In today's high employment environment, workers inclined to change jobs in hopes of higher salaries may want to think twice before leaping too many times. A recent survey of financial executives found that having as many as four jobs in 10 years can negatively impact one's career in the accounting field.
The survey was developed by Robert Half International Inc., the world's first and largest staffing service specializing in the accounting, finance and information technology fields. It was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from 1,400 CFOs from a stratified random sample of companies with more than 20 employees.
Executives were asked, "Over a 10-year span, how many job changes would it take for an accounting or finance professional to be viewed as a job hopper?" The mean response was four.
"Despite today's strong hiring environment, accounting and finance professionals should consider the long-term implications of frequent job moves," said Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International Inc. and author of the just-released
Job Hunting For DummiesŪ, 2nd Edition (IDG Books Worldwide, 1999). "While it's generally more acceptable when these moves take place early in one's career, companies look for a pattern of stability in all new hires in order to reduce the risk of turnover," he said.
Messmer advises professionals to look first to their current employer for career growth opportunities. "Speak with your supervisor about advancement possibilities -- the company may welcome your initiative in assuming increased responsibilities. If you're seeking higher compensation, try to negotiate a merit-based salary increase."
Robert Half International Inc. has more than 250 locations in North America, Europe and Australia, and offers online job search services at
www.rhii.com.
