Job hopping when you don't know what you want to do

When we are young, it all seems so easy - you work hard at school (or try to), then you leave and get a job, and that job will sustain you until you retire. Certainly, at one point in time, that was very likely to happen. Nowadays, people often change their jobs on a regular basis, constantly striving for something better. Occasionally though, there are people who move from one job to another simply because they can't find what interests them. They know that none of the jobs they have tried in the past have been right for them, but they have no idea what is right. However, there are some ways to use this to their advantage, eventually finding something that suits them right down to the ground. If you're a dissatisfied job hopper, here are some ways to find out what you really want to do.

Make a note of what you do and don't like in each job

Each time you leave a job, think about what it was that you did and didn't like and write it down. By coming up with a list of tasks that you do enjoy, you may eventually be able to put it all together and come up with an idea for a career that does suit you down to the ground. Although employers often don't like job hopping on a future employee's CV, you could turn it to your advantage by explaining that you are not satisfied with second best, but, after much soul-searching, you are now sure what it is you want to do. If you can be sincere, you may just impress them.

Listen to your employers

Following the above point, each time you leave a job, talk to your boss and colleagues. See what they think are your strong points. You may be surprised at what they have to say. Sometimes it is hard to recognise what our own strong points are. Also, try to maintain good relations with your colleagues. Your boss may be annoyed that you are leaving so soon, but if you can talk him or her round, then they are more likely to give you a good reference, and, you never know, they may prove to be a useful contact in the future.

Consider why you job hop

Is it really just boredom and the inability to decide what you want to do, or are there deeper rooted reasons. Maybe you are shy and find it hard to fit into a new workplace. Perhaps you are afraid of rejection and, thinking that you will eventually get knocked back, you choose to leave before that happens. In these cases, some form of counselling may be a good idea. Look into what is available in your area - some research on the Internet should provide you with some contacts, or you could approach your doctor.

Go back into education

You may not be able to throw in the towel and go back into education full-time, but you could take evening courses or a long-distance qualification. Choose a subject that interests you on a personal level - if it also fits in with work, then fine. This will give you a second fiddle to your bow - along with noting what it is you enjoy in your working life, you can note what you enjoy in your studies - again, you may just come up with an idea for a career that suits you perfectly. And additional qualifications will boost your CV.

Try temping

If you find yourself unable to maintain interest in a job for more than a few weeks, then it might be worth temping. The money may not be quite as good as in a full-time job, but you will have the opportunity to work in a variety of organisations with all sorts of different people, learning different skills all the time. You may just come up with the perfect job in the perfect company. And if you don't, you will be able to add to your list of what suits you and what doesn't, and you will be better able to explain all the different jobs on your CV.

Accept that you are a job hopper

Depending on what your future goals are, you may just need to accept that you are not easily satisfied and that you will always change jobs on a regular basis. Plenty of people do so and survive - although during times of recession, it may require a little more careful thought. And obviously, if you eventually want to be a high flier, job hopping may not be such a good idea. However, if your goal is to earn enough money to live, have fun and have plenty of time to spend with the family, then there is nothing wrong with job hopping - so long as there are jobs to hop to.

See a career advisor

On leaving school or university, there is almost certainly an option to see a career advisor. However, there is nothing to stop you from seeing an advisor at any time. In fact, once you have your list of wants and don't wants, then you may well get more out of an advice session. Even if it doesn't come up with anything concrete, you should at least be provided with some food for thought, and the advisor may be able to give you some contacts for future reference.

Consider turning a hobby into a job

Some of us work to live, working to provide for families and to be able to buy things that make us happy. If you have a hobby that satisfies you, think about how you could turn it into a job. Maybe you could open a shop or start an online business. Or become a freelancer. Don't let the lack of capital put you off - think about how you can start to save and put the money together. If you are determined, you can turn a dream into reality.

As with anything in life, there are always positives to everything, even if it is not immediately obvious, and job hopping is no different. Make sure you consider it that way, even if others don't, and eventually things will work out just as you like them.