How to Address "Job Hopping" Issues in an Interview

Many silent signals within a résumé and cover letter can tip off a prospective employer that a candidate may not be an ideal employee. Job hopping is one of those signals you may need to address in an interview.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• résumé software

1. Make sure to have a good reason for short tenures listed on your résumé. Good reasons typically include things like "offered a better position," "no room for advancement," or "company/facility closing."

2. Steer the conversation toward your accomplishments in each position. Stellar examples of accomplishments will usually outweigh any negative feelings about possible job-hopping issues.

3. Bowl your prospective employers over with your knowledge about their industry, their company and the way they do business. Complete and extensive preparation can help keep your prospective employer focused on your obvious positive skills.

4. Respond to questions about possible job hopping directly and without hesitation. Convincing your interviewer you are not ashamed of your background and you have nothing to hide will go a long way towards possible employment.

5. Provide letters of recommendation or references from supervisors at those companies where you were only employed a short while. Praise from these sources will erase any negative impression created by your short tenure.

Tips & Warnings

• Reorganizing your résumé from a traditional chronological format to a more functional format may avoid the issue altogether. Functional résumés focus on the skills and accomplishments you have acquired and utilized instead of listing positions you have held by date.
• Don't omit jobs or leave gaps in your résumé. This tactic will only make your shortcomings more obvious and leave the impression you have something to hide.

on 11/22/2005 Consider using a functional format to your resume. This emphasizes what you can bring to the table, while tending to mask employment gaps and job-hopping.