Job-hopping For Mental Health, Be Free From Ties And Explore Different Lives
Have you ever felt stuck in your daily routine, felt a massive weight on your shoulders, and experienced huge swing moods (usually between extremely bored and overwhelmed by your tasks)?
Have you ever wished to experience another way of living?
Then, welcome to the club. Just ask around you or look at the faces of the people on the metro: what do you think they’ll tell you?
I hate my job.
Boss.
Workmates.
Whatever: the point is that they have had enough.
I have got two words for you: job-hopping. That is to say, the art of changing the workplace every so often.
Let’s answer a few questions that I have been asked throughout the years about my job-hopping.
Does job-hopping look bad on the resume?
That’s the most common and probably the biggest concern. No, it doesn’t, it all depends on your resume. Your resume must reflect yourself, not merely the jobs you have done, so it is important to explain the skills and the knowledge you have gained in the light of the new job you are applying for. Sometimes it’s even ok to delete a position or two because superfluous.
There’s no need to mention your years as an ice-cream shop assistant if you’re applying for an IT position unless you need to demonstrate your customer care experience. Just keep it short and straight to the point.
The employer will scan the document in search of what they’re looking for, so you have to demonstrate that you’re that person.
You’ll have to start all over every time you land a new job, what about building your career?
This is not true anymore. Our parents would start to work in a firm at a young age and possibly stay there until retirement, and that was the way you got a career, you got promoted internally, like an ancient dinosaur.
We are less likely to stay in the same workplace forever as the working world has changed. Factories and businesses open and close, the internet has made everything more competitive, there are professional profiles that did not exist until a few years ago. Everything seems to be faster and more efficient.
Employers want someone dynamic, capable of adapting to the new working scene, which keeps changing.
Now, how can a person who’s been in the same working position, in the same working place for years and years demonstrate their versatility?
What if the new workplace is as bad or even worse than the previous one?
You change again. Next, please.
It’s normal to hate your job…
This is not a question, it’s the saddest statement I’ve ever heard. Right next to “I am not like you; I am not confident enough to look for another job”.
If you do not believe in yourself, who will? Ever heard of that saying “Fake it until you make it”?
Of course, you do not want to lie about your capabilities, you just want to emphasize your qualities instead of your limits. You’ll get where you need to be when you need to.
How will I know if it’s the right place for me if I keep job-hopping?
I believe in the right place, in the right moment. Time and space need to fit harmoniously and you will feel full of positive energy, creativity, and amazing ideas.
Nevertheless, if you are stressed, can’t sleep, and looking forward to the clock-out time, so that you can gulp down a bottle of wine just to cope, well, then you have a problem. And it’s probably not the right place for you.
You can cope for a while, taking care of your mental health through yoga and meditation, but eventually, you will need to sort out the situation at the heart. Look into yourself; what will make you happy?
Keeping your job and getting on with your life means taking your responsibilities and is a sign of maturity.
That is true until it doesn’t touch your health. You’ve got one and only one life (that we are absolutely certain of). Don’t waste it.
Constant unhappiness can cause depression and depression can weaken your immune system and, in extreme cases, lead to suicide. For a job. Really? Just do something else.
Isn’t it stressful to change jobs often?
I wouldn’t say so. I tend to be a little anxious, as I want to give the best performance I can and a good impression to my workmates and boss. But I also find the new experience exciting and interesting. I’m there to learn new things and explore a new reality, it’s a sort of an adventure. The new challenge awakes my senses.
It’s a little bit like celebrating the arrival of the New Year. A shitty year is finally over and you’re ready to start a new one, filled with projects and decorated with good resolutions (the same for most of us: learn new skills, lose weight, be healthier, do some volunteer work). Laugh out loud, please.
How often do you change your job?
Two years.
That is how long, on average I have been spending in the same workplace before leaving and start afresh somewhere else.
I envision my life in chapters and I feel it in my body when it’s time to turn the page. For example, if at my workplace I hide daily in the washroom to cry in frustration, well, that’s unequivocally a symptom that the chapter has reached its end and I have to start writing a new one.
Maybe you just haven’t found the work you like.
Not on a long term in any case.
I personally also love to change my profile completely. I have been working in two ice-cream shops, two restaurants, three hotels, three childcarers, two offices, and one library, in three different countries. Sometimes in the same position, other times not.
I love to keep my life interesting and challenging. Obviously, it can be a little different if you are your job. Some professions are believed to be a call and I think they are; have you dreamed to be a doctor for all your life, to save lives and make a difference in the world? Forget what I just wrote and thank you for your service.
I do jobs, none of them has ever been the goal of my life, quite the opposite. It’s important to me to work and be independent, but the ultimate purpose of my job has always been myself, how it impacts my life and makes me feel.
It’s a way of living different types of life, live them freely and get to know yourself on a deep level.
After all, if we are happy, we emanate positive energy and ultimately, it’s easier to make a positive impact on the world around us.
Opinions and Perspectives
The idea of exploring different lives through work is fascinating. It's like having multiple careers in one lifetime.
Making your job work for you instead of the other way around is such an important message.
Really appreciate how they emphasize listening to your mental health signals.
The world of work has changed so much. We need new ways of thinking about careers.
Not everyone has the courage to keep starting over, but maybe that's what we need sometimes.
The focus on self-discovery through different jobs is interesting. Each role teaches you something new.
I wonder how this applies to different industries. Some might be more accepting than others.
Job-hopping seems less scary after reading this. Maybe it's time for my next chapter.
Each new workplace really is like a fresh start. It's exciting when you think about it that way.
Sometimes staying in a bad job is more harmful than the uncertainty of changing jobs.
The advice about tailoring your resume makes so much sense. Not all experience is relevant.
It's freeing to think about jobs as chapters rather than lifetime commitments.
This really challenges the traditional notion of career success. Maybe stability isn't everything.
The article could have addressed more about building a professional network while job-hopping.
I like the idea of taking charge of your career path instead of letting it control you.
The part about emanating positive energy when you're happy in your work is so true.
Being adaptable in today's job market isn't just nice, it's necessary for survival.
The emphasis on personal fulfillment over traditional career paths really speaks to me.
I appreciate how they address the common concerns people have about job-hopping.
Career growth doesn't always mean climbing one ladder. Sometimes it means trying different ladders.
Working as everything from ice cream scooper to librarian sounds incredible. Such diverse experiences!
The article makes good points about modern workplace dynamics, but maybe downplays the challenges too much.
I relate to feeling when it's time to move on. Sometimes you just know in your gut.
The idea that your resume should reflect you, not just your jobs, is really insightful.
Working in different countries must add such rich experience to your skill set.
The focus on mental health throughout the article is refreshing. We don't talk about that enough.
I'm inspired by how the author views each job as an adventure rather than just work.
That bit about gulping down wine to cope with work stress hit close to home. Maybe it is time for a change.
Fascinating perspective on using different jobs to explore various aspects of life.
True about the internet making everything more competitive. We need to stay flexible to keep up.
The article makes job-hopping sound easier than it really is. Finding new positions takes time and effort.
I like how they emphasize finding the right place at the right time. Timing really is everything.
The workplace is so different now compared to our parents' generation. We have to adapt to survive.
Not sure I agree about removing jobs from your resume. Every experience shapes who you are professionally.
I've always worried about looking unreliable to employers, but maybe I've been too concerned about that.
The point about depression and mental health is so important. No job is worth sacrificing your wellbeing.
Interesting how they frame job-hopping as exploring different lives. Never thought about it that way before.
The advice about faking confidence until you make it is crucial. Self-doubt can be so paralyzing.
This resonates with my experience. Each job change has brought new perspectives and opportunities.
I appreciate how the article acknowledges that this approach isn't for everyone, especially those with a true calling.
The comparison to dinosaurs for traditional career paths made me chuckle. Times really have changed.
Love the emphasis on personal growth over company loyalty. We need to prioritize our own development.
My job-hopping led me to my dream career. I never would have found it if I stayed in my first job.
The article underestimates how hard it can be to start over. Building trust with new teams takes real effort.
Anyone else feel like the two-year mark is when things start getting stale at work?
The part about listening to your body's signals really resonates. Our bodies often know before our minds when it's time to move on.
I think there's a balance to strike. Job-hopping can be good, but you also need some stability to grow professionally.
Funny how they mention deleting the ice cream shop experience. I've been wondering what to do with my old retail jobs.
The article makes a good point about modern employers valuing adaptability. Static careers aren't the norm anymore.
I understand the mental health aspect, but constant change can be its own source of stress and anxiety.
The idea that it's normal to hate your job is so depressing. We spend too much time at work to accept being miserable.
Not every workplace will be toxic though. Sometimes we need to learn to work through challenges instead of running away.
The comparison to New Year's resolutions made me laugh. It's so true how we see each new job as a fresh start.
I find it refreshing how the article challenges the stigma around frequent job changes.
Job-hopping helped me discover what I really wanted to do. Sometimes you need to try different things to find your path.
The point about working in different countries really interests me. How do you handle visas and work permits?
I wonder if this lifestyle is sustainable long-term. What happens when you're older and employers prefer younger, cheaper talent?
My experience with job-hopping has actually led to better pay. Each move was a step up in salary.
This whole approach seems pretty privileged. Not everyone has the luxury to just quit and find a new job whenever they feel like it.
Interesting perspective about deleting positions from your resume. I never thought about tailoring it that way.
The article really speaks to me about prioritizing mental health. No job is worth sacrificing your wellbeing for.
Sure, changing jobs might be exciting, but what about building meaningful relationships with colleagues? That takes time.
I love the idea of viewing life in chapters. Makes the transitions feel more natural and less like failure.
The two-year sweet spot makes sense to me. It's enough time to learn and contribute, but not so long that you get stagnant.
Actually, I disagree about expertise. I've found that diverse experiences have made me more adaptable and given me a broader skill set.
But what about building expertise in your field? You can't become truly skilled at anything if you're constantly starting over.
I agree with this so much. Each new job has taught me something valuable about myself and what I want in life.
My parents keep telling me to stick to one job, but the world isn't the same as it was in their time. Companies don't value loyalty like they used to.
This article gives me hope. I've always felt guilty about wanting to try different careers, but maybe it's not such a bad thing after all.
The part about hiding in the bathroom to cry really hit home. Been there, done that. Sometimes a fresh start is exactly what we need for our mental health.
While I understand the appeal, I worry about financial stability. How do you manage benefits and retirement planning when switching jobs so frequently?
I totally relate to this! I've been feeling stuck in my current job for months and the thought of job-hopping actually sounds liberating.