March 2013

How to Spin Job Hopping into A Positive

Conversely, are people from ‘older’ generations now more at risk for not getting hired because they stayed at their jobs much longer, or perhaps too long? Are they at a disadvantage when trying to move to another industry? Do companies now want people with lots of varied experience (small/medium/start-up/large company experience, public/private, etc.) and if so, can job hopping help?

From Laurie Lopez, Partner and Senior General Manager in the Information Technology Contracts division at WinterWyman

Reason why job hopping can be good:

Depending on your background (e.g. developer), job hopping can be good because you gain experience in many different technical environments which can broaden your skills and make you more marketable.

Reason why job hopping is bad:

Most companies value loyalty and tenure. It shows that you can battle adversity and grow within a company vs. jumping ship if things get tough. If a hiring manager is reviewing a resume of someone that has jumped around, that shows that either they haven't been able to be successful in past positions so they left or were asked to leave OR they have poor judgment when making employment decisions. Neither qualities that are attractive to potential employers

From Tracy Cashman, Partner and General Manager in the Information Technology Search division at WinterWyman

In general, job hopping is less frowned upon than it used to be.

Though some companies may be still be suspicious of people who have too many stints of one year or shorter (the thinking: Do they get bored easily? Are they the first to go in a layoff because they are not an "A" player? Do they have more of a contractor mentality?), I would say more companies are reluctant to hire people who have been at one place for several years or their whole work history.

Companies may feel that those people are not motivated enough in their career progression or are so ingrained in a particular culture or way of thinking that they won't be able to adapt to a new environment. If you are fortunate enough to move often (but not too often), you probably can point to experience in a number of different industries and exposure to a variety of challenges which can lead companies to feel you are flexible and a quick learner.

Often those that do move frequently are being recruited by people they have worked for or with previously which can be another positive check mark on your record (people you've worked with want to work with you again!).

If you do change jobs often:

Make sure to keep some kind of record of what projects you accomplished where. I have interviewed people who have gotten confused about dates and accomplishments, which can dilute their credibility and overall candidacy.
Each time you leave a job (even if you didn't need to update your resume to do so since you were recruited by your former boss), take the time to add some information about your most recent position. That way you won't need to think about it two years from now when you are ready to move again.
Also, make sure to have one or two references from each of the last three to four places you've worked. Any place that you don't have a reference from can raise a red flag on the part of a potential employer – they may think that you were asked to leave vs. choosing to leave for the next great opportunity.

From Steve Kasmouski, President of the Search Divisions at WinterWyman

On the one hand, nobody wants to be a job hopper and people who cannot demonstrate the ability to stay put for more than a year or two are definitely going to have a harder time finding work than those who can. It's OK if you go through a period where you made a couple of quick job changes because of circumstances beyond your control or if you just made a bad choice once or twice. As long as you have periods of longer term employment, especially when the work you describe you've done during that stable period is substantial or "in the critical path" as some like to say. No doubt, changing jobs is critical to building a career but it's the story behind the changes that matters most.

On the other end of the spectrum, people are just as suspicious of candidates who haven't changed jobs in 15-20 years, because the people will assume you just won't be able to adjust to a new environment. You're stuck or just complacent. This is especially true if they look at the work you have done and it does not show any real progression or if the work you have been doing has now become obsolete (like in technology).

So, the ideal is to have some job changes and even if there is a period of rapid job change (like in the late 1990's and 2000 – when everyone did it), as long as there is a good story. Probably the most important thing is to be able to demonstrate that no matter where you worked or for how long, that you were someone who was critical to the success of a project or the company as a whole. Your resume should tell the reader why you were important to the success of some project or company and should show that you have grown over time gaining increased responsibility, scope and success.

From Dave Sanford Executive Vice President, Client Relations

The person that has job hopped shows that they can be successful in a variety of different environments. They show they can take risks and they show that they are not complacent. The key is to find the balance of hopping and staying.

Too much hopping and all the good is trumped by "can't hold a job" and "can't make a commitment." Conversely, a candidate that has found success in just one company will be suspect. Can he scale and take what he knows and use those skills in a completely new setting?

From Frank Dadah, Principal Account Manager and General Manager of the Accounting & Finance Contracts division at WinterWyman

Advantages/Good:

Gives you more exposure to different industries
Gives you exposure to different systems
Oftentimes the job hopping is for a promotion so you are viewed as being an asset
If you are recruited for each of your moves it may appear that you are in high demand.

Disadvantages/Bad:

It shows a lack of commitment
May give the appearance that you don't know what you want to do
May be perceived as an inability to keep a job

From Stu Coleman, Partner and Senior General Manager in the Accounting & Finance Contracts division at WinterWyman

Being with one company your entire career (+15 years) will always raise an eyebrow with a hiring manager. They may commend someone on their loyalty and staying power, but will be more concerned that someone is stuck in their ways.

Short of 15 years with the same company, the benefits of job moving are in the eye of the beholder. If it is a smaller, younger, more progressive company, then they will appreciate that someone is flexible, well rounded and up for a challenge. A more reserved, more established company will think they are job hoppers.

In either case, movement more frequently than every two to three years will make anyone question why they can't stay at any one place for very long. Five years is still the preferred amount of time for most hiring managers.

WinterWyman is one of the largest and most recognized recruitment firms in the Northeast. We specialize in search and contract staffing in Technology, Accounting & Finance, Human Resources and Investments & Financial Services. We service the New England and Metropolitan New York markets with additional technology contracting capabilities nationwide. www.winterwyman.com

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