Will job-hopping damage millennial teacher’s career?

Q: I’m a teacher who’s part of the millennial generation. As a group, we have a reputation for not being especially loyal to employers and for job hopping when better opportunities come along. I guess that means I’m a cliché. I can’t imagine spending five, let alone 15 years (or more) in the same school. I’m only 26, and I’ve already taught in three schools. I love children and everything about education, and I’m often told that I’m a gifted teacher. Like anyone else, I’m always learning and improving, and my principals respect me and try to convince me to stay. I say this to explain that this is more about me and following my own path. I believe I’ll get better faster — and work will be far more interesting — if I experience different kinds of school communities. My parents worry that if I keep this up, older Gen X administrators will look at my resume and say “no thanks,” and soon enough I’ll have trouble landing any job. I can see the appeal of eventually finding a place to stay for awhile, but this is where I am right now in my life. What do you think?

A: I won’t say you’re a cliché, but you’re pretty typical for your generation. A 2016 Gallup report revealed that 21% of millennials had changed jobs within the past year, which is more than three times the number of non-millennials who switched jobs in that same time period. The researchers speculated that this behavior may be less about them wanting to jump ship and more about their desire to feel emotionally connected to their work. Many millennials job hop until they find work that feels worthwhile. In that regard, there’s pressure on employers to help millennial staff find meaning in their work.

This doesn’t reflect your personal reality, though, because you love teaching. You don’t leave schools because you feel disconnected; you leave because you want to maximize learning and sustain your passion.