Are you guilty of ‘job hugging?’ Career expert on another workplace trend

Career expert Angela Champ discusses job hugging, what it is and how to tell if it's time to move on from your job.

Unsatisfied at your job, but unable to quit? There’s a term for that.

“Job hugging” is an expression used to describe someone who is hanging on to a job they dislike or would ideally leave. Reasons they’re unable to quit include economic uncertainties, not having luck finding other opportunities in their industry and being too scared to do it.

Career expert Angela Champ told CTV Your Morning earlier this week that a job hugger hangs on to their job when they don’t know what their next move is going to be.

“They cling to it, even if they don’t love it,” she said.

Champ said that there are a few questions job huggers can ask themselves if they’re trying to leave a job:

• Are they still learning?
• Are they still adding value?
• Are they still having fun?

“No relationship, no job, no marriage is 100 per cent perfect,” she said. “So if you can say yes the majority of the time, then you’re actually doing OK.”

If you answer “no” to all the questions, there are a number of signs to be aware of that might let you know it’s time to leave.

If you’re dreading going to work for the day, even if you work remotely, that’s another strong sign that it might be time to look for something new, Champ said.

If, on the other hand, you like your job but are in a rut, Champ says you’re in a good position. She suggests talking to your boss or someone in human resources about whether there are other departments or roles you can take on. Alternatively, you can volunteer to be a mentor or lead a committee at work to help expand your learning, adding value professional development through .

Job hopping

Champ admits that “job hoppers” - professionals who leave a job after a few years to advance their career - are more commonplace these days. She advised those who have taken this approach to be honest and straightforward if asked about that at a job interview.

“Always have a good reason for why,” she said. “So in that first question about, ‘Walk us through your experience,’ when you’re talking about the job that you had, talk about why you left: ‘I left this job to go here, because it gave me a broader scope, because I was able to manage people, because it was a broader salary,’ or ‘I was going to learn more.’”