How do you justify job-hopping on your resume?
If you’ve switched jobs several times in a short period of time, you might be worried that a future employer thinks you can’t commit. Although job-hopping is a lot more common than it used to be, some employers still raise an eyebrow at frequent changes. Fortunately, there are ways to explain your job-hopping and allay an employer’s concerns that you’ll “jump ship” in the near future. From highlighting your skills on your resume to talking up your enthusiasm for the new job, here are some tips for explaining job-hopping on your resume.
What is job-hopping?
Job-hopping refers to changing jobs often in a relatively short period of time. If you haven’t held a position for longer than a year or two, you might be considered a job-hopper.
Switching companies isn’t nearly as uncommon as it used to be, though. While workers aged 55 to 64 stay with their employer for a median of 9.8 years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median tenure for workers aged 25 to 34 is only 2.8 years.
Plus, nearly half of employers (47%) in Monster’s 2021 Future of Work survey said job-hopping wasn’t as much of a red flag as it once was. Job-hopping also isn’t unusual if you’re a recent graduate and are figuring out your career path.
If you’re an international student or graduate, your work experience might also have been restricted by visa requirements. Or, you might have worked several short-term jobs while you earned your degree, such as an internship or university assistantship.
All that said, employers still generally want to hire someone who’s committed for the long haul. They put a lot of time, money and effort into the hiring process, so it’s up to you to prove you’re worth the investment.
How to explain job-hopping on your resume
Although job-hopping has become more common, it could still be a cause for concern in your job hunt. To put a hiring manager’s mind at ease, here are some ways to explain your history of job-hopping.
1. Highlight your skills on your resume
When you write your resume, craft a strong summary statement at the top that highlights your skills and achievements. Focus on your overall experience in a field, even if you’ve switched employers a few times. Incorporate keywords from the job description, too, to show you’ve done your homework.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to list every job you’ve ever had on your resume. Feel free to leave out positions that were particularly short-term (unless they were meant to be that way, like an internship or university job). You could also leave out months when listing your jobs and only include the years you were in a role.
Finally, consider combining positions if it makes sense to do so. Let’s say you had several short-term gigs or clients as a software engineer that spanned two years. You could highlight that you have two years of software engineering experience for a variety of accounts. This approach makes sense if you’re a freelancer, have worked at several startups or are part of a field with a high turnover rate.
With these approaches in mind, you can craft a resume that emphasizes your skills and overall experience, rather than calling attention to a history of short-term jobs.
2. Address your work experience in your cover letter
Your cover letter is an opportunity to introduce yourself to a hiring manager and make your case for getting the job. It can also be a chance to explain a history of job-hopping.
Give concise but honest explanations about why you left certain roles. For instance, you could explain you were laid off due to company downsizing or took on temporary projects during the coronavirus pandemic.
If the company simply wasn’t a good fit, you could emphasize why the new job would be a better match for your skills and career goals. You could conclude the letter by saying you’re happy to answer any questions the hiring manager has about your work history.
3. Be honest, but keep it positive
If you score a job interview, prepare yourself for questions about your job-hopping history. This is another opportunity to give context to your work experiences and discuss them in a positive way.
For instance, you could explain that your varied work experience has made you adaptable, willing to take risks and confident that this next job is what you’re looking for long-term. Emphasize your transferable skills or the skills you’ve acquired that you could bring with you into this next role.
As you explain your job history, avoid bad-mouthing a former employer. Even if you had to leave a toxic environment, keep your focus on the positive so you don’t appear difficult to work with.
4. Show your enthusiasm for the new job
Hiring managers are looking for someone who’s going to commit to the company and help it achieve its short- and long-term goals. To prove you’re that candidate, speak about what excites you about the role.
Show that you’ve done your research on the company and have a clear understanding of the job description. Prepare thoughtful questions for the interviewer that demonstrate your interest in the position.
Interviewing, hiring and onboarding a new employee is a time-consuming and expensive process, so hiring managers want to invest in someone who’s ready to commit. By showing that you’re knowledgeable and excited about the job, you can reassure them you’d be a good long-term hire.
Job-hopping doesn’t have to be an obstacle in your job hunt
Job-hopping doesn’t have to get in the way of you and your dream job. It’s more common than it used to be, especially in the last few years of the pandemic and the market uncertainty that came with it.
If you’ve held a bunch of positions in the last few years, use the above strategies to put your best foot forward on the job hunt. Optimize your resume, provide context in your cover letter and be prepared to speak honestly and positively during job interviews.
As long as you do your homework on your target job, you can prove to a hiring manager you’re an excellent candidate who’s ready for a long-term professional commitment. If you’re working on your resume, check out these resume tips for international students.
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