People Who Don’t Commit To One Job For Their Entire Life Usually Develop 5 Rare Traits
PeopleImages / Shutterstock We all know someone who's constantly bouncing around jobs, or maybe we're that person ourselves. While this is often looked down on, people who have non-linear career paths actually have some unique traits and skill sets compared to those who stick with the same job forever.
The traditional route of career success is to go to school, get a degree, land a job, and climb the corporate ladder from there, but what if this is no longer the ideal? The real value may lie in non-linear career paths, a flexible professional journey that may include industry changes and varied roles throughout a worker's life.
Here are 5 rare traits of people who don't commit to one job for their entire life:
1. Curiosity-driven
fizkes | Shutterstock
People enjoy switching jobs not because they lack discipline, but because their motivation works a bit differently. They have a desire to learn, solve new problems, and navigate unfamiliar environments. Once a role feels comfortable and predictable, the enjoyment fades. Their attention is naturally pulled towards the next new and novel experience.
Curiosity also shapes how they see their identity and their career. Their focus is on broad exploration, rather than deep specialization in one role. When they reach a level of mastery, they think, "What's next?" Even in jobs that are stable and well-paying, the allure of other opportunities can outweigh comfort.
2. Highly adaptable
People who frequently change jobs are bound to be adaptable, mostly because the constant change requires them to be. They're able to pick up on new rules and norms more easily than others, and they don't typically fall into steady routines.
They develop a level of confidence in figuring things out as they go, even things they're uncertain about. Even if they've never been in a specific situation before, people who often change jobs can use transferable skills and knowledge to learn and succeed.
3. Increasingly innovative
Gorodenkoff | Shutterstock
These types of people are far more innovative. They've been exposed to many different ways of thinking and doing from all the jobs they've done. Their mental library is full of tools and perspectives that they can combine to find unique solutions to problems. Innovation happens when these types of connections are made and applied.
Unlike others who become stuck with traditional viewpoints, they have a greater ability to think outside the box. By getting involved in several organizations, they're not afraid to take creative risks or question things they don't agree with.
4. Fast learner
Naturally, they become fast learners because their job-hopping tendencies demand it. They know that learning quickly isn't a choice; it's how they survive in a role and succeed. Over time, they gain the ability to identify and prioritize important information and disregard that which is nonessential.
They also develop formidable skills in meta-learning (or learning how to learn). Starting over repeatedly helps them recognize patterns easily and pick up required skills more quickly.
5. Goal-oriented
Makistock | Shutterstock
While making long-term goals isn't exactly their specialty, people who don't commit to one job set clear and attainable short-term goals that help direct their energy and focus. Gaining a specific skill, completing a project, and wanting to master a certain field all help structure their career path as they move around.
Additionally, they think in outcomes rather than progress. Staying in a role indefinitely does not sound appealing, and they make choices based on what they want to learn or achieve next. Forward motion comes from simply moving with purpose and meaning.
Kayla Asbach is a writer currently working on her bachelor's degree at the University of Central Florida. She covers relationships, psychology, self-help, pop culture, and human interest topics.
