The Old Rulebook
My parents never understood why I changed workplaces so often. For them, staying in the same job for 15–20 years — or even a lifetime — was the ideal. Stability meant safety. Predictability meant success. Promotions were rare, but loyalty was the currency that mattered.
They still don’t understand why people job‑hop today. They even complain about CEOs having multi‑page CVs, as if changing roles somehow makes the work less “real.” But the truth is, staying in the same job often means doing the same things, the same way, for decades — and eventually stagnating.
When the Market Moves but Companies Don’t
In one of my previous jobs, I worked with payroll data, and it was honestly shocking. People who had been with the company for 20+ years — in senior roles — were earning the same as me, sometimes even less. Their loyalty didn’t translate into financial growth.
My mom told me a similar story: senior engineers only got a raise after they discovered that newly hired juniors were earning almost the same as them. Not because the company valued their experience — but because the market forced their hand. The outside world moved forward, but the inside of the company stayed frozen in time.
Why My Generation Moves
Every time I change jobs, I get a serious pay rise — the kind that would be almost impossible to get internally unless you switch roles entirely. But it’s not just about the money. Every time I changed jobs, I didn’t just earn more — I grew more. I learnt something new and something about myself too. For many of us, job‑hopping isn’t about impatience or disloyalty. It’s about survival. It’s about growth. It’s about not letting our careers stall in environments that don’t evolve.
I’ve also seen the other side of it. Some people left the company, took a job somewhere else, got a pay rise and a promotion — and then came back like heroes, hired into higher positions than they ever could’ve reached internally. It’s almost ironic: sometimes the only way to move up is to leave first.
And yes, I’ve known people who moved around internally and got promoted too — but honestly, I think you need a bit of luck for that. Those opportunities don’t appear for everyone. And even when they do, I’m not convinced the pay rise always matches the effort or the responsibility.
We don’t follow the old rulebook because it wasn’t written for the world we live in now.
The Emotional Side No One Talks About
But changing jobs isn’t easy either. I’m an introvert, and walking into a new workplace makes me anxious every single time. The first few months are crucial — they determine whether I feel like I belong.
I still remember starting a new role in a different department. On my very first day, the team went out for lunch… without inviting me. My first “team lunch” happened 2–3 months later. It sent a clear message: we don’t really care about integrating you. Experiences like that stay with you.
So yes — job‑hopping can be empowering, but it can also be lonely.
The Pressure to Keep Up
And then there’s the constant pressure to stay relevant. In my generation, you’re always learning something new — AI, new tools, new systems. People are doing LinkedIn courses, online certifications, weekend workshops. Often on top of their full‑time job. They say it’s good for your career advancement, but honestly… who knows what will actually matter in five years? The world changes too fast.
Loyalty Isn’t Dead — It Just Has New Terms
Loyalty still matters, but only when it’s mutual. Staying in a job that makes you miserable doesn’t make you strong — it makes you stuck. Loyalty is a two‑way street. We often forget that we’re not just supposed to give to a company; we’re supposed to receive something meaningful in return.
I remember working as a contractor, and as my contract was ending, I asked another contractor if he would stay if they offered him a permanent role. He said, “Being asked is one thing, but being satisfied with the job and the company is another.” That stayed with me. It wasn’t selfish — it was self‑respect. It was knowing your value and refusing to undersell yourself.
You don’t need to follow someone else’s rulebook if it doesn’t feel right for you. No one else feels what you feel. No one else lives your life. Sometimes changing your job — or even your whole career — is the healthiest thing you can do.
Looking Ahead
I wonder how work will look in 20–30 years. Will Gen Alpha redefine everything again? Maybe our approach will one day seem outdated. Maybe the only constant is adaptation — adjusting to whatever environment we find ourselves in.
And maybe that’s the new kind of loyalty: Loyalty to our own growth. Loyalty to our own evolution.
Photo by stanciuc via Canva
