In the past, employers and HR managers viewed potential job candidates who had too many current jobs listed on their resumes as being a job hopper and were less likely to hire them. However, according to a recent article by Valerie Bolden-Barrett appearing on the HR Dive website, that may no longer be the case.
A new report by iHire indicates that half of all active and passive job seekers are leaving their jobs voluntarily. iHire interviewed more than 1,000 job seekers and found that 75% of those interviewed planned to stay with their current employer no longer than five years and that 31% of those polled said they did not intend to stay with their current organization longer than one year.
At the center of this trend is the current competitiveness of the hiring market. Those interviewed for the study most often cited pay and advancement as being the biggest motivators for seeking employment elsewhere. Others indicated that a toxic work environment or poor work-life balance as being their most significant reason for leaving.
According to Steve Flook, CEO, and President of iHire, finding a career opportunity that is more rewarding financially and in terms of advancement is almost too much for even those who have been loyal to their current employer for several years. “That’s why employers need to make the extra effort to keep their best talent engaged, nurture staff’s professional and personal growth, and establish a workplace culture that cannot be found anywhere else,” Flook said.
It is because that the current job market is so tight that Bolden-Barrett believes employers are willing to overlook things like shorter resumes, job gaps in employment and criminal histories as being less of a detriment when considering a potential new hire.
While pay is being the most cited reason for workers leaving a job, HR managers and executives who want to keep their precious human capital within their organizations need to offer their workers not only competitive wages, opportunities for advancement, and a positive culture in the workplace.