Gen Z have been dubbed ‘office frogs’—a new phrase to describe the youngest working generation. ‘Office frogs’ jump from one job to another, like frogs hop from lilypad to lilypad. But committing to one job for years may not always be the right move for everyone.
Peter Duris, CEO and Co-Founder of AI-based career app Kickresume has shared his insight into the pros and cons of being an office frog, and how businesses may be able to encourage employees not to ‘hop’ away.
Peter Duris, CEO and Co-Founder of Kickresume, comments:
“Office frogs refer to employees who don’t stay in the same job for too long. These ‘office frogs’ are usually Gen Z, and aren’t afraid of taking a leap (or hop) of faith. Changing jobs often shouldn’t always be frowned upon, as it may be the best course of action for some people.
“Office frogs may just be doing what’s best for themselves and their careers. Often employees may find they aren’t learning anymore, or are growing bored with their current roles. Sometimes workers may need a chance to learn new skills and boost their salary—something that may only be possible with a new opportunity.
“Rather than staying with one company, job hoppers may find that moving between multiple jobs is the best and easiest way to improve their skills and their salary.”
“However, there are many benefits to progressing with the same company, and it shows dedication and commitment on your resume when finding future roles. It’s worth taking the time to weigh up the pros and cons of moving to another job before taking the leap.”
Tips for employees
- Be mindful of how job hopping might look. Being an office frog has its advantages, but it’s important to remember how this may come across to employers when they look at your resume. One way to counteract this is to turn your job hopping into a strength, and explain why you chose to leave your previous roles. This gives you a chance to talk about the skills you’ve picked up and any achievements you’ve accomplished.
- Make sure each role is worth the move. Jumping from job to job may not pay off if you don’t move for the right reasons. If your current role still offers learning opportunities, or if a potential new role doesn’t provide many new skills, it may be worth staying where you are.
- Don’t speak badly of your old employers. During interviews, it’s best to focus on the positives of your previous roles and what you learned and achieved rather than what you didn’t. Never speak badly about any part of your old job, as it could deter potential employers.
Peter Duris also provided tips for employers on how to help prevent high turnover rates.
Tips for employers
- Offer competitive salaries. One of the main motivators for office frogs is the pay increase that often happens when accepting a new role. To help keep your best employees, it may be worth offering salaries that are competitive to what’s out there.
- Reevaluate your benefits package. To increase your team’s job satisfaction, it could be worth looking into how to expand your benefits package. The perks and benefits of a job is typically one of the main reasons employees choose to stay. So making sure you offer a comprehensive package could make a difference.
- Encourage a supportive and social culture. Beyond better pay and benefits, working to improve your company’s culture can also be beneficial. Encourage a healthy work life balance and create social events to help your teams bond and socialize. This could help boost the mood of your employees and encourage them to stay.
