In the past, employers saw frequently changing jobs as a red flag — but times have changed. According to a recent Resume Genius survey, 1 out of 2 hiring managers see frequent job-hopping as a red flag — meaning not all hiring managers share the same views.
To provide an updated view on job-hopping and how you can make more informed career-related decisions this year, we consulted 8 hiring and career professionals and share their advice below:
1. Conduct a career self-assessment
You should never make a change in your career without thinking it through first.
While today’s environment makes it tempting to jump frequently, understanding your motivations is key.
Jessica Brewer, Founder of Emiz HR and Coaching, supports experiencing different work environments early in one’s career to understand personal preferences and dislikes.
“What you like in theory is often different to what things are like in practice,” she says.
Reflecting on her personal experiences, Chloe Chioy, Social Media Lead at Resume Genius, says:
“Entering the workforce as a Gen Zer meant I was still figuring out my passions. Working several short summer and part-time stints helped me understand what I want to learn and achieve early on.”
Brewer advises taking a thorough self-assessment of your past roles and the environments so you can identify patterns in your job changes, whether they stem from seeking variety or reacting to dissatisfaction.
Reflect on the different roles that you’ve had and the companies you have worked for. Ask yourself: What aspects of these jobs have I enjoyed, and what elements did I find less appealing?
If your career path involves frequent job changes, take time to understand why.
By self-reflecting before you leave a role, you’ll avoid making impulsive decisions while also ensuring that your next move is a step closer to your goals and values.
To help you during the reflection process, try some of these methods:
- Journal about your daily work experiences – Journaling can help you understand what aspects of work you find most fulfilling or frustrating.
- Take advantage of online assessments – Try doing free skills and interests tests to help identify your strengths, weaknesses, interests, and areas for development.
- Conduct informational interviews with professionals – Talking with professionals in roles or industries you’re curious about can provide insight into day-to-day responsibilities and help you assess if a similar path might suit you.
- Get feedback on your performance from peers, managers, or mentors – Understanding how others perceive your work can highlight your strengths and areas for improvement and offer a different perspective on your career trajectory.
- Define your short-term and long-term career goals – Consider where you want to be in one, five, or ten years, and evaluate how potential job changes align with these objectives.
2. Strategically time your job transitions
A recent Gallup report found that 48% of U.S. employees are actively looking for a new role.
However, Trevor Bogan, Regional Director at Top Employers Institute, points out that if you’re considering changing jobs, it’s important to consider both the timing and the reasons behind your decision. He says:
Job-hopping is still an acceptable practice and has increased significantly since the pandemic. The labor market has been very tight, candidates are looking to increase salaries to combat inflation, and people’s professional networks are so vast with social media that new opportunities can come to someone faster than ever.
Trevor Bogan, Regional Director at Top Employers Institute
Geoffrey Scott, Senior Hiring Manager from Resume Genius, recognizes that strategic moves can be beneficial, especially when they lead to significant salary increases or better job satisfaction.
“One or two jumps into great salary ranges, especially if you’re not a big fan of your current job, could be a smart decision.” he says.
However, he cautions against making salary the sole factor in deciding to change jobs, noting, “New employees with high salaries are often the first on the chopping block if cuts happen.”
VIQU Recruitment’s Managing Director Matt Collingwood adds a word of caution based on what he’s seen in the industry:
“I’ve seen redundant professionals take the first role they were offered and then end up taking multiple ‘sideward’ steps in similar roles and end up not being happy. Every career step you take should be calculated and thoroughly considered.”
He notes that moving jobs without making a step up in one’s career trajectory can signal instability to future employers and prompt them to question the reasons behind these frequent job changes.
This concern can often cause worry among young professionals who change jobs frequently, fearing they may be judged for a lack of loyalty.
“Whenever I quit my job, each resignation letter I wrote was accompanied by a sense of guilt, and made me wonder what hiring managers concerned about commitment would think of me.” Chioy recounts.
When contemplating a new job, consider these guiding principles to ensure your move is well-timed and strategic:
- Think about the big picture – Does this new role advance you toward your ultimate career goals, or is it just a temporary fix?
- Get a clear understanding of today’s job market – Is now the right time to make a change, considering current market trends and economic conditions?
- Consider how it looks to others – Can you confidently explain your career moves as ones that’ll contribute to your professional growth?
3. Be transparent but tactful when discussing your job-hopping experiences
Transparency in your job search — through your resume, cover letters, and interviews — highlights your integrity and positions you as a standout candidate.
Brewer recommends addressing concerns over job-hopping directly:
“Often people shy away from highlighting the elephant in the room — when actually tackling it head on shows a level of self-awareness that can be really beneficial.”
Collingwood also stresses the need for clarity, saying, “If there isn’t a reasonable explanation for the job-hopping, the recruiter or hiring manager might get the impression that there’s a bad reason why you’re leaving roles often, and not hire you as a result.”
While being honest about your job history is important, prioritize positively framing your reasons for changing jobs whenever possible. This way, employers will see your career moves as thoughtful and driven by a desire to improve and succeed.
To curb any concerns about your job-hopping, Theresa Balsiger, Vice President of Candidate Relations at Carex Consulting Group, suggests being fully prepared with answers to explain your situation. She says,
“A hiring manager may be far more open to continuing the conversation if you were, for example, recruited away each time rather than leaving proactively.”
Victoria Suarez, HR Director at Alpha Omega Integration, goes a step further and recommends including brief explanations for job changes directly on your resume or cover letter.
“Including information about contract endings, layoffs, or external promotions can help avoid negative interpretations and provide necessary context,” she says, noting that a little detail can go a long way in clarifying your career trajectory.
If you job-hopped because you wanted to grow your career (or simply because you wanted better pay!), it’s key to frame your narrative in a way that reassures potential employers of your commitment and value.
Here’s how you might positively express your reasons in a cover letter:
“I’ve purposefully sought roles that offered opportunities for learning and advancement, with each position strategically chosen to deepen my expertise and enhance my contributions to the field. My career moves have been driven by a desire to grow and excel. Now, I’m looking for a place where I can settle in, apply what I’ve learned, and continue growing, contributing to a team and company over the long haul.”
4. Highlight your adaptability to employers
The ability to navigate through changes and learn from experiences can demonstrate your adaptability, an in-demand skill that’s highly prized by employers.
Chioy says: “Up until I was 21, I worked five different part-time jobs to gain experience, each lasting an average of three months. This pattern might seem alarming at first glance, but my current manager helped me see the value in this journey.”
When I was hired, my manager told me they liked that I had so much variety in my early career. It showed them that I was willing to tackle new challenges and adapt to vastly different work environments.
Chloe Chioy, Social Media Lead at Resume Genius
But to present yourself in a positive light on your job application, Bogan says you’ll need to showcase more than just detailing your tasks and the periods you performed them:
“Make your achievements clear and concise so the interviewer can see that you can bring value to their organization. This will show you can adapt to change and still perform. Also, if you received any development or learning from a previous organization, highlight those to show you value development to take on more projects.”
Another great way to convince employers of your adaptability is to describe the steps you take to efficiently learn and retain new information, says Aaron Case, Career Expert at CV Genius. Case provides an example:
“Keep a spreadsheet of work notes and links to relevant resources that you review weekly to ensure you don’t forget anything. That level of attention to detail will go a long way toward answering any questions an employer has about your ability to adapt to their system.”
5. Take note of how different companies view job-hopping
Although job-hopping has become more accepted, it still comes with its challenges.
Scott is on the fence about frequent job changes. “There comes a point where too much hopping can deter potential employers.”
The perceptions of job-hopping can vary significantly across different ages and career stages.
Suarez’s take on job-hopping is clear. “If your last few roles lasted under six months, that’s hopping. But if you’re hitting the 18-24 month mark, that’s entering more acceptable territory.”
She points out, “It’s essential for all candidates, regardless of age, to justify their job changes convincingly.”
Suarez mentions that this advice is important for younger professionals, who may not have a long track record to lean on, compared to more experienced workers who might be viewed as making strategic career moves.
However, attitudes are shifting, especially as more people enter the workforce with a focus on flexible, values-based driven work and personal growth.
Chioy presents a modern view: “Job-hopping really doesn’t carry the negative connotation it once did. You still need to consider your options carefully, but when there’s a clear chance for growth — both personally and financially — in a new role, then taking that leap might lead you to where you truly belong.”
Here are some tips on understanding a company’s views on job-hopping:
- Research your industry – Start with industry-specific publications, forums, and studies to grasp the general attitude toward career mobility. For example, job-hopping may be more common and even expected in the tech industry.
- Analyze job postings and career pages – Review company job postings and career pages for language that positively emphasizes traits associated with job-hopping, such as adaptability, diverse experiences, or rapid learning and growth.
- Study the company’s website and social media platforms – Look for clues about the company culture and values. Progressive companies often talk about valuing innovation, diversity, and personal growth, which can be good indicators of a more flexible view on job-hopping.
- Read about the company’s leadership team and their career paths – Companies led by individuals who have diverse experiences might be more open to job-hopping. Additionally, if the company has a history of hiring people with varied backgrounds, it’s a good sign they value diverse experiences.
- Look for signs of a learning culture – Companies that emphasize learning and development are often more open to candidates who have a history of job-hopping, as they may associate it with a diverse skill set and growth mindset.
Sources
- Gallup, “Employee Retention and Attraction”
- Resume Genius, “8 Key Job Search Trends”
- Resume Genius, “2024 Hiring Trends Survey”
About Resume Genius
Since 2009, Resume Genius has combined innovative technology with leading industry expertise to simplify the job hunt for people of all backgrounds and levels of experience.
Resume Genius’s easy-to-use resume builder and wide range of free career resources, including resume templates, cover letter samples, and resume writing guides, help job seekers find fulfilling work and reach their career goals. Resume Genius is led by a team of dedicated career advisors and HR experts and has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, CNBC, and Business Insider.
For media inquiries, please contact us.
