Job-Dropping: Workers Choosing to Go for Less Demanding Roles

You’ve probably heard of job-hopping — switching roles regularly to climb the salary ladder. But “job-dropping” is gaining ground too. Employees are deciding to aim for less demanding roles, either declining promotions or planning a move to a job with fewer responsibilities and less pressure. It’s similar to the concept of “conscious unbossing,” in which workers choose not to go for management positions.

Peter Duris, CEO and Co-Founder of the AI career tool Kickresume, has prepared comments on why this might be, as well as tips for anyone who’s considering this kind of career move themselves.

Peter Duris, CEO and Co-Founder of Kickresume, comments:

“While we often call it a “career ladder,” people’s progression isn’t always so linear. While a promotion and a bigger title might often be associated with success, lots of people are making decisions for their own wellbeing that might look, from the outside, like a step down. This could be because they’ve realized they don’t enjoy management and would rather go back to being an individual contributor, or because of pressures outside of work.

“In our recent survey of parents’ experiences, we found that 29% of parents said that since having children, they were now looking for a less demanding role. This is much more common among mothers than fathers, with 40% of women giving this answer compared to 24% of men.

“We also conducted a survey exploring mental health at work, which revealed that workers with a higher level of seniority were more likely to say their job negatively affected their mental health. 72% of employees said they had either left a job for the sake of their mental wellbeing, or had considered doing so. Finally, when asked whether they would rather have a job with high pay or solid mental health benefits, 70% said they’d choose to prioritize their mental wellbeing.”

Tips for workers who are considering “job-dropping”

• Make a long-term plan. Think about where you see yourself in the long run — are you considering taking a step back temporarily, and then climbing back to that level (or higher) after a break? If you’re planning to pursue senior-level positions in the future, it doesn’t mean you have to rule out taking a step back for now, but you might find working out a rough timeline helpful.
• Work out what to tell hiring managers. If you’re applying for jobs that you could be described as overqualified for, or which could be considered a step down, think about how to frame your decision to apply for these roles. Addressing it upfront in cover letters or job interviews will help reassure hiring managers, as long as you can put a positive spin on it. You might say you’re looking for a job with better work-life balance, or that you’ve realized you’re more interested in being an individual contributor than managing others.
• Consider benefits as part of the package. When considering switching jobs to something with a lower salary — or declining a promotion — take into account all the other benefits too. Will your amount of paid time off change? What about access to health insurance or other perks? Take a minute to reflect on which benefits are the most meaningful to you. If you’re taking a step back because of a high level of stress, a job that offers a good amount of time off might be ideal.
• Be open with your manager. If you’ve realized you’d be happier in a role with fewer responsibilities than your current position, talk to your manager about it. If there’s a risk of losing you to another company, it’s likely that your boss would prefer to collaborate with you on a way to make the job work better for you. This could include redistributing some responsibilities or reducing your hours. If you’ve been offered a promotion but would prefer to decline, let your manager know that you’d prefer to stay in your current role.

It’s important to remember that there are lots of ways to have a fulfilling career. While a senior or C-suite job title looks really impressive on your resume, if the role itself doesn’t feel right for you at this point in time, you shouldn’t feel obligated to stick with it.