Job Hopping: When It Makes Sense And How To Do It Tactfully

In the past, employees would pledge loyalty to a company, expecting to work there until retirement. And though that may still be the case for some lucky employees (and employers), for the most part, the days of staying with one company for an entire career are long gone. The job market has changed, with job seekers having access to more options than ever before.

With contract work, remote work, freelance platforms and countless job boards and networking sites to choose from, companies and employees alike can enter mutually beneficial partnerships all over the country and the world—short- or long-term. However, employees who have seized opportunities through this new, accessible marketplace may be labeled "job hoppers."

There are advantages and disadvantages to job hopping.

The term "job hopper" has been used negatively over the past decade or so, but to quote Bob Dylan, the times, they are a changin'! Employers recognize that the workplace has become more flexible and fluid, so employees often change employers. However, there are still disadvantages to job hopping, which is why you should make sure that changing jobs is the right card to play.

Before making a move, keep the following in mind: If you are switching jobs because a new opportunity provides you with a higher title, salary, benefits or better work-life balance, go for it. But, if you are switching jobs because of constant relationship issues, toxicity or because you only want to get ahead (and do not necessarily care about what you are doing), you may want to think twice. Wrong intentions breed harmful consequences. Leaving a toxic or unhealthy workplace is by no means terrible, but some self-reflection may be in order if the issue happens time and time again.

When searching for your job, optimize your résumé and LinkedIn profile.

Once you decide on the position you want to have, you will need to optimize your LinkedIn profile and résumé. For LinkedIn, include your top two titles along with industry-specific keywords for your headline. Your summary and job descriptions should list your experience and accomplishments. Connect directly with past and present colleagues, industry and company recruiters and fellow peers. Continue to expand your network by joining groups and following companies of interest.

When sending your résumé out to employers, customize your résumé for each position, highlighting specific skills and experience that match what the employer says they need. If you have numerous short-term contract positions, it may be best to group them under one heading so that you can demonstrate more stability. If you do so, be sure to list them the same way on your LinkedIn as well. Any difference between dates and positions could hinder your job search.

Turn the negative into a positive, clearly expressing your reason for changing jobs.

Never say anything negative about a previous employer. Though negative experiences happen and are a valid reason to leave a job, a recruiter or hiring manager will not see it that way. They may view you as the culprit—someone who causes division and dismay and then leaves. It is vital to combat this by speaking highly about all experiences.

For example, you might say, "I have worked in account management for nearly five years at ABC Company, 123 Company and XYZ Company. Each of these roles required me to strengthen customer relationships, expand market reach and generate new revenue. While I have consistently achieved objectives alongside a cross-functional team, I have decided that I am more interested in the stability of working on the client side of a transaction than the service side. I believe my project management experience and background being the 'vendor,' so to speak, would allow me to perform well within this role. I am interested in growing with a company long-term."

Focus on your ability to adapt, collaborate and achieve objectives.

Discuss differences between your previous positions and how you adapted to meet those needs, i.e., You may have started in business development, which morphed into contract management. Demonstrate how your skills developed, showcasing hard skills (more technical) and soft skills (transferable to any industry). Also, speak about your ability to collaborate with a team, whether you were leading it or a part of it. Doing so can combat any preconceived notion about your performance or teamwork. As stated before, there are job hoppers out there who do not perform well individually or collectively—you want to address that assumption right away.

Express your desire for long-term work.

Express your interest in long-term work and growing, learning and developing your skills while achieving the company's goals and objectives. Share that while you may have had numerous short-term roles, you are genuinely seeking an opportunity that is somewhere you can stay, using your skills and experience to benefit a team. Remember, job hopping is not always the issue if your reason behind it is fair. Employers want to know you are entering into this employee-employer relationship with good intentions.

English poet Philip Sidney is often credited with saying, "Either I will find a way, or I will make one." If job-hopping is a means to a long-term, successful end, then go for it. Be confident about your reasoning, remain positive and plan strategically. If you are at peace with your job-hopping history, potential employers likely will be, too.