As businesses come up with more and more ways to cut costs in the human resources category, like outsourcing, contractors, part-time instead of full-time, etc., we will begin to see our length of employment with one company decrease dramatically. Telecommuting is still a concept that most companies stray away from, but the cost reduction realized from eliminating a permanent physical office can be quite large. The disconnect between employees and employer is aided by working remotely, so the monetary cost savings may not be as justified as some make it out to be.
A trend that is likely to grow is eliminating the number of full-time employees, and bringing on contractors and part-time employees to quickly train and complete a project before moving on. What's the point of keeping a full-time employee who specializes in a certain type of development or other type of skill when they are only needed for several months out of the year?
There is even a job searching site that is specifically aimed at part-time, freelance, and contractor type positions. Sologig.com could find you a temporary position which may last several months or several years at which point you could find your next position and company. Think about it: we lease cars rather than buy because we love getting something new every couple of years, we rent an apartment or condo rather than purchasing a home because we are always on the move and don't want to be tied down, and we change the channels much more than we actually watch or listen to one thing at a time.
We weren't meant to be tied down to one position, but usually a financial commitment, personal relationship, or some other burden keeps us in one place because of the job security and bi-weekly paycheck. I personally don't feel tied down currently, and like to think that I willingly show up to the office everyday (although, I would be lying some of the time). Starting over and getting re-trained on some new concept, process, or product is not my favorite thing to do, so seeing my hard work in the beginning which can take what seems like forever to learn finally come to fruition is a rewarding experience.
Face it - whatever side you are on, your opinion and view can change the very next day. Our generation is known for job-hopping, but maybe we had it right all along as old-timers and silver haired managers join the wildest game of musical chairs where the music never stops: the current and future job market made possible by the growth and availability of information through new mediums and tools which we created.
