This article is written from a hiring sales manager’s and a former job hopper perspective, who finally found what I was looking for. I will share the potential challenges and perception of job hopping as well as the possible benefits of making a change.
Hopping from one sales job to another can be viewed negatively from hiring sales managers and sales recruiters but there are times when you need to make a change in your career. This article explores the pros and cons of job hopping from one sales job to another and to understand the possible affects it might have on your sales career.
If your resume shows that you have been at multiple companies within a short period of time, you might be viewed as a flight risk to the hiring company and sales manager. As a hiring sales manager myself, when I come across a job hopper, I worry that if hired, that person might only be around for a short period of time and with the ramp up time it takes for a new employee to learn and develop into the role, it might cost my team and the company a lot of money. This is why it is so important to do your homework and know what you are looking for when pursuing and accepting a sales job offer.
When job hoppers change jobs frequently, they do not have the time to show a consistent performance history which is very important when it comes to sales. It might also be a sign that the person cannot get along with others or that he/she makes poor business decisions. A few job hops are understandable, and be ready to provide answers as to why you made the changes as it will be a concern.
Changing job frequently might also hurt your sales career from progressing, because it takes time to build trust and equity within an organization to get promoted. You might make connections with some but without a lot of time, the relationships you start to build will be cut short from developing fully.
It is also very time consuming when you jump from one sales job to another, because you have to take the time to learn your new products, company, team members, customers and possibly territory. The grass might seem greener elsewhere, but a sales job is a sales job and it is usually the same at other places. Make sure you think long and hard before making a change and in knowing what you want for your sales career, it will help you in your search.
Things aren’t always perfect and change is sometimes good. Early in my sales career, I wouldn’t settle for anything less than what I wanted so I made a few jumps before landing at a near perfect sales job. Some people should make a career change, but are complacent and stay where they are at.
Some of the reasonable and understandable reasons to make a change is to increase salary, gain more responsibility, better career growth opportunities, seeking more challenges, a better working environment or possibly better company. I have seen some talented sales professionals that should be earning much more money stay at a company that pays their employees poorly, but because the person does not like change, they decide to stay instead. That is fine, but for others afraid of the cons of job hopping for the fear of being viewed as a job hopper, you have to look at your sales career goals and review if it is in line with what you are looking for in your career.
In some situations, job promotion opportunities are limited in some companies where at another company that is bigger and is growing, more job growth is possible and is another good reason to make the change.
Making the move for more money seems like a great concept, but look at the overall opportunity itself and to review if the entire package is what you are looking for. I have seen people move from a large organization to a smaller start-up that attracts sales talent with much higher salaries, but wind up looking for another job because of the lack of product development. Others who made the move to start-ups, made lots of money and helped grow a new business with great success, so homework and having a sales career plan is important in making these decisions. I have made a move for more money, but was miserable because of the business culture. So money isn’t always everything, but making a move because of money is always a good reason to make the move.
Depending on the situation, making a change could be good and sometimes you might make a mistake and have to hop to another job again until you find your place, but be careful of the dangers of hopping too many times and think before making the move or accepting a job offer. Look long term versus short term and match the overall opportunity with your sales career goal.
Nothing is perfect and we learn along the way, but be aware of the pros and cons of changing jobs and have a plan in place to know what you are looking for that will make you happy so that you can develop and grow your sales career to great heights. Seek that balance and go for your dreams.