Why Job Hopping Raises Red Flags

Job hopping has risen dramatically in recent years. In fact, according to research from LinkedIn, LinkedIn users who changed their jobs increased 37% in 2021. There were many reasons given from burnout to lack of work life balance.

Whatever your reason, if you’re a candidate and you’ve changed jobs a lot in the past, it can negatively impact your future searches. Likewise, if you’re an employer, a job hopping candidate must be viewed with caution. 

How Job Hopping Can Hurt Your Chances

From the Candidate Perspective 

When you’re applying for jobs, you might not hear back and wonder why. It could be because of your job hopping past. 

Many hiring managers view job hopping as an inability to commit or lack of competency. They also see you as someone who moves on when the going gets tough rather than sticking around to make a situation better. Whatever is true for you, being viewed as a job hopper by a hiring manager is not always a good thing.

That said, it doesn’t mean you need to stick with every job for a decade to enjoy a rewarding career. It does, however, mean that staying with jobs for a while and learning all you can – before moving on – is key. 

Also, make sure you secure your next job before quitting your last one. You never know how long it can take to find a new job that’s fit for you. 

If you have a pattern of job hopping it could be due to accepting the first offer that comes your way. This time, commit to being patient and waiting until the right offer comes along. Then stick with it for at two to three years, so you can start building a track record of commitment and perseverance. 

From the Employer Perspective 

When a resume from a job hopper comes across your desk, you need to proceed with caution. If they seem like a fit for your opening, it’s worth a call to perform a phone screen. 

During the conversation, make sure you ask why they’ve held so many jobs in recent years. It could be that one was a full-time position, while others were consultant or contract jobs while they finished their degree, for example. If, though, there isn’t a good reason for extensive job hopping, proceed with caution before extending an offer.

On the flip side, another red flag is the candidate with no career trajectory. If they’ve been in the same role for 10 years without any advancement or upward mobility, you’ll have to ask why. Again, it could be for a logical reason, like raising a young family, or it could be due to a lack of ambition and drive. 

Let Gill Staffing Help You

Whether you’re looking for a new job, or need help finding your next great hire, Gill Staffing is here for you. We are one of West Michigan’s top recruitment firms and are committed to helping both candidates and companies thrive. Get started now.