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THE JOB HOP

Switching gigs can help you learn new skills—and give your career a leg up, too.

BY EMILY MATCHAR

It probably won’t surprise you to learn that your parents’ advice about staying put in your 20s to patiently climb the corporate ladder is outdated. Women today hold an average of six jobs before age 26, with college-educated women holding more than less educated ones. “It’s very rare to see young people work anywhere for more than five years,” says Dan Schawbel, author of Promote Yourself: The New Rules for Career Success. That’s because changing jobs, when done right, can help you get ahead faster; call it career cross-training. “To be successful in today’s complex, tech- heavy workplaces, you need a variety of skills—and the ability to adapt quickly,” says Joan Kuhl, founder of the consulting company Why Millennials Matter. Here’s how to make smart leaps forward. JOB HOP > 60