Anupam Mittal Champions Gen Z's Right to Explore Careers Through Job Changes
Prominent entrepreneur Anupam Mittal has issued a compelling defense of Generation Z professionals who frequently change jobs during their early careers. The founder of Shaadi.com, the world's largest online matchmaking platform, has called for an end to what he sees as unfair criticism directed at young workers in their early twenties who switch roles annually.
The Exploration Phase: Dating Industries to Find the Right Fit
In a detailed LinkedIn post that has sparked widespread discussion, Mittal articulated his perspective that early career years should be dedicated to discovery rather than stability. "I see a lot of 'career gurus' shaming 22-year-olds for switching jobs every year. But isn't that exactly what the youth should be doing?" he questioned rhetorically.
Mittal, who has been a prominent judge on Shark Tank India since its inaugural season, compared this professional exploration phase to personal dating. "Early in our career, we're discovering our passion. We're 'dating' industries, roles & cultures to find what vibes. If you're not feeling it, move. Don't feel bad about it. This is the time to explore," he emphasized in his social media message.
The Strategic Timeline: From Exploration to Commitment
The serial entrepreneur outlined a clear career development strategy that distinguishes between early exploration and later commitment:
- Ages 21-24: Aggressive exploration across different industries, roles, and work cultures
- After 25: Serious commitment to a chosen path with longer tenure at a single organization
Mittal explained his reasoning for this approach: "It takes 1 year to understand a job but 3-5 to understand an industry. That's when you win." He further detailed the progression within a committed role:
- Year 1: Learning phase focused on understanding the role and organization
- Year 2: Execution phase where skills are applied practically
- Year 3: Consequence management and scaling success
The Leadership Requirement: Proving Staying Power
While defending early career exploration, Mittal simultaneously stressed the importance of demonstrated stability for those aspiring to leadership positions. When hiring for senior roles, he specifically looks for candidates with at least one 4-to-5-year stint in their work history.
"Why? Because, usually, one cannot see the consequences of their own decisions in 12 months," he clarified. "Find a company worth your time and commit for 4 years. If you want to be a Founder or a CEO, you need to prove you can stay in the kitchen when it gets hot."
Professional Community Reactions: Validation and Nuance
The response to Mittal's perspective has been overwhelmingly positive on professional networking platforms, particularly among those who feel Gen Z has been unfairly characterized as unserious or lacking commitment.
One LinkedIn user commented: "This is a rare take because it holds both truths without diluting either. Exploration early on isn't a lack of commitment, it's signal discovery." Another added: "This is a refreshing take on career architecture. There is a massive difference between 'job hopping' and 'strategic exploration.'"
A particularly poignant response came from a professional who had recently resigned: "I resigned today for this exact reason. I realized I never gave myself enough time to truly explore what kind of role, environment, or position works best for me."
Other professionals highlighted the nuanced understanding in Mittal's approach: "This nails the nuance most career advice misses: movement early is learning, but staying long enough to see outcomes is where real growth and leadership are forged." Another perspective framed it differently: "Gen Z isn't job hopping—they're pattern matching. In your early 20s, staying too long in the wrong place is actually riskier than moving fast."
Mittal's balanced perspective—defending early career exploration while emphasizing later career stability—has resonated with professionals across generations, offering a more sophisticated framework for understanding career development in the modern workplace.
