Gone are the days of people staying in jobs for over 20 years; people now hop from job to job all the time. While fresh challenges are great aspects of a job, you should always jump with caution. Here we'll discuss the pros and cons of switching jobs, and ultimately how you can spin your movement when needed.

The good

When you no longer feel growth in your role, (and you'll know when that is), it's time to move on to greener pastures. Staying put and allowing yourself to grow bored is doing you and your employer no favours. Looking for growth and a new challenge is a fair reason to move on, and one that most employers will respect.

If you went to school, graduated, got a job, and are now realizing that you hate what you do: don't keep doing it! Switching gears completely to a new type of work is a reason to jump, as long as you don't do it ten times in a year. For the good of you and everyone around you, do your research, find what you love, and do that.

If the industry you work in just isn't for you, stay for the learning experience. While you're learning in your current role, do your research on an industry you can get behind. Do you want to help people? Look at various non-profit organizations. Love technology? Research the hottest growing software companies. Figure out the industry you'd love to work in; that way, when asked why you're looking for a change, you can tell them all about the industry you're truly passionate about.

The bad

Do what you love and the money will follow.

Money is generally not a good reason to leave a job. Sure, everyone would like to make more money but good experience can sometimes mean forgoing a big paycheque. Get what you can out of a role and then make the move when the growth and experience has run out, making sure to negotiate a fair salary when you do.

Everyone has had a bad boss; it's a right of passage. However, never jump jobs because of one, since you may end up with someone worse. Ultimately, meeting the demands of a crazy boss is not only character-building, it also allows you to appreciate when you eventually do get a great boss.

Have a bad day and find yourself perusing the local job board? Close the browser and sleep on it. Changing jobs is a huge decision and should be well thought out and calculated. Think about it for a few days and then decide if your reasons for wanting to move on are real or just the emotions from a bad day at work.

The spin

You've got to be able to show your reasoning for jumping jobs on paper. Showing career progression through different job titles and industries on your resum├® is important. Your cover letter is your opportunity to briefly explain your career path thus far and what you are looking for in the future.

Jumping jobs every few months is generally ill-advised. When you first start your career, it's expected as you find your footing, and most recruiters write it off, but patterns of job jumping not only make you look disloyal but also like you have no direction. Plan your moves, do your research, and be able to explain your movement in person and on paper. This will help you not only look professional, but also help you think things through before making a move.

Photo: Brett Lamb