Key facts
- Brittany Harris-Nelson held 10 jobs at six universities over the past decade.
- She used each role to gain specialized skills for career advancement.
- Harris-Nelson now holds a mid-level administrative position at Wake Forest University.
- Gen Z employees have an average tenure of 1.1 years in their first five career years.
- Job hopping can lead to a significant salary premium, with one report indicating a 31% increase for those changing jobs four or more times in a decade.
Brittany Harris-Nelson has strategically navigated her career by changing jobs 10 times across six universities over the past decade, a practice described as 'lily padding.' This approach, aimed at acquiring specialized skills and advancing toward a desired role, led her to a mid-level administrative position at Wake Forest University. Harris-Nelson views each step as crucial for building the necessary experience for her current role.
This career strategy is increasingly observed among Gen Z, who tend to move between jobs more frequently than older generations. Data indicates Gen Z employees have an average tenure of just 1.1 years in their early careers, compared to millennials and older cohorts. This mobility is associated with higher earning potential, with reports suggesting a significant salary premium for those who frequently change jobs.
Adam Smiley Poswolsky, a public speaker and author, also followed a non-linear career path, moving between various sectors including government, non-profit, and corporate work to find meaning and purpose. His diverse roles, from a Peace Corps project leader to a film scout, ultimately contributed to his current career as a successful author and keynote speaker.
Industry experts like Nicola Grant from Hiscox and Lucy Kemp from La Fosse acknowledge this trend, noting a broader shift in career expectations. Younger professionals increasingly seek variety, pace, and continuous skill development to remain relevant in the evolving job market. They prioritize building a portfolio of skills and shaping their own career paths over traditional vertical progression, especially as workplace learning dynamics change post-pandemic and with the rise of AI.