Anupam Mittal has urged people to stop criticizing Gen Z for frequently changing jobs early in their careers. According to the founder of Shaadi.com, many career advisors unfairly shame young professionals, especially those in their early 20s, for changing roles every year. He argued that this phase is for exploration, not stability.
Anupam Mittal runs Shaadi.com, the world’s largest online matchmaking service. He has also been a part of Shark Tank India since Season 1.
Mittal explained in a LinkedIn post that early career is about discovering interests, testing industries, roles and work cultures. He compares it to “dating” to find the right one.
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“I see many ‘career gurus’ shaming 22-year-olds for changing jobs every year. But isn’t that exactly what young people should be doing?” he wonders.
If the job doesn’t feel right, he believes young people should move on without guilt. At this age, he considers research essential.
“Early in our careers we discover our passion. We ‘date’ industries, roles and cultures to find the vibe. If you don’t feel it, go. Don’t feel bad about it. Now is the time to explore,” he wrote.
At the same time, it also emphasizes the importance of stability later on. When recruiting for leadership positions, Mittal looks for at least one 4 to 5 year tenure.
“Why? Because you usually don’t see the consequences of your own decisions 12 months from now,” he adds.
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He outlined that the 1st year is for learning, the 2nd for executing, and the 3rd for managing the consequences and scaling success.
Mittal suggests a clear strategy: explore aggressively between 21 and 24. But after 25, make a serious commitment.
“Find a company that’s worth your time and commit to 4 years. If you want to be a founder or CEO, you have to prove you can stay in the kitchen when the heat is on,” suggests the serial entrepreneur.
“It takes 1 year to understand a job, but 3-5 years to understand an industry. That’s when you win,” signs off Anupam Mittal.
Reaction
Anupam Mittal’s take on Gen Z has impressed many on LinkedIn, especially as this generation is often criticized for being “frivolous” in its approach.
“This is a rare solution because it contains both truths without diluting it. Exploration at the beginning is not a lack of determination, it is the discovery of a signal,” wrote one user.
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“This is a refreshing take on career architecture. There is a huge difference between ‘job hopping’ and ‘strategic exploration,'” wrote one user.
Another user commented: “Today I resigned for exactly this reason. I realized that I never took enough time to really explore what kind of role, environment or position suited me best, and building my own thing felt like the right way to do that.”
“This captures a nuance that most career advice misses: moving early is learning, but sticking around long enough to see results is where real growth and leadership is cemented,” came another.
“Gen Z isn’t job hopping – it’s pattern matching.
In your 20s, staying too long in the wrong place is actually riskier than moving fast,” another user wrote.