How to Know If You're Job Hopping Into More Work
Is it a new lazy girl job or just more BS?
The biggest FAQ I get is: how do I know if the job I’m applying for is just more work?
I want to break this down with as much actionable advice and nuance as possible. I’m doing this at scale, which means I won’t have the context of your specific situation. So just know that if one part doesn’t land or apply to you, another part might!
Job Hopping is a Risk, But Not Always a Bad Risk
Taking calculated risks is one of the most consistent paths to success. And this mindset doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t matter your gender, race, or socioeconomic status; taking a positive risk is one of the best moves you can make.
And when you do, you automatically stand out. Most people don’t take risks. They’re afraid things will go horribly wrong. Or they stay stuck in situations way past the expiration date until their misery becomes their familiar baseline.
So yes, job hopping is a calculated risk I approve of. Here’s the mental convo I run through to make that risk feel safer:
What’s the worst-case outcome of this move?
Usually it’s:
I land in another shitty work situation
or
I land in a better one
If it’s another shitty situation, well I’m already in one. That’s why I’m job hunting. So I’ll just rinse and repeat.
If it’s better? Mission accomplished.
Ask Yourself Why You are Working
Are you working to learn, earn, or coast?
Here are some quick vibe checks to help you feel that out:
Learn: You’re craving new skills. You want to grow your authority in your field. You feel that itch to be challenged again. You’re noticing signs of stagnation.
Earn: You’re ready to be paid what you’re worth now. You want to expand your financial options. You’re not afraid to say that number out loud. (B*tch Better Have My Money by Rihanna energy.)
Coast: You need to scale your workload back. You’ve poured too much of yourself into your job. You’re ready to reclaim time and energy for things outside of work.
You can absolutely toggle between 1 or 2 of these at a time—but not all 3. At least, not for long. All 3 might be possible short-term, but it’s not sustainable. So let’s step away from the utopia the media sells us where we’re supposed to “have it all” at once.
A Small Pause: Where I’m At Right Now
I’m currently in a learning and earning season.
Yes, I love work-life balance. Yes, I have autonomy in my current career. But right now, I’m actively trying to gain more mastery in managing video production teams. And on the earning side, I’ve declared a big scary number I’ve never hit before. I want to start managing my money like I already have kids because I’d like to in the next 2–5 years. That takes a different financial baseline than if I were solo.
Also, summer is my busy season. My chill season is November through February. My calendar is basically flipped compared to most corporate employees. Summer’s full of media coverage, brand partnerships, and it’s the perfect time to drop resources about work. This is because everyone’s stepping back, going on vacation, and reassessing their career path.
And to be hehehaha with you: I’m currently launching an ecommerce line, doing a ton of brand work, writing a book, running the day-to-day in my business, and still making content. I hope it’s obvious that I’m working a lot right now. I’m not going to lie and pretend I work four-day weeks and that’s why you need me in your life. No. There are seasons to everything. I want to be real about that.
Also, I actually like working. I just want to be in control of how I do it.
Learning, Earning, or Coasting Continued…
These three phases (learn, earn, coast) aren’t fixed. Everything in life is cyclical, including your job. You might even be in the same role for years but move between learning, earning, and coasting as your life changes. That’s normal.
So there’s no “wrong” answer to why you’re working right now. You’re a changing, evolving person. Your needs change. Your work should flex with that.
And just asking this question puts you ahead of most people. A lot of folks can’t answer why they work. They’ll repeat something they were taught to say in interviews. But they don’t actually know what they’re working for or what their endgame is.
That kind of uncertainty is where burnout creeps in. Whenever I lose sight of why I’m working, I notice I start resisting the demands of the job. That resistance builds, and then comes the burnout.
So, remember your goals!
Job Descriptions Lie (or at Least Don’t Tell the Truth)
They might not technically lie. But they all read the same. Same format. Same corporate language. Same fluffy buzzwords.
So I built a free CustomGPT, Tula AI, that scans job descriptions and gives you a score from 0–10 on how lazy the job actually is.
It’s trained to understand Lazy Girl Job criteria, red flags in listings, and recent layoff data at the company.
It has 4.8/5 stars and 1,000+ users. Try it for free any time.
I also have a free web-based version if CustomGPT isn’t your thing.
Interview Stage? Ask These Questions
First off, congrats! You’re doing something most ‘80s boomer pick-me’s would never: walking away from a job that doesn’t serve you.
Now it’s time to protect your energy. Keep a few of these questions in your back pocket to figure out whether this job is aligned or just more BS:
"Can you walk me through a typical week in this role—and what changes when someone leaves the team?"
"How do role responsibilities get updated or redefined here?"
“How is cross-functional work handled, and how is bandwidth protected?"
"If someone were doing manager-level work in this position, what would the process be to officially promote them?"
End Scene. Thanks for Being Here
If this helped shift your perspective (or saved you from a potential job scam in disguise), send it to someone else who’s navigating the job hunt right now!
And if you want more tools to make work suck less, stick around because I’ve got plenty.