Best Reason For Job Change Every 2-3 Years

In today's rapidly evolving job market, it's becoming increasingly common for professionals to change jobs frequently. Gone are the days of staying in one job for decades. In fact, changing jobs every 2 to 3 years can lead to significant salary increases and better opportunities for career advancement.

As a job seeker, it's important to understand the best reason for job change and how it can impact your career growth. There are many benefits to regular job changes and by the end of this article, you’ll be empowered to pursue one for yourself.

Before we get into it, I want to clarify that the term “job” is referring to an actual position or role. This is not to be confused with the company that you’re employed with. In other words, you can change jobs multiple times but still work at the same employer. Examples of this include switching departments or getting a promotion.

Why you should change jobs every 2 to 3 years

This concept of changing jobs every few years to speed up your career is what I call the ABLE Principle. “ABLE” stands for “Always Be Looking Elsewhere” and it is an approach that has become increasingly popular over the years. The idea is to always keep an eye out for the next big opportunity because you’ll be the first to jump on it when it presents itself.

Now, there are some people that may view frequent changing of jobs as a negative. But I wouldn’t consider this “job-hopping” as long as you can prove to employers that every change was for more pay, more responsibility, a bigger title, etc. That shows that you’re not a commodity or a risk, but a hot-ticket that has the capacity to move with the market quickly. The clearer that is to the employer, the more they realize that you’re a major asset.

By changing jobs every few years, you can:

• Gain valuable experience in different roles and industries
• Build a diverse skill set and knowledge base
• Meet new people and expand your professional network
• Adapt to new work environments and cultures
• Experience different management styles and approaches

All of these experiences can help you grow as a professional and make you a more desirable candidate for future job opportunities.

Now think of the alternative. Staying too long in a job can lead to stagnation and a lack of professional growth.

If you're not being challenged or given new opportunities to learn and grow, you may become bored or disengaged in your work. This can lead to a lack of motivation and hinder your career growth.

Furthermore, staying in one job for too long may limit your exposure to new industries, technologies, and management styles. This can result in a narrow skillset and make you less competitive in the job market.

One of the most compelling reasons to consider changing jobs every few years is the potential for higher salary and better opportunities. Studies have shown that changing jobs can lead to a salary increase of 20-30 percent! Compare that to staying in the same job for more than two years, when the average company typically offers a mere 3%.

And with the way recent inflation is going, that 3% isn’t even keeping up.

My career coaching clients experience this all the time. One recent client was Jessica. She had been in the same job for 5 years. Her environment was chaotic, she felt taken for granted, she was constantly overworked, and she knew she was underpaid.

After a little time together, she realized there was more opportunity out there than what she initially thought. And it lit a fire under her. This client of mine, who was stressed beyond belief and making $55k per year, was able to quit that job for a new remote job that had better work/life balance, and pays $75k per year!

In case you’re not doing the math, that is a 45 percent increase!

What is the best way to advance your career?

Really quick, I want to address the exceptions. Some people may feel that they benefit greatly by sticking with the same position and/or employer. This is usually due to pensions or similar perks. Even if that’s the case, there are overwhelming studies that show this doesn’t happen for the large majority of employees.

So if you find yourself thinking that you’re doing great where you are, consider doing research with Monster.com’s salary tool. You’ll see clear data that will show if your pay and skills are on par with the market average. After all, career advancement is important to maintain your relevance in the marketplace. You definitely don’t want to get left in the dust because of a lack of information.

As far as strategies for advancing your career, there are many ways to go about it, including:

• Building a strong professional network
• Seeking out new opportunities for growth and development
• Being proactive and taking on new responsibilities
• Finding mentors and role models in your field

This is the other part of the ABLE Principle. It’s one thing to be watching for a new gig. But it’s another to be qualified in the moment that you’re ready to jump. By taking a proactive approach to your career, even when you’re not actively looking for your next job, you can position yourself for long-term success and achieve your professional goals.

How do I transition from one career to another?

Entire career transitions can be a challenging but rewarding way to pursue new opportunities and achieve your career goals. Some tips for successfully transitioning to a new career include:

• Researching the new career and industry
• Building new skills and gaining relevant experience
• Networking with professionals in the new industry
• Seeking out educational opportunities or certifications
• Being flexible and open to new opportunities

Once you have some opportunities in front of you, it is VERY important that you don’t use your same resume to get an interview. Be sure to take some time to really study the job description and think about how your current skills transfer into that job. The employer will need to see how your experience is relevant. And since the average employer views a resume for only 7 seconds, you have to spell out what you bring to the table quickly.

By taking a proactive approach to your career transition, you can successfully navigate the challenges and achieve your goals in your new career.

Ready to get started?

In conclusion, the best reason for a job change 2 to 3 years is actually many. But significant professional growth and large pay increases are at the top of the list. Feeling empowered to begin searching for new opportunities? Get started by creating a free profile on Monster. Let's find you some great jobs to apply for today.

Braxton Wood is the founder of Career On Command, an executive career coaching company that helps high-performing professionals speed up their journey to their dream job and even escape corporate life for entrepreneurship.

Braxton's content has received over 122 million views and he has been featured in numerous publications such as The Daily Dot, The Sun, CEO Blog Nation, and the No Degree podcast.

Learn more about Braxton and get free tools to jumpstart your career at careeroncommand.com.