I job-hopped to 3 jobs in 1 year because I didn't want to waste my time being miserable — and I thank Gen Z for setting this new standard

• Kenny Williams resigned from three jobs in less than a year.
• He said knowing when and how to pivot is an important lesson he's learned in his career.
• Williams thinks Gen Z employees are helping to change the standards of professionalism.

Gen Z has a reputation for being job hoppers, and as a younger millennial, I can relate. After all, I've quit three jobs in less than a year. Even though I was taught that employees should stay at a company for at least 12 months before pivoting to something new, that concept of professionalism has changed for younger professionals.

An important lesson I've learned over the course of my career is knowing when and how to pivot. To be clear, I've never accepted a new role with the intention of quitting at the slightest inconvenience. However, I do believe companies need to meet basic professional needs if they expect to retain young talent.

At minimum, younger workers need support and room for growth

I submitted my first of the three resignations, after two years at my dream job. I was 26 years old when they hired me as a freelance writer, and I'd still be there now if I had room to grow.

Working as a writer at that company was a dream, but my dreams eventually got bigger and I owed it to myself to explore what that looked like. I also felt as though my team wasn't receiving any support from a new leader who joined the company. At the time of my resignation, I felt as if I had accomplished everything I could possibly do in that role.

I would've stayed if there was more intention in supporting my growth. Companies that want to retain younger workers need, at the bare minimum, to professionally develop them in a genuine way.

Having multiple jobs makes it easier to leave bad jobs

I resigned from the next job, after only two weeks. It was incredibly hard to leave a full-time job with benefits in such a short amount of time. My toxic ideas about professionalism made me feel uncomfortable at the mere thought. But I knew that if I stayed, I'd be miserable.

As soon as I started this job I had several tasks and responsibilities added to my role that were never mentioned during the interview. I was expected to stay online after hours, work on weekends, and be on-call to respond to any breaking news. All of this would've been fine, but these expectations were not mentioned before I accepted the role.

I planned to stick it out, but another opportunity came along. Not only did I have access to another full-time job, I also had a new freelance gig I'd already started. This method of survival added financial security and made it easier to job-hop.

After only six months, I also left the freelance writing gig that I'd picked up. There were issues I couldn't ignore. My payments would be delayed by months, and it felt like there wasn't any support for editorial operations. That was my third resignation in a year.

What I experienced helped me develop important dealbreakers

First, I've noticed that when your boss has a desire to attain celebrity status, you and your professional development will never be a priority. That leader will be too concerned with curating their own public persona. Secondly, pay attention to Glassdoor reviews and how senior employees reflect on their experiences. When there are too many people saying the same negative things about the leader and company, it's usually rooted in truth and you should run.

It's important to also discuss how much of a financial gamble job hopping is — especially in this market. I was actually laid off from the full-time gig a few months after quitting the freelance job which left me with limited streams of income. Now that I'm older, I realize how crucial it is to have as many backup plans as possible.

I've also learned to ask as many questions as possible during the interview process. My previous experiences have taught me that it's better to know things earlier than down the line when it's too late.

For many people, job hunting in this way is still considered unorthodox

I considered this way of job-hunting unorthodox too. Then I realized I cannot and will not give my all to a place that doesn't meet my basic requirements. While no workplace is perfect, the best companies to work for are those that support mental wellness.

When a company is invested in your mental stability, it's a sign that they care. It's also worth noting, companies that address concerns and questions directly show promise. Tough situations impact every organization and when leaders don't shy away from those conversations, it shows they care about their employees.

I don't consider how other people feel about upholding old standards of professionalism. Thanks to Gen Z, standards of professionalism are changing for the better and they've given me courage to be a part of that movement.