Career ADD: The Gen Y Job-Hopping Epidemic

Do you have a track record of getting bored and desiring a change of job/employer after one year? Do you find yourself unhappy and anxious after the first 90 days at a new job? Do you start a new job on a high, only to struggle to get excited to go to work shortly thereafter? According to CareerBuilder.com, if you’ve answered ‘Yes’ to any of these questions, you may have “Career A.D.D.,” often defined as a feeling of dissatisfaction on-the-job and a desire to move on after a short period of time.

While this new diagnosis may launch you into panic mode (as research shows that recruiting is one of the top concerns for executives during these turbulent economic times), The Boston Globe assures us there’s no need to worry. In fact, it seems Career A.D.D. is actually a win-win situation for both employers and their employees.

This recent Globe article advises young professionals to move around early in their careers in order to discover their perfect fit. “If you compare people who job hop with people who don’t, people who job hop build their network faster, build their skill set faster, and are more engaged in their work.”

And corporate loyalty shouldn’t be considered lost. The article says that “companies actually get more passionate work out of people who are in the first two years at a company than people who have been there awhile and plan to stay longer.”

But just in case you’d like to keep your current Gen. Y staff around, consider Penelope Trunk’s advice: What young people really want at work is opportunity for personal growth. That includes interesting assignments, flexible hours, additional training and “intrapreneurship” opportunities. Read more about them here.

Looking to treat your case of Career A.D.D.? Simply understand that the intense pursuit of 100% job satisfaction will not solve all of life’s problems … it’s “a never-ending fruitless endeavor,” says CareerBuilder.com, adding that job satisfaction is attainable at any age, it just requires the proper management of expectations.

Posted by Kate Patton