Anupam Mittal Calls Gen Z Job-Hopping ‘Career Dating’ but Cautions Against One Mistake That Can End Leadership Aspirations

Anupam Mittal Labels Gen Z Job-Hopping as ‘Career Dating’ but Warns of Leadership Pitfalls

New Delhi: Entrepreneur and Shark Tank India judge Anupam Mittal has shared his perspective on Gen Z job-hopping, describing it as a natural phase of career exploration he calls “career dating.” However, Mittal cautions young professionals that one crucial mistake can derail long-term leadership aspirations if not addressed at the right stage of their careers.

Job-Hopping as Career Exploration

In a widely discussed LinkedIn post, Mittal addressed the criticism often directed at Gen Z professionals for frequently changing jobs. Rather than seeing it as instability, he explained that early-career role changes allow individuals to discover their strengths, preferred work environments, and industry fit. He compared it to dating different careers — testing roles and companies to understand what aligns best with one’s goals.

“Let’s stop shaming Gen Z for switching jobs,” Mittal wrote, highlighting that experimenting with different positions is a necessary learning process in the early 20s.

Balancing Exploration with Commitment

Mittal suggested that the ages 21 to 24 are ideal for career experimentation, but warned that after age 25, professionals should settle into a role long enough to develop expertise and leadership credibility. He noted that many senior-level resumes he reviews lack a significant tenure at one organization, which can affect leadership evaluation.

According to Mittal, the first year in a role is for learning, the second for execution, and subsequent years for mastering challenges, honing skills, and scaling results. Without this continuity, demonstrating leadership potential becomes difficult.

Longevity and Leadership Growth

Mittal emphasized that longer stints signal experience, perseverance, and sustained impact, qualities essential for senior roles, entrepreneurial ventures, and leadership positions. Employers value candidates who can handle challenges and stay committed, which short-term job-hopping may fail to showcase.

Community Response and Discussion

The post sparked extensive discussion on LinkedIn, with young professionals praising Mittal’s view that early-career moves are valuable for understanding personal strengths and avoiding long-term mismatches. Many agreed that strategic career moves and later stability are key to building credibility and leadership capacity.

Commenters also noted that while moving from the wrong job is acceptable, it should be done intentionally and with a focus on long-term goals. Mittal’s advice has encouraged Gen Z workers to balance exploration with commitment, highlighting that both are critical for career growth and leadership readiness in today’s evolving work landscape.