What do you do if your resume looks like you're a job hopper?

Question

A series of events have made my resume look like a patchwork quilt (four jobs in seven years and now looking for another). I'm worried potential employers think I'm a job hopper.

I've put reasons why I left each position on my resume (none of them negative -- merger, state move, etc.). Do you think I should make a statement about it in my cover letter -- something like "rest assured I'm not a job hopper, been an ever-changing seven years, I've been dedicated to each position and have references that can attest to that fact, etc."?

Answer 1

i wouldn't mention the "job hopper" why give people ideas if they don't have them themselves?? if they have questions with regards to your dedication, your references will stand behind you.

just say in the cover letter that a lot of changes happened in the past several years and now that things have calmed down, and you have settled down, you are looking for a long term position ect. ect.

good luck!

Answer 2

Only address this if it is brought up to you. As long as your resume shows some stability - or more than a year - at your listed jobs I believe you will be fine.

Placing it on your cover letter could be a negative for you as it appears to be an excuse. Being a person who looks and evaluates resumes at my post, when I look at a cover letter and it has what appears to be an excuse I tend to place them in the "Do not Call" pile.

Without mentioning it and looking over the jobs and length of time at each I normally broach the subject of longevity during the interview. This is where people have further explained the job hopper like status listed on their resume. I have personally hired most of the applicants that fit what your resume sounds like due to the legitimate reasons that you have listed for leaving jobs.

One can not fault "Life" for happening, no matter the reason.

Answer 3

Steer clear of putting an explanation of potential negatives in your cover letter. This will not only shine a big fat flashlight on what you'd like to leave in a dark corner, but it will also get your potential employers thinking about your personality. Are you the type to explain away your shortcomings? Do you take ownership, or just offer excuses? I doubt it!

Instead try highlighting the similar themes of each job. For example, if you've worked at a restaurant/catering business, coffee shop, a bath and beauty store, and a bank - highlight your wonderful customer service experience and training, face-to-face customer interactions, plus your knack for assisting those above you by implementing innovative ways to boost business! Its worked for me!

If it is a problem, they might ask you in the interview process, but why plant that seed if you don't have to?

There should be no need to explain away the negative aspects if you properly showcase your strengths. Be sure to have a trustworthy friend proofread your resume and offer any 'fluffing' ideas they may have - cutting out junk, reuse of the same adjectives, etc.

Answer 4

NO! 4 jobs in 7 years is not bad. if you had 4 jobs in 1 year that would be a job hopper. I work for an employment background checking agency and many of our clients hire people that have been at many more jobs then just 4 (they are big companies and small companies) so you really do not have to say anything about being a job hopper because that is not a lot of different jobs. It is definatley bad if you just quit the jobs with no notice given that would be considered a job hopper, Good luck!

Answer 5

The ONLY way to overcome that image is to STAY STILL. Stay at one job for a few years and that will get rid of that image. Being someone who hires people as part of my job, seeing a professional job hopper is one of the worst things that I can come across. Actually, I just throw their resumes in the trash if I see that a person does not keep the same job for at least a few years.

Answer 6

I would not mention anything about "job hopping" in a cover letter. Instead, you should use the cover letter to draw attention to some highlights or accomplishments in any of your past jobs that you may be able to do for a prospective employer --- e.g. - such as increase efficiency in a department by 20%, achieved an increase in sales by $$$ or %, got promoted, etc. Why volunteer any potentially negative information?

Also, I wouldn't put any reasons why you've left a position on a resume. You should just state what you've done/accomplishments for each position. You are also not obliged to list each and every job on your resume either. Just pick the most important ones. Remember, a resume's sole purpose is to get you an interview! You can discuss any other jobs you've had or your work history ONCE you're in front of an interviewer.

Answer 7

I would not draw attention to potential flaws in your resume by making them obvious in your cover letter. Besides, four jobs in seven years isn't a huge deal - four jobs in one or two years probably would be. I'm not even sure I would put your reasons for leaving in your resume; your resume should show how outstanding you are, not why you moved on.

If a potential employer wants clarification, they will ask you. "Why did you leave your prior position at ABC Company?" Some people leave because they didn't like the job or the company; you have reasons that are pretty much beyond your control. Be sure to speak positively about your past job experiences and how they have prepared you for the position you're applying for.

Answer 8

Since I left school forty years ago I have had at least 18 jobs. Some were lost as a result of recessions and redundancy. Others were to progress by promotion from companies where you needed to be really old to progress. Also when I had my kids, there was no security of employment or prolonged maternity leave. You got pregnant, you left. End of story. I have a wide experience of life, of work and have updated my skills through the years. I even learned computer programming in the 1970s to help my children get to grip with computers, then Bill Gates grew up and I haven't looked back. For many of us, we had to wait for the technology to progress in employment, CliveSinclair for the pocket calculator was one of them.
If changing jobs was for advancement, tell prospective empolyers this, after all, the job you are applying for may need these skills you've learned along the way.

Answer 9

I've been there too. What you want to do it play up your strengths and abilities and downplay your actual job experience. On a resume that would entail puting your skills, abilities, proficiencies, etc on the top all the way through the middle of the resume, and finally putting your actual jobs that you have worked on the way bottom. That's what I did during some difficult times and things have turned around a bit for me with this approach. Don't say anything about reasons for leaving a job on the resume, I wouldn't even mention them on the cover letter. The resume and cover letter are supposed to make you look good, not rehash reasons why previous jobs didn't work out.

Answer 10

It sounds to me like you are giving positive reasons for each job shift. Do NOT put an additional statement in your cover letter; that will only put a negative spin on your resume. Four jobs in seven years isn't horrible like you think it may be. Have your former employers offered to give you a reference. If you don't have the answer to this one, get on the phone and request a reference from each one of them. You may not accumulate all four, but any will be of great benefit. BELIEVE in yourself more than you do and project it to any prospective employer.

Answer 11

I think that you can definitely add a statement of explanation and add well-rounded and skillful to your attributes section. Having more than one different type of resume on hand has been valuable to me. If the job you are applying for is in finance - then only include those jobs that are related on the resume that you submit with maybe one non-related job, and the same would go for customer service, etc. If your resume is pages long, then chances are that no one is going to want to weed through all the other stuff to get to the meat of the resume. Hope this helps.