The likelihood that a person works at the same company over a decade is no longer the norm. Job hopping allows for more opportunity, more money, and more satisfaction, but you should never lose focus on your end career goal. Find something that not only allows for advancement, including a moving pay scale, and hopefully, you can turn the position into your long term job.
Use the following tips in hopes of not looking like a job hopper to your future employers.
1. Contracts, Consulting & Temporary Assignments
Since a significant amount of today’s job market includes temporary assignments and short-term projects – you should also specify these positions on your resume. Add terms such as “consultant, advisor, maternity-leave coverage” in the title, listing your specific experiences and accomplishments in the role.
2. Highlight Major Points
Many companies don’t wish to see the ‘job hopping’ as they know the cost it takes to train and prepare an employee when being hired at a new company. With that in mind, make sure to highlight the major contributions to that company clear in your resume. You may have been there for a short period, but you could have worked hard to make a large impact. As they always say, Quality over Quantity.
3. Things That Are Out of Your Control
Since company changes such as being laid off, restructuring, the company moving out of the city or went out of business is out of your control, you should outline this on your resume. Accurately indicate with a brief note on your resume next to the date why you no longer are employed at the following company.
4. Reformat Dates of Employment
Rather than listing the specific month and year, indicate the year only – this will allow for the recruiting manager to ask, and for you to explain your resume. Avoid drawing attention to the dates if included, don’t make a point to bold or highlight them in any way.
5. Omit Irrelevant Resume Details
If you have a very hearty resume, you can remove jobs that don’t pertain to what you’re applying to. Excluding experience that isn’t relevant may allow you to omit those jobs you left quickly after starting.
We all want to find the job that makes us happy; it’s stressful moving from one job to the next – meeting new people, learning the job and all the details as well as continuing to prove yourself. We, at The Job Shoppe, hope you find you something that you positively enjoy doing and these tips help you reach that goal.
If you want some personal recruiter help with finding your next career move, contact us at 519-979-4400 or email us at jobs@thejobshoppe.com!