published: 15 Oct 2009
3 min read | website: www.ebr.com.au
‘Job hopping’ isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There are many reasons why we may job hop –
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The individual could be made redundant
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There could be disruptions among members of your working team
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Travelling - leading to relocating
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A company could change its location to somewhere difficult to access
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The individual may partake in various contract roles
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An occupation may be limiting the individual in terms of career growth
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The individual may suffer health problems
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The individual may be responsible for behaving inappropriately
Job-hopping can be reflected negatively as it suggests candidates may be unreliable, dishonest, and incompetent. However, there are many roles out there that require an individual to move onto other roles – for example tradesmen or contract graphic designers. If you’re worried about your employment history and fear your CV may look a little ‘dodgy’, we’ve included some advice as to how you may be able to approach future employers:
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Be confident and positive
Point out all the good things about your employment history. If you’ve worked in three different jobs in the last 12 months, determine the high points of those roles. If you’ve had negative experiences, focus on the highlights, even if they are minor. Maybe you were located somewhere you could gain easy access to parks or sporting facilities? Maybe you enjoyed your role, but didn’t feel as if you could shine within that company? It is important to tell your future employer/recruitment consultant your interests and what you expect in your role. They want to hear about you as a person, not just the work you’ve been doing. Let them see your positive outlook on life – remember a work –life balance is very important. Sample answers to highlights from previous jobs;
a) “I loved to go exercise before work/during my lunch hour to help me focus on work for later that day” – This shows dedication to personal health.
b) “I was working in the city and could meet up with friends for lunch, which made my mind relax and have fun” – shows you’re sociable and enjoy your surrounding environment.
c) “I loved working in such a safe, newly furbished establishment” – indicates your values for the working environment.
d) “The work was difficult but I was able to see slight improvements in my performance” – establishes that you’re dedicated to persevering through a role.
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Be honest and upfront about your employment history
Let your interviewer know why you left previous roles. Again, like the above point, do this in a positive and confident manner. You must ensure that you don’t waffle on about issues too much, or display negative behaviour towards roles or people you previously worked with. No one wants to hear badmouthing. If you show that you’re dedicated to finding something permanent and don’t beat around the bush in attempting to explain your history, the interview is going to run a lot smoother for you.
In summary, just remember to relax. Interviews can be stressful enough without thinking about an employer analysing your CV. You shouldn’t be too worried come interview stage, you’ve obviously impressed them enough for them to want to speak with you.
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