Job-hopping is a very common career trait among my clients. Some potential employers see this is as a red flag when assessing your resume, so it is important that we understand why this happens. This is something that we can help you with. More often than not, the reason behind your job-hopping is to do with internal patterns you subconsciously create for yourself. Read on to find out how to identify these patterns, and what you can do to improve your chances of landing that dream job…
First, what is job-hopping?
Job-hopping occurs when you only stay in a job for a short amount of time. If you find yourself jumping from one job to the next and you are always on the hunt for the next opportunity… chances are, you are a job-hopper.
Some common traits of job-hoppers are:
- a very ‘full’ resume
- surface-level experience
- lacking clarity in career goals
- a constant feeling of being unsettled at work
So, how could job-hopping affect your application?
It is true that some job-hopping cannot be helped. We may find ourselves in a situation that we aren’t expecting, or maybe we are promised the world in an interview and soon find that the wool has been pulled over our eyes.
However it happens, a history of job-hopping is generally an undesirable trait on a resume. Employers like to dream up their own stories and make assumptions about why you can’t ‘hold down a job.’
On top of this, being a job-hopper can also affect your ability to enjoy your work. How? Well, if you are unclear about your career goals and have a history of short stays, there’s a strong chance that you are constantly looking for reasons to jump ship. Not only that, but you are more likely to continue to find yourself in similar roles.
What can you do to stop this?
It’s time to take a look from the outside in…
- What is your pattern? If you can begin to identify the WHY behind your job-hopping, you can take steps to fix it. Are you going for the wrong industry? The wrong type of management? Big businesses instead of small?
- What is it that you REALLY want? A supportive boss? A friendly team environment? The autonomy to make the role your own? Find that intention and go for it.
- Ask questions. Once you’ve identified your pattern and objective, you MUST ask the right questions in your next interview. For example, “what is the management style at Company XYZ?” If you are able to find out what an ordinary day may look like in your new role BEFORE you accept it, you will give yourself time to evaluate the position. Is this the right fit?
Next career steps…
So, do you think you’re a job-hopper? If you’re concerned about it affecting your applications… take a moment to assess your patterns and identify what it is that you really want in your next role. What will keep you there for years to come?
And if you’re unsure of how you’ll answer an interviewer’s questions, or you don’t know how to appropriately word your job-hopping past on your resume…
Jump on a free 20-minute CareerCall with one of our experts. We can help you move forward in your career, assist you in developing stronger job searching techniques, and stop your job-hopping patterns in their tracks!
Kate.
Don’t wait for the right opportunity. Create it.
Book in for a free 20-minute career strategy session with one of our consultants, so you can start taking action today!
