The Truth About Job Hopping in Hotels

Whether you attribute it to the economy or just want to blame the Millenials, the numbers don’t lie. Job hopping has been on the rise for the last decade. And in the hotel industry, it is even more common. If everybody is doing it, it isn’t a big deal. Right? Maybe. Maybe not. Although many employers are not quite as concerned by a few short tenures on your resume as they used to be, you should still be careful about job-hopping. Ask yourself these questions to figure out if your job-hopping will cause problems in your career:

Am I making a habit of job-hopping?

Of course, the hospitality industry has had its fair share of ups and downs in the last two decades, like an economic recession and a global pandemic. So it should surprise nobody that workers are changing jobs more often. Many workers have had to make career changes to accommodate challenges outside of their control. Also, hotel openings and renovations often require help from temporary teams, making a tenure of just a few months understandable.

But if your resume looks like the menu at a short-order diner, then you may be a serial job-hopper. It is difficult to prove to an employer that you gained any meaningful experience or were able to build strong team relationships when a year or two is the longest you have spent with any single company. Hiring managers have no interest in hiring someone they feel they will just have to replace again in a year or two.

Are these job changes lateral moves?

Many workers realize that they can boost their positions and salaries more quickly by making a few strategic job hops. In fact, it is even more common in the hotel industry for management to change companies that can offer more growth into managing larger or multiple operations. So if your moves have truly given you opportunities to grow that a current company cannot provide, then you have nothing to worry about.

However, if your job changes do not move your career forward, that is a red flag for hiring managers. They will question if you have the drive or ambition to make an impact, or if you will just be there to collect a paycheck.

Am I blaming company culture every time?

Yes, truly toxic work environments that are poorly managed and beyond your control do exist. And nobody should be expected to endure poor treatment. But there are two sides to every argument. If workplace dynamic continually drives you to switch jobs, take an honest look at whether you contribute to a poor dynamic. A hiring manager may suspect that you will bring some of that toxicity along with you.

Is it hurting my professional relationships?

Think about your previous supervisors and peers. Would you be comfortable reaching out to them for professional advice or a reference? Or did you burn too many bridges along the way?

If you created strong professional relationships and added value to those previous roles, you should have a strong network for professional support. And if your moves were necessary for your career to progress, your network will be happy to help you find your next job. But if you are not on good terms with any previous colleagues, your job-hopping is a problem.

Get guidance from expert recruiters

Unless you have answered “yes” to most of these questions, your job-hopping might not be as problematic as you thought. Sometimes moving around a bit in your career can give you the variety of experiences you need to grow your career. If you are ready to find the next step in your career, partner with the Horizon Hospitality recruiters. They will advise on whether something is a strategic fit for your career. And if you are ready to get out of a job-hopping cycle and find a permanent company to grow with, recruiters can help you put your best foot forward.

Fill out a candidate profile with Horizon Hospitality today for access to exclusive opportunities with our clients.

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