There’s some debate as to how much job hopping has increased between generations, but most experts agree that changing jobs semi-frequently no longer holds the stigma it used to. A recent survey of employers found that 82% would hire someone who had switched jobs in the past six months, 51% believe that job-switchers are more motivated thanks to their desire for a fulfilling position, and 42% would be more likely to hire someone who made a career change rather than someone who hadn’t.
Rising usage of contract and project-based workers also plays a role in job-hopping’s changing image. The American Staffing Association recently confirmed that temporary and contract hiring continues to increase, as does changing cultural and generational values surrounding employer loyalty. The change is particularly pronounced among millennials. A recent study found that more millennials than any other generation surveyed–74%–believed job hunting could help their careers, and a Gallup poll found that 21% of millennial respondents had changed jobs within the past year. Excessive job-hopping can still damage employees’ careers, but the definition of “excessive” has changed substantially.
The tech world has always skewed toward younger workers than many other industries, so it’s no surprise that it’s made significant contributions to the job-hopping era. Here’s how:
Tech Tools for Faster Job-Hunting
Digitally native generations such as millennials have become accustomed to sped-up, technologically advanced processes, and that principle extends to job-hunting. For contract and freelance workers who frequently take on new jobs out of necessity as much as preference, speed and efficiency while hunting for new employers are especially crucial. A crop of online hiring platforms and mobile apps have risen to the challenge. Facebook Jobs seeks to become “the blue-collar LinkedIn” by facilitating easy, quick job searches and applications carried out straight from the Facebook website or app. Tinder-like mobile applications such as Switch or Shapr help candidates and companies rapidly assess each other or simply network with one another.
Better Data On Hiring Platforms, Secured by a Blockchain
Data is the new oil, which is why candidates, recruiters, and companies are becoming increasingly frustrated with traditional job search platforms such as Monster and LinkedIn. While these platforms may accumulate large amounts of users, resumes, and job postings, vital information such as whether a resume contains accurate information or belongs to an active job seeker is missing. Some new tech companies are addressing these concerns through blockchain technology. BHIRED.io uses data management blockchain tools that store verified credentials on a blockchain and produce biometrically validated identity profiles to create a platform that incentivizes accurate, robust candidate and company profiles through an internal token economy. Platforms that use a blockchain’s data structure can accumulate information that’s helpful for job seekers and companies.
AI-assisted Job Hunting and Recruiting
Companies dealing with job-hoppers need to recruit more frequently, and today’s tight labor market means that they have fewer candidates to choose from and more competition from other companies. Because making a bad hire is enormously expensive and time-wasting, HR managers and recruiters are turning to AI and data analytics tools to help them make better hires, faster. For example, hiring managers working with Leap.ai receive “referrals” from AI algorithms that prescreen applicant resumes and pick out the most promising ones. These tools can also help candidates understand where and when they’ll have the best chance at obtaining a position that fits their skills and needs. Legacy job platform Indeed has started using AI for tools such as natural language processing and assessing candidates’ fit for openings before they apply.
Advanced Online Education
In a recent LinkedIn survey, 45% of respondents listed lack of advancement opportunities in their old workplaces as their top reason for switching jobs, and 36% said their top reason was a desire for more challenging work. The survey demonstrates that workers aren’t trying to find the same position with better pay or workplace culture, but instead, they’re eager to take on new and more challenging responsibilities. For many workers, that means acquiring new technical skills through online education before or during the job hunt. Savvy employers looking to retain employees and specialized professionals such as doctors who need to maintain their credentials are also prime consumers of online education. A 2017 study estimates that the online education market will experience a CAGR of 20% until at least 2021 thanks to tech innovation in mobile applications, AI, game design, virtual reality, and other fields.
The world of work increasingly reflects that there are many different paths to professional and personal fulfillment. For many employees, that means changing jobs. Though job-switching can create headaches for employers, it can ultimately help them retain fewer unengaged, unmotivated workers, and can help establish relationships with truly passionate employees. Technological innovations that came about in part due to job switching will no doubt continue to advance, further driving this workforce trend.
