Why is “deep cultivation” in the workplace more reliable than “frequent job hopping”?

—— A discussion on the relationship between years of work and career development
In today’s job market, many people, especially young professionals, change jobs every 1-2 years on average. This phenomenon of “job hopping” is becoming increasingly common, but some seasoned tech executives hold a different view: truly making a significant contribution in a company usually requires at least 3-4 years.

Renowned tech executive Gokul Rajaram (who helped Google AdSense grow into a billion-dollar business and also propelled DoorDash from startup to unicorn) recently shared a statement.
Drawing from his over 20 years of professional experience, he pointed out that those who frequently change jobs every 12-18 months find it difficult to leave a deep impact within an organization. He recommends staying at a job for at least 3-4 years to truly understand the business, build trust, and drive major changes.
He cited the perspective of well-known business leader Frank Slootman (former CEO of Snowflake). In his 2022 leadership book “Amp It Up,” Slootman explicitly states: having numerous short-term roles of less than 3 years on a resume is a “warning sign.” It may indicate poor judgment, difficulty working with teams, or a tendency to leave before problems surface. In his view, even the shortest tenure should reach 3 years, and executives at top companies typically serve an average of 5-7 years.

This view is not an isolated case. Academic research also supports it: a meta-analysis of 350 studies found that the longer employees stay in the same position, the higher their work performance and additional contributions to the organization (such as proactively helping colleagues, maintaining company culture, etc.). Of course, not all short tenures are worth criticizing. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the median tenure for young workers aged 25-34 is only 2.7 years.
Many people try multiple jobs early in their careers to find the right fit; others leave early due to toxic work environments, layoffs, or better opportunities—these are understandable exceptions.

Overall, while frequent job changes may lead to rapid salary growth in the short term, deep accumulation often provides greater competitiveness in long-term career development. Especially when aiming to grow from an “executor” to a “leader,” sustained commitment allows you to truly understand complex systems, build strong networks, and drive impactful results. So next time you consider changing jobs, ask yourself: Is there still greater potential I can explore here? Sometimes, sticking around a bit longer may not lead to a “comfort zone,” but rather a true “growth zone.”