It's cool to jump jobs-Article

What's common between journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, TV personalities Sandip Sikand and Samir Nair, footballer Baichung Bhutia, politicians Chandrababu Naidu and Sharad Pawar, actors like Iqbal Khan, Rajeev Khandelwal and Cezzane Khan? Well, they all quit their respective organisations and either joined rival companies, or started their own party (in case of politicians). And they have prospered.

Earlier, when people changed their jobs, they were labelled 'turncoats' or fickle-minded. Not anymore. More and more youngsters are doing just that these days — they look at it as grabbing better opportunities.

Employees are frequently jumping from one job to another and shifting from their present organisations. Though a higher pay packet is one of the prime reasons behind this job switch, HR professionals and employees put forward other considerations too that prompt this change of jobs.

Arun Rao, Vice President, Human Resources, AppLabs says, "Options before the young employees are plenty, thanks to the growing economy that India is today. Things like 'employment for life' are giving way to 'engaged employment.' From a recruiter/manager's perspective, a person who has put in about two years in the previous engagement is okay to meet the stability factor under the Indian corporate culture. However, a successful career is not determined by the frequency of job-movement." Mr Rao himself has shifted from Intelligroup to AppLabs.

Explaining the parameters for change, Mr Rao says, "Besides money, a professional looks for growth in profile, learning opportunities, good peer group and above all an organisation which has a challenging work culture."

Y. Kranthi, who now works with the HDFC bank as corporate sales manager has shifted from media organisations. According to him, job satisfaction and aptitude for a particular work are incentives for change. "Relationship with your immediate boss and team members also matter," he adds.

For Paul Daniel, an HR official in the recruitment section of the multi-national company Kambay, besides money, the location (city) of the workplace is an important factor triggering a switch-over. "After working a few years in some other state, one may look for jobs situated close to his hometown. Also job satisfaction, which includes chances of growth, promotion, going abroad and getting bigger loans play important roles."

Variety in a challenging or creative job and exposure are decisive factors especially for actors. says TV actor Rajeev Khandelwal, "I chose to change my production house as I wanted to gauge my range. By working with different houses, I will be able to understand my abilities and as well as my shortcomings. Therefore, switching jobs is necessary, to sum it up in a word, for growth," he concludes.

However, employers are not one bit amused by this trend of job hopping. In fact, they are now hiring expatriates in key positions as they are found to be more focussed, do not jump job contracts and are not part of 'old boy' groups that work against companies especially when employees decide to quit the job.