In today’s rapidly evolving job landscape, job hopping is more prevalent than ever. For many Gen Z and millennials, it may be common practice for employees to change jobs every 1-2 years to embrace new opportunities, increase their salary, and not feel stuck in a designated position. But is job hopping an overall positive approach, or perhaps a career red flag?

In this blog, we will define job hopping, discuss its association with mental health and neurodivergence, as well as answer the most commonly asked questions about job hopping as a career trend.

What Is Job Hopping?

Job hopping refers to the continual act of changing jobs quickly or frequently; typically every 1-2 years, as opposed to staying with a single employer for a long period of time, (like we needed to before anyone switched jobs). In contrast to the standard career, where loyalty and long- term service are considered valuable, today’s employees are expected to move on to better pay, and/or flexibility and career development.

Job hopping occurs across plenty of industries including: technology (software development), marketing, and gig-work platforms (Deliveroo hop jobs), in high-demand entry-level roles typically found in freelance, part-time, or short-term contract forms.

Is Job Hopping Always a Red Flag?

Not necessarily. It used to be that employers thought of job-hopping as a sign of a lack of commitment. But the world of work is changing. Today, some employers would rather employees be adaptable, learn quickly, and have broad experience through a variety of work experiences than spend a considerable length of time with one employer as a single-track employee.

That said, job hopping for no clear reason without growth, purpose or aim might look sketchy on your CV.

Does Job Hopping Increase Salary?

Yes, in many cases. Studies show that job switch often provides a bigger pay bump than ever staying in the same position. Employers are more easily willing to pay someone new more than they typically do to reward existing employees with a financial reward.

That’s why many professionals will job-hop per every 12 to 24 months to increase their pay, especially in competitive industries.

Does Job Hopping Look Bad?

It does depend on context. Some quick moves early in your career year after year feel acceptable — especially if every step you take enhances your CV thereby adding to your value. But if you are changing jobs every few months (with no distinct purpose), this might translate poorly or at least be questioned due to lack of reliability.

If you’re considering hopping jobs for reasons related to burnout, mental health, or ADHD, it’s absolutely acceptable to briefly explain that during interviews…while still directing the discussion towards what you’ve learned from your experiences and how you are now on the right path towards your goals.

Job Hopping and Mental Health: What’s the Connection?

Many people negotiate employment with ADHD, BPD, bipolar disorder, or autism find it challenging to maintain long-term employment more often than other individuals. This isn’t a reflection of inability, it usually means the individual requires something different in terms of the expectations, stimulation, level of flexibility, or alignment to improve their work-life balance.

The online interest in job hopping is starting to manifest in searches like “ADHD job hopping,” and “bipolar job hopping,” which shows a deeper awareness of employment as a pattern related to neurodivergence. Likewise, employers are becoming more inclusive, employing better mental health support systems to reduce unnecessary job churn.

Why Do People Job Hop?

Here is a list of the most common reasons to job hop:

• Better pay and benefits
• An unhealthy work culture
• No career-advancement opportunities
• Flexibility
• Mental health or burnout
• Lack of personal alignment/values

For some, job hopping to platforms like Deliveroo, that allow them to hop between jobs and have a more flexible earning structure, can help when traditional jobs paths begin to feel too restricting or exhausting.

How Much Job Hopping is Too Much?

Job hopping every 6 to 12 months (unless there’s a good reason) can signify instability. In the best case, devoting 1.5 to 2 years to each position might give you an opportunity to develop some meaningful skills and indicate a commitment—while being able to continue to keep your career flexible.

Of course, job hopping every 2 years is acceptable in most timelines these days.

How to Explain Job Hopping as an Interviewee

If someone is going to ask you about job hopping, be honest but stay on track:

1. Explain what you learned in the role.
2. Explain how each role moved you closer to where you wanted to be.
3. If your personal or mental health affected your decision, you should still say so, but apply them in terms of personal growth, resilience, or clarity.

Example:

“I hopped around a couple of times to learn where I could best apply my skills, and I picked up each job to learn something valuable along the way. I’ve finally found my path that will position me to get to where I want to go in the long run.”

Advantages and Disadvantages of Job Hopping

Pros

• Salary increases, faster
• Variety in the skill set
• Room to explore/figure out what you want
• Network of professional contacts expands

Cons

• May appear unreliable
• Limited deep experience in any one company
• Possible missed promotions or long-term incentives
• Mental drain from constant change

Can job hopping affect my chances of getting promoted?

Yes, it can – both positively and negatively. For example, moving frequently could mean you’re always the “new person” and might not have the chance to be promoted, internally. However, if you make the changes tactically and you’re always moving up, then change could help you grow faster in your job. It all has to do with timing and the story you tell when it comes to these changes.

Is job hopping looked down upon in the UK employment market?

It will depend on the role and the industry. You may face judgement if a UK recruiter sees multiple short stints without justification; however, recruiters will be less likely to look down on each consecutive move if there is good justification for your moves and you are showing progression or moving according to career aspirations—especially in fast moving recruitment markets.

How long should I be in a job before moving on?

There is no set timeline, but commonly you should look to stay in the role for a minimum of 1-2 years as it is a sign of commitment. In the event a recruiter investigates your career history at interview, it is favourable if you can present a good reason for leaving – such as lack of opportunity for growth, wanting a different career path, or better opportunities elsewhere.

Conclusion: Is job hopping bad or good?

Job hopping can be justified as bad or good. Maybe job hopping can be good if you are meaningfully job hopping and learning each time. Job hopping may be bad if they are stemmed from deeper problems such as burnout or unmanaged mental health issues, and may require reflection to identify a role or support that can promote your well-being.