The chances of changing jobs multiple times in your career is a given in today’s marketplace, and according to the Bureau of Labor, the average length of time spent with an employer is under five years. Change is the norm and the stigma of moving from one job to the next is understandable. However, the way you go about explaining change makes a difference with hiring decision-makers.
While a job-hopper shares the common theme of changing jobs there is a unique difference in how they present their reasoning to employers that can send a red flag of caution. It’s important to know that a multiple job history could be linked to job-hopping and it’s up to you to manage the perception with employers.
Before deviling into the world of job-hopping it helps to identify what a job-hopper is as oppose to someone having to change employers beyond their control. A job-hopper is usually characterized as someone who changes jobs within a short amount of time and displays an unstable work history.
It’s not unusual for managers to see resumes where job candidates have five or more jobs within five years. The number of employers does not have to ruin your chances for future opportunities; however, you need to know what signals employers are receiving when reviewing your background.
Job-hopping can make an employer think you are a risk
Job-hopping can have a ring of disloyalty to it, it sounds unsettling as if you are continually looking for a change with a focus more on self than the employer. For an employer to spend time and resources in bringing you on board, the last thing they want is making a wrong hiring decision.
There is nothing wrong in changing jobs with the goal of advancing your career and in some cases the only way you can enhance your career is to switch employers. Changing jobs can be a solid career strategy for the right reasons such as; growth, training, scope of responsibility, compensation or location.
The challenge lies in how you change jobs and the reasons you use in explanation your decision to the next employer. The one area overlook by most job candidates when making a decision to leave is the interpersonal factor: While you are hired by an employer, you work with people. When you leave an employer, in essence, you are leaving the person who probably hired you. In the marketplace, you never want to burn bridges or develop a reputation that sends an “I don’t care” message.
Leaving every 12-18 months can work for the short-term; however, at some point staying in one place for a length of time shows good decision-making as well as stability. The issue with most employers regarding a frequent job history is the notion you will leave them as well, knowing this ahead of time can help you structure your answers during the interview as well as talking about your employment experience.
Having a good explanation for leaving rather than bored with the work or looking for more challenges are plausible. Explaining job changes due to restructuring, position elimination or financial issues beyond your control is understandable and takes away the risk factor.
Most of all, show confidence when hitting the job-hopper perception head-on, everyone changes jobs, some with solid reasons, and others quitting and moving on on a whim.
The most important selling point to any employer is the value and thoughtfulness you bring to the table in helping support their success; your career goals are second.
How do you think employers view job-hopping?
