14 Oct How to Use Your Job-Hopping Experience to Land the Position You Want

Are you worried about being considered a job hopper by your next employer?

Finding a job is one of the most exhausting and stressful parts of adult life — especially when you’re unemployed and need one, or you’re trying to get out of a current toxic job situation.

And sometimes shit happens. You may have ended up with an underwhelming position that didn’t reflect what HR promised you, you’re stuck playing office politics an overly micromanaging boss, or you may have gotten laid off because of restructuring. Whether by choice, you needed to switch jobs fairly often and became a job hopper.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the United States workers have an average job tenure of about 4.6 years. Of these, a staggering 91% of Millennials expect to stay in a position for less than three years. According to a survey conducted by staffing group Robert Half, three-quarters of employees ages 18 to 34 see job-hopping as beneficial for their career versus 59% of employees ages 35 to 54 and 51% of those 55 and older.

What incentivizes younger generations to job hop are salary increases, lack of career progression in their current companies, or toxic working environments.

Many employers consider job hoppers to be costly for hiring processes, but really there isn’t any public data on the ROI of hiring a job-hopper. What’s certain is that it can take about six months for an average employee to be fully proficient and productive in a new position, which is why many recruiters and hiring managers to want to see a minimum tenure of one year at a previous job to feel like they’ll get a return on their investment from hiring you.

How You Can Showcase Your Skills

So if you’re interviewing for a new position or looking to change workplaces soon, know there are plenty of reasons for an employer to want to hire you with a job hopper resume. Here are a few:

Knowledge of multiple businesses

Job-hoppers have had exposure to a wider range of businesses, making them more knowledgeable on key subjects and allowing them to have a broader skillset than someone who stuck with just one employer. In my job-hopping experience as a marketing professional, I’ve been able to experiment with all facets of marketing communications—from brand strategy to website management, to content development and campaign execution, etc.—which has shed light on my strengths and what projects and tasks I love working on the most. I’m definitely a more well-rounded professional with a clearer vision of what I value and take pleasure in working on.

Adaptability

A job hopper has also been exposed to different environments, teams, and dynamics, making him or her much more adaptable than employees who have worked in the same position and company for a longer time. Being tossed into new professional surroundings around the world has helped me gain critical experience in intercultural and cross-functional working environments, something that has allowed me to create meaningful relationships with colleagues from different backgrounds and cultures anywhere I go.

Resilience

Layoffs, toxic environments, and lack of development are all fair reasons to leave a job, and being able to jump back on your feet and look for a new opportunity is fantastic. Fortunately, no matter what life has thrown your way, determination and resilience run in your blood. You learned how to overcome adversity and search for something better.

In my case, I worked for a start-up with the promise to get my contract renewed only to find out I did not while I was on holiday. I received the news via email.

Larger, international networks

Job hoppers, especially ones who have worked in different organizations internationally, usually have a larger and more diverse network to rely on (proven to be more effective than any resume when looking for a job). I know I can count on several important contacts to learn from and with whom I can exchange important career opportunities.

What to do and not to do

Unfortunately, the stigma attached to job-hopping still exists in some companies. So, there are a few rules of thumb when switching jobs frequently, to avoid negative repercussions. Consider these do’s and don’ts when considering quitting your job:

Do’s

• Have a valid reason for leaving
• Stay long enough to develop your skillset and maximize your learnings
• Assess the company’s culture and values

Don’ts

• Just do it for a higher salary
• Leave before you’ve gained any meaningful experience
• Burn bridges or leave bad blood when you leave

Conclusion

The perception around job-hopping has steadily changed in the past few years with a majority-millennial workforce, and you can use it in your favor when interviewing with future employers. Just remember to switch jobs when you feel stuck, miserable, and/or with no clear career development or progression. Evaluate the pros and cons of transitioning and jot down your achievements and skills with numbers and figures when applicable.

Good luck! 🙂