Job hopping has a pretty bad reputation.  Many people are fearful of working with different employers and holding different positions.  You might be thinking holding a bunch of different jobs could have a negative impact on landing your next gig.  I think most employers are looking for some sort of commitment from candidates being considered for full-time roles.  But this doesn’t mean that you should omit your experiences from your resume.

The truth is, it can take some time to figure out where you want to work and what you want to do.  Sometimes temporary work and short-term employment relationships are necessary to figure out what makes you happy.  With a movement towards a workforce dominated by millennials, employers are going to have to become more comfortable with all this movement.

In the meantime, millennials and job hoppers should think about the message they’re sending around job transitions.  Here are a few reasons job hopping can actually be good!

3 Ways Job Hopping Helps Your Career

1. Job Hopping Leads to More Diverse Experience

You can learn a ton from staying with a single employer over the course of many years.  You can even take on different roles and learn about different businesses.  Ultimately though, it’s the same company.  No matter where you go, it’s likely you’ll experience a similar culture, values, and processes.

Working with different employers means your experience working in diverse environments is broader.  This is especially true when transitioning across sectors or industries.  On top of this, by moving through different jobs, you force yourself to build a new reputation and new relationships quickly.  You’ve got to become credible all over again.  These skills are totally transferable to any workplace.

2. Job Hopping Means You’ll Probably Earn More

This diverse experience comes with financial value.  On top of this, most people would have an expectation of a salary increase with a transition to a new company.  If you’re in a long-term relationship with an employer, you’ve probably only got an annual salary increase to look forward to.  At best, these increases are often only incremental.

Use the job offer as an opportunity to negotiate with your prospective employer.  I think many people forget this is an initial “offer.”  We’re just so excited to get the job that we accept the initial terms!  Why not go back and ask for more?

[RELATED: How to Transition to a New Job]

3. Job Hopping Seems Really Exciting…Because It Is

Switching jobs means constant learning.  Moving from company to company allows you to stay sharp by learning a new operation and working with new teams of people.  The change of environment is exciting and the constant learning curve leaves little time to be bored.

Try to see the bright side of job hopping.  Be confident about your decisions and reflect on how they were best for you.  Think about how to address any tough questions you might have about your experiences in a job interview.  Ultimately, if you’re confident about your choices and can clearly articulate the benefits of your diverse experience, this is sure to impress the recruiter.