Fill in the gaps in the article extract with the words in bold below:
cling questioning fading leverage pursue
trade-off span uncertainty shift pays off
The era of job hopping, where ambitious professionals switch companies every two to three years to 1. ………… better opportunities, appears to be 2. ……….. In its place, a new phenomenon called “job hugging” has emerged, where employees 3. ………… to their current positions. According to ResumeBuilder.com’s recent survey of 2,221 full-time U.S. workers, nearly half (45%) are now job hugging, staying in their current roles because switching feels too risky. This 4. …………. is driven by a combination of AI disruption fears, economic 5. ………… and a cooling job market that has left many individuals 6. ………… whether switching jobs is worth the risk.
But this dramatic shift raises a critical question: are professionals making a smart strategic move, or are they letting fear drive decisions that could limit long-term success? To determine which strategy 7. …………. most, we’ll examine five critical factors that define career success: salary growth, career advancement, skill development, job security and employer perception.
Let’s weigh the traditional advantages of job hopping against the new realities job seekers face today.
Salary Growth
The Job Hopping Advantage
For years, job hopping has dominated when it comes to salary growth. Research consistently shows that external hires typically command 10% to 20% salary increases, while internal promotions average just 3% to 5% raises. Over a career 8. ………… , this compounding effect can result in hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional lifetime earnings.
The Job Hugging Reality
However, the game has changed dramatically. With job growth slowing to just 22,000 positions added in August 2025 and unemployment rising to 4.3%, job hoppers have lost much of their 9. …………… . Companies facing economic uncertainty are tightening budgets and becoming more conservative with salary offers. Organizations with stable workforces face less pressure to match outside salaries, keeping internal compensation growth modest.
The Bottom Line
Switching companies offers greater salary growth, even in today’s challenging market. While the risks have increased, the salary jumps from external moves still dwarf the internal raises that job huggers typically receive. Over time, job huggers trade long-term earning potential for short-term security, a costly 10. ………….. that compounds over an entire career. This salary advantage becomes even more pronounced when we examine career advancement opportunities. (…)
In order to read the whole article, go to: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecastrillon/2025/09/23/job-hugging-vs-job-hopping-which-strategy-pays-off-most/
Key: 1. pursue; 2. fading; 3. cling; 4. shift; 5. uncertainty; 6. questioning; 7. pays off; 8. span; 9. leverage; 10. trade-off
Glossary
- to command (a salary, price, or benefit) – to receive or be offered a particular amount, often because the person or item is in high demand or has strong negotiating power
- to dwarf – to make something else seem small by comparison; to greatly exceed in size, importance, or scale
- rigid – stiff or inflexible; strict and not easily changed in behavior, rules, or structure
- marketability – the quality of being attractive or suitable for sale, especially the likelihood that a product, service, or person can be successfully marketed
- tenure – the period during which someone holds a position or office
- complacency – a feeling of self-satisfaction or contentment that leads to a lack of awareness of potential problems or the need for improvement
Practice makes perfect
Read the article:
and match these words/phrases below with their meanings:
1. performative behavior
2. ruminating
3. downward spiral
4. stunts growth
5. cognitive reframing
6. sitting tight
7. quagmire
a) repeatedly thinking about something negative or stressful, often in an unproductive or obsessive way
b) a difficult, frustrating situation that is hard to escape from, often involving ongoing problems or exhaustion
c) staying in the same position and not making changes, especially while waiting for conditions to improve
d) actions done mainly to appear committed or valuable (for example, staying late or flattering a boss), rather than out of genuine engagement or productivity
e) prevents or slows personal, professional, or career development
f) a situation in which one negative effect leads to another, causing conditions to steadily worsen over time
g) consciously changing the way you think about a situation in order to view it in a more positive or manageable way
Key: 1d; 2a; 3g; 4e; 5g; 6c; 7b
Discuss
- What economic and technological factors are contributing to the rise of job hugging?
- In terms of salary growth, why does job hopping still offer an advantage, even in a weak job market?
- Why do job huggers often experience slower career advancement?
- Which strategy—job hopping or job hugging—seems better for skill development, especially in the age of AI? Why?
- The articles suggest that job security from job hugging may be an illusion. Do you agree? Why or why not?
- According to Why “Job Hugging” Can Be Worse Than Quitting, what are the psychological costs of staying in an unsatisfying job?
- The articles argue that timing is everything. What does this mean in practice?
- What steps can job huggers take to remain competitive while staying in their current roles?
- “In today’s economy, job hopping is a luxury few people can afford.”
Do you agree or disagree? - After reading both articles, do you think job hugging is a strategy—or a survival response?
Watch and Revise!
Job Hugging vs. Job Hopping
What’s Your Best Move
https://www.cloud.worldwideschool.pl/index.php/s/tXWssfdMRJ9jrLm
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