced the frustration of wanting a job, only to find out someone was hired internally, that could be you!

The Cons: It can be harder to create a longterm plan if you can’t account for things like reorganizations (which often come on quickly for those affected).

Companies don’t always have the resources to devote to leadership and skill training. There’s a risk of stagnation. You might be seen as less-than-ambitious.

Job-Hopping: Pros and Cons

“Job-hopping” sounds like a social activity, but really it just means that a person switches jobs frequently (every year or two), without putting down long roots in one place. It’s becoming a more popular career path strategy for people, especially millennials, who are looking for more aggressive career development.

The Pros: Change is good! Working at different companies, in different environments (even if the roles are similar) is a good way to build experience quickly. Job hopping offers you more chances to try new things and take on new projects, ensuring that you grow consistently.

It’s becoming more accepted. Job-hopping used to be considered “career suicide,” because it raised red flags. Why has this person held so many different jobs over a short period of time? The economics of American jobs have shifted so substantially, however, that now it’s becoming more accepted, especially when people are younger and just starting out in their careers. An unstable economy can upset even the most carefully planned career trajectory, and hiring managers are increasingly understanding of that.

It’s can be a fast track to higher salary. If you jump on opportunities for advancement at other companies.

It’s a network builder. New company = new colleagues, and an ever-growing stable of work acquaintances, mentors, and friends in your field.

It shows you’re adaptable. Starting over somewhere else requires a lot of thinking on your feet. The Cons: They might think you’re a flight risk, after the company invests training time and resources into you.

Short-term focus comes at the expense of longterm progress.

Your job may not be as secure. — Kate Lopaze, The Job Network