I changed jobs 10 times in 10 years to get the career I wanted
Image source, Brittany Harris-Nelson Image caption, Brittany Harris-Nelson has had 10 different jobs at six different universities over the past decade By Alice Kantor Business reporter Published 10 minutes ago Brittany Harris-Nelson describes her career journey so far as being like "a frog moving across lily pads". "Each step brought me closer to where I ultimately wanted to be, even if the path wasn't always linear," says the 32-year-old. Today, Harris-Nelson works in a mid-level administrative position at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a role she had long coveted. She says that to get there, she leapt from one college job to another for close to a decade, using each new role to gain specialised skills that would help with her career advancement. Overall, she has had 10 different jobs at six different universities over the past decade, starting with several positions when she was still a student, and then three full-time roles. Harris-Nelson has been an office manager, an admissions counsellor and a student advisor, before reaching her current position as assistant director of student engagement. While she does not wish to reveal how much she now earns, she says that as she changed jobs her salary didn't increase much. But she got more benefits, such as extra paid leave and bigger pension contributions from her employer. "Each role helped me build skills and perspectives that I didn't yet have, and together those experiences prepared me for the work I do today," she says. And she's not alone. Gen Z job hop more Industry professionals have identified the emergence of a new work trend among members of Gen Z (those born from 1997â2012), called "lily padding". It refers to young adults hopping from job to job to try to improve their skills and chances of getting more senior roles and higher pay, rather than staying put in one role at one company. The idea is that they supercharge their employability. The data seems to back up the phenomenon. The average tenure of a Gen Z employee in the first five years of their career is just 1.1 years, compared with 1.8 years for millennials (those born between 1981 and 1996), and almost three years for older generations. That is according to a 2024 global survey , external of 11,250 workers by recruitment agency Randstad. This increased mobility in the job market leads to increased salaries, at least in the UK, one 2025 report found. , external The study by financial company Wealthify said that people who changed jobs four or more times over the previous decade earned an average of £39,276 versus £30,088 for other workers - a 31% premium. Those who describe their career strategies as "lily padding" are always on the lookout for the next opportunity. That's the case of Adam Smiley Poswolsky, who is now a 42-year-old public speaker and author who talks and writes about how to improve workplace cultures. Based in San Francisco, he says that the traditional career ladder mindset of stay
This job-hopping journey feels both exhausting and inspiring. At 32, shes built specialized skills across 10 roles, but I wonder about the long-term stability and mental toll of such constant transitions. Whats the real cost of this frog approach to career building?
Your linear path feels enviable until you see how much mental energy it took to stay motivated through 10 different environments. At 32, Im questioning whether constant change builds character or just exhausts it. The stability you found is worth celebrating, but I wonder if the price was too high.
Thats quite a journey of intentional career pivoting. Ten job changes in a decade suggests either exceptional clarity about what you wanted, or perhaps a lot of learning through doing. Either way, the discipline to consistently evaluate and redirect your path shows real commitment to building a fulfilling career. What was the common thread that helped you navigate those transitions so strategically?
10 career pivots in 10 years shows remarkable determination, but also raises questions about institutional stability. Sometimes the frog approach works, other times it may indicate a lack of clear long-term strategic planning. Balance between adaptability and commitment is key.
Your frog metaphor resonates deeply. While job-hopping can seem unstable, sometimes we must jump between roles to find our true path. The key is intentional movement, not aimless wandering. What specific skills did you develop that made each transition worthwhile?
10 jobs in 10 years is incredible dedication to carving out your dream career. But what systemic changes would make this kind of career mobility accessible to everyone, not just those with built-in safety nets? The freedom to pivot is a luxury, not a right.
10 job changes in 10 years sounds impressive until you wonder - did she build genuine expertise or just collect resume bullets? The frog metaphor feels more like a yo-yo to me. Whats the real cost of that mental energy?
Your career path is impressive, but Im wondering how the constant job-hopping impacted your carbon footprint and work-life balance? Sometimes the career growth narrative doesnt account for the environmental and mental costs of our professional choices. Whats your reflection on that?