It's not uncommon for an employee to leave a job for greener pastures. No one faults a person for taking a position that offers more money, greater prestige or bigger opportunities.
But what if this employee takes the job after being in a position for six months? Does the move still sound reasonable? Or does it seem unprofessional and ungrateful?
That's the fine line that many workers must walk when they receive another job offer soon after taking a new job.
Say a worker has three jobs within a two-year span. Somewhere in that job-hopping scenario, a boss or co-workers will begin to wonder why the person isn't more committed.
While jumping to any conclusions may be unfair, a worker who switches jobs quickly and often can risk looking unstable professionally and personally.
And jumping ship without giving an employer a chance to show someone what's available careerwise may put that person in a worse position down the road. Maybe the employee is not getting a promotion simply because he or she hasn't been with the company long enough.
When contemplating leaving a job after a short time, here are some things to consider:
Long-term goals. If a current position doesn't help meet future career plans, it may be time to move on. If an employee wants to be a veterinarian, it doesn't make sense to stay in a sales job after being offered a job in a vet's office.
Understanding your passion. Sometimes people job-hop because they don't understand that the reason they're unhappy is not the employer -- it's the job. If a person loves working outside but continues to accept jobs that keep him or her indoors all day, that person is going to be unhappy.
Absolute deal-breakers. If someone is working at a company where something illegal is going on, or thinks the boss or the business environment is unethical, that worker shouldn't hesitate to look for another job.
It's important to understand it often takes a year for an employee to become truly effective. That means that running for those greener pastures too soon may put someone even further from a fulfilling career.
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