A Comprehensive Guide to 'Job Hopping' in Sales

Job hopping might eventually bring world peace or herald the coming of the anti-Christ—depending on who you ask. But is it really a bad thing? 

Job hopping isn’t supposed to be a desperate move that leaves an employer in a bad place and burns bridges. Instead, it should help you position yourself as an authority in sales and strengthen relationships along the way.

Remember, it’s not what you do but how you do it!

Let’s talk about job hopping the right way⬇️

Create a Career Roadmap

Before you start hopping from one job to the next, the first thing you’ll want to do is figure out what the next 3-5 years should ideally look like.

You may be an SDR now, but where do you see yourself in the next few years? What salary range are you trying to fall into?

How are you planning to advance to a senior role, and what exact role might that be?

Consider if your current organization has all those possibilities for you to explore. You may realize once you start planning that you don’t need to move on anytime soon, and you may have everything you need right there.

Be Strategic, Not Desperate

Train yourself not to think of job hopping as ‘running away’ from something. But rather a deliberate move towards your overarching goal. Consider what matters to you most: 

👉🏻 High OTE? 

👉🏻 Acquiring new skills?

👉🏻 Leadership potential and career growth?

Whichever direction holds that thing you want most, that’s where you need to be headed.

Nail Your Job Hopping ‘Pitch’

That’s right. You’ll want to create a ‘pitch’ that you throw at hiring managers once you’re in the middle of hopping between jobs. This pitch should effectively communicate to them the purpose of your recent moves.

Remember, everything is sales at the end of the day. So put your best foot forward, be genuine (also have a killer resume, that helps a lot). 

Make sure when you’re explaining the reason for your move, you don’t sound like this:

❌ Well, the last manager and I didn’t exactly get along. I was no longer comfortable in that environment and really needed a change.

Instead, focus on the positives from the last company (surely, there are a few of them). And keep the ‘pitch’ around improving your skills and adding value to the new work environment. Even better, credit everything you’ve learned to previous employers:

✔️I had a great 8 months at [insert company]. Thanks to their training and support, I was able to beat quota every quarter I was there. They offered me [x position], but I’d originally signed up for [y position], so we amicably part ways. I was hoping to fill that position here and bring everything I’ve learned with me in hopes of adding value to your company.

Empathize with Hiring Managers

Sure, you have goals. But so does the company. Not saying you should prioritize the company’s future over your own, but it’s important to make them feel as though they matter as well.

This doesn’t have to look like kissing butt and placing yourself at a disadvantage. It’s a matter of empathy. Be [realistically] transparent with leadership. Discuss goals, theirs and your own, and use that to rationalize your motive for jumping ship so early. 

If Possible, Always Leave on a High

In some cases, sales professionals spend years at one company (up to 20). Through that time, they’ll experience super highs and super lows, not realizing that if they had put themselves out there during the former, they may have landed something that would have transformed their careers.

Not only should you keep your options open, but try and strategically plan your departures in the seasons you tend to perform best. This will help your pitch tremendously!

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