how to write a resume for job hoppers

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7 Resume Tips for Job Hoppers

Madeleine Burry writes about careers and job searching for The Balance. She covers topics around career changes, job searching, and returning from maternity leave, and has been writing for The Balance since 2014.

Why Companies Want to Avoid Hiring Job Hoppers

7 strategies to downplay job hopping on your resume, have a strong summary statement.

• Don't Include Everything

Look for Opportunities to Combine Jobs

Make it clear when the job hopping was involuntary, leave off the months, make your contributions clear, try a functional or hybrid resume, sample resume for a frequent job changer.

Ivan Solis/Getty Images

Not too long ago, it was common for people to work for one company for a lifetime. The lucky ones would retire after 30 years with a gold watch and a pension. Times have changed. That kind of commitment is difficult to imagine now—today's workers switch jobs frequently. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average number of jobs in a lifetime is 12 for the baby boomer generation.

While switching jobs is largely considered acceptable, there are exceptions. If your resume is dominated by short-term stints exclusively, and you have a pattern of leaving positions regularly, hiring managers may see you as a job hopper. That's a label you want to avoid—companies generally don't like to hire job hoppers.

If you have moved from company to company frequently, staying only a short time in each job, here is how to make sure your  resume looks strong  and how you can avoid the dreaded job-hopper label.

One thing hiring managers look for is patterns. A good pattern is someone who's been promoted at every company. Not so great? Regularly  departing jobs yearly . For hiring managers, this type of pattern indicates that a candidate won't stick around, and they'll need to rehire for the position quickly. On the flip side,  staying too long in a job can  be an issue too.

Companies often avoid job hoppers because hiring and onboarding new employees is expensive.

From time spent interviewing to training and onboarding, adding a new employee takes up a significant amount of time and company money. Why go through all that effort to replace someone in six months or a year? Hiring managers are eager for candidates who have the necessary skills and background and will stay in positions for a significant amount of time.

Your resume is your best opportunity to tell a story about your career, so make sure you're telling a good story, one that makes you look like a loyal, dependable candidate. Here are some ideas for ways to have your resume deemphasize frequent job switches.

At the top of the page, your  summary  or  objective  is a great—and prominent—way to tell your story. You can say things like "X years of experience as a marketer" or "looking for a long-term position where I can grow" to emphasize your length of experience and desire to stay in a position for a long time.

Don't Include Everything

If you worked for two years at one job, two months at the next, and then two years at the next job, it's totally acceptable—and advantageous—to  leave off the position  where you only worked for a few months. That way, you won't have to discuss it during interviews, and hiring managers won't see the potential red flag while reviewing your resume. As well, consider omitting jobs that aren't relevant to the title you want next, or positions held many years ago.

Consider omitting jobs that aren't relevant to the title you want next, or positions held many years ago.

Did you work as a  contractor  for a period, employed in short-term blocks with a few different companies? Group these positions together. This strategy is helpful for freelancers or folks who work in fields that have an ebb and flow to the work rhythm, such as TV producers.

An employer may look upon job hoppers who leave positions for more money or a better title negatively. That's not generally true for people who leave involuntarily because of layoffs, restructuring, or a company that goes out of business.

Often, resumes make dates very prominent. But it doesn't have to be that way. The eye sees what's called out, so rather than emphasizing dates by aligning them in an easily  scannable column , move them to the end of the job description. Consider using the years worked only, which can make it seem as if you've had longer stints.

One of the main concerns about job hoppers is that they leave before they make the company's investment worth it. Hiring a new person—from interview time to background checks to training—isn't cheap. Yet if you were at a job for only a year, but were able to do something transformative, play that up. You can even consider formatting your resume to include an  accomplishments section  — this will put the focus on your achievements, and off the time you spent in different roles.

Probably the most commonly used resume format is  chronological . But it's not the only option: you can also create a  functional resume , which emphasizes your skills and accomplishments. A  combination resume  (also sometimes called a hybrid resume) marries the two formats so that employment history is listed chronologically, but accomplishments and qualifications are also prominently highlighted.

Check out this example of a resume that deemphasizes the candidate's frequent job shifts by grouping together a series of temp positions, explaining that one position ended when the company shuttered, and deploys objective and qualification sections.

Download the job hopper resume template  (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more examples.

Sample Resume for a Frequent Job Changer (Text Version)

Derrick Applicant 300 5th Avenue Middletown, CT 12345 (555) 555-5555 derrick@applicant.me

To obtain a position as an administrative assistant or office manager and help shape and stabilize a company's operations.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Strong communications and problem-solving abilities
• 5+ years of experience in support, coordination, and scheduling for busy companies
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, content management systems, Adobe Photoshop

ADMINISTRATIVE AND OFFICE MANAGER EXPERIENCE ABC COMPANY, Middletown, CT OFFICE MANAGER (2020-Present) Oversee onboarding for new employees, including welcome lunch, training, and introduction to staff benefits.

• Supervise administrative assistants, order supplies, and coordinate all in-office meetings and staff training sessions.

SMITH COMPANY, Middletown, CT ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT (2019)

• Answered phones at reception desk in lobby; oversaw the meeting room schedule.
• Primary customer-facing representative, responsible for resolving or escalating problems and concerns.

TEMP ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT (2019) Worked with various temp agencies to fill in as an administrative assistant. Had several long-term placements, including as a maternity leave fill-in. Quickly adapted to office systems, making improvements as necessary.

OTHER EXPERIENCE

XYZ CLOTHING STORE, Middletown, CT   SEASONAL SALESPERSON (2018-2019) Assisted customers; worked at the cash register and helped with inventory and stocking new merchandise.

BOSTON UNIVERSITY , B.A. in English and American literature, 2018

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. " Number of Jobs, Labor Market Experience, and Earnings Growth: Results From a National Longitudinal Survey ." Accessed Oct. 13, 2021.

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SELF MADE MILLENNIAL

Job Hopping is Ruining Your Resume, Here’s How to Recover From It

Updated: Jul 22, 2022

I'll talk about why switching full-time roles in a short amount of time, or being a "job hopper," can be preventing you from getting job interviews. I'll talk about how you can adjust your resume and how to answers interview questions to overcome this stigma!

I've seen it happen: You hand a hiring manager a qualified resume, and they notice a gap between roles and see that the last few jobs have only lasted several months each. Their imagination goes wild. They think: this person must be difficult to work with. Or they don't know what they want. Or they will jump at any chance for a higher paycheck elsewhere. Meanwhile, your reasons for your gaps and switching jobs are each is logical and does not reflect poorly on your character. But how will they know that from looking at your resume? You need to explain it directly on the resume. Briefly explaining on a resume why you left a role or took time off from working can make a MAJOR difference in you getting the interview or not. In this video, you'll see 7 examples of how to do this!

Free Download!

Informational Interview Question Cheat Sheet - What should you ask in an informational interview? Have all of the right questions at your fingertips by downloading this free PDF guide. Get it here .

Before you dive into your next role, make sure it sticks by prepping with these!

Here's a video on How to Apply to Jobs Online and Actually Get RESULTS. Watch it here .

Next, here are 4 Steps to Find the Right Career . W atch the video HERE .

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How To Create My CV: Valuable Tips For Job-Hoppers

Are you a proactive personality who often changes jobs, juggling freelancing projects and temporary employment at the same time? Congratulations: the companies probably see you as a job-hopper. Changing jobs often requires you to take online professional CV creation more seriously than if you had a few stable, long-term jobs.

What is job hopping, why it’s negative from an employer’s perspective and how to create CV online if you are a job hopper – read below.

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Why companies hate job hoppers

Around 20 years ago, it was common to work for it for a lifetime (or change jobs just a few times during your professional career). As the times have changes and the labor market has intensified, people tend to change jobs every 2-3 years. If for whatever reasons you change jobs once a year or sooner, hiring managers see you as a job hopper. Local resume services share a few hints on why companies avoid hiring job-hoppers:

• They assume that you quit in a few months. If you’ve changed companies every few months, why will you act the opposite with them? (If you are considering quitting your current job, learn how to do it right: https://resumeperk.com/blog/how-to-quit-your-job-in-the-right-way )
• It shows lack of your career stability. Instead of making a contribution into the success of one company and enhancing your professional skills, looks like you’re changing companies one by one.
• It makes them doubt your professional competences. Maybe, you were fired multiple times because you couldn’t manage your responsibilities or didn’t get on well with coworkers?

Before you think “It’s time to create my CV”, you’ll need to rewrite your resume in a way that would hide the fact of job hopping – or make it an advantage in the eyes of employer.

Resume writing strategies for job-hoppers

It was the company’s fault

If you were fired because the company closed down, or moved, or any kind of structural changes occurred, include a brief note about it in your resume. For instance, it can look as follows

Office Manager

Company A (the company out of business)    Month/Year-Month/Year

When the company merged with another company, CV creater recommends that you put the former name of the company in parenthesis. By putting the reason of quitting the job fast, you’ll avoid misconceptions with your future employers.

Consulting/Freelancing/Part-time jobs

Did you consult individuals or companies or worked in multiple freelancing projects while seeking for stable, long-term employment? Today’s availability of technology offers enormous opportunities to freelance or work part time. However, if you include short-term projects in your resume under the employment section, it will make you look like a job-hopper.

So, when writing a resume either by yourself or using a CV online creator, put all your temporary projects under the separate section. The name of the section can be “ Projects ”, “ Freelancing ” or “ Consulting ” depending on the industry and the nature of work you completed. Don’t forget to highlight your achievements to show that you’re a result-driven individual.

Downplaying job-hopping on your resume

• You don’t have to include all jobs you had Let’s assume that you’ve worked for over a year in your first job, then were employed with the other company for a few months, and after that had the other job for 2 years. In this case, it’s recommended that you remove from your resume a job which didn’t last long. Thus, the hiring manager will see a career progression and no signs of job–hopping on your resume. Moreover, you can remove the outdated, irrelevant jobs: check here for more tips on resume writing https://resumeperk.com/blog/34-resume-tips-and-brand-new-kind-of-resume-to-get-hired .
• Create an attractive summary The top third of the first page deserves special attention in a resume. You need to attract the reader’s attention to your professional competences and make them interested in you right before they actually see you used to change jobs frequently.
• Write only years of employment Put the reader’s attention away from the employment dates in your resume. If you had a few employment gaps lasting for several months, the best way to hide them is to only mention years of employment. Keep in mind that the recruiter might be interested in the exact dates of employment, and you’ll need to provide full information in this case. Read the most common reasons why people quit jobs – it will help you strengthen your reasoning for quitting before the interview.
• Be prepared to discussing why you left previous jobs The question “Why did you leave your past job?” is quite tense and not everyone knows how to manage it – especially if you have changed jobs quite often. Avoid mentioning conflicts or discussing professional competencies of your ex-bosses in a negative light. The best strategy is to explain how each of the previous jobs contributed to your professional development and how you overcame the challenges. Be honest and demonstrate enthusiasm and willingness to face the new challenges as a part of their team.
• Consider changing resume format There are three main resume formats: functional, reverse chronological and combined. For a stable employment history, reverse chronological one works best. However, if you changed job too often or had jobs in different industries, consider using a functional format. It draws attention to your set of strong and transferrable skills and downplays the company names and dates of employment.
• Address the job hopping issue in your cover letter Any ‘red flags’ in your resume, such as job gaps, job hopping or career change should be mentioned – and probably explained in detail – in a cover letter. Again, you need to be honest and focused on professional development and positive aspects of your past jobs. For instance, if you had a few short-term jobs in advertising on various positions, you can specify that you’ve tried a few roles and decided that brand marketing is the right career path for you. You can check free cover letter examples before your get started to ensure your own cover letter is written up to scratch.
• Use the online networking tools The job search period is an excellent time to expand your professional network. Take the advantage of field-specific networking platforms, social media and #1 online tool for all job-seekers – LinkedIn. Meet new people and source the job opportunities in your industry. The truth is, if you come across as a professional, motivated individual, and if you manage to talk to potential employers before they see your resume, they’ll be less suspicious about the job-hopping on your resume.
• Edit it! For some reason, many job seekers neglect the editing process and apply with documents containing grammar or punctuation errors. There can’t be too much editing. Use the tips of proofreader resume online to make sure your resume is error-free.
• Take the advantage of online CV creator The main argument in favor of using professional resume help is that the professionals have the ready solutions for all resume issues you may have. Be it a long employment gap or job hopping – professional resume writers of our company have already faced this issue and are aware of how to minimize the negative aspects of your resume or even turn them into advantage for a hiring managers.

If you are a job-hopper, your main goal is to send the message of your dependability and focus on building a long-term career. Draw more attention to your professional achievements and skills. Don’t focus on dates of employment (preferably focus on years). And show your adaptability and positive attitude – personal traits matter during the interview and influence whether you’ll be hired or not.

How to avoid the image of job-hopping?

Are you uneasy about your image of job-hopping and don’t know how to address it in your resume? In this case, consider hiring a reputable resume company with a track record in improving clients’ careers. We staff a number of proficient resume writers and will find you one to help you build a professional image and downplay the job-hopping issue.

Our fees are cheap, so don’t put your future career at stake. Check the list of services we offer and choose the package which is right for you. The writer will get back to you shortly and will work with you until the moment you’re happy with the document.

Have you ever had job-hopping issues? How did you address them in your resume?

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Our experienced writers can create a powerful resume suitable for each position. However, you may also request a specific resume depending on the job you are applying for, thus it will be tailored individually for your profession:

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5 Great Resume Tips for Job Hoppers

Job hopping is becoming more common these days, and many employers are starting to accept the fact that good candidates could also have a somewhat chaotic work history. Still, frequent job hopping can make creating an effective resume more difficult, but there are ways around it. Today, we’re going to go over some strategies that job hoppers can use when crafting their resume. Let’s begin.

Alternative Resume Formats

The reverse-chronological resume format lists a candidate’s job experience in order starting from the most recent, which can present some issues for job hoppers. For starters, you might have so many entries that your resume goes well beyond the recommended length of one page, which can be a turn-off for potential employers. Additionally, a reverse-chronological resume relies heavily upon dates, and will unintentionally highlight frequent job hopping, which can be unattractive to certain employers.

In order to get around these issues, job hoppers might want to try alternative formats such as a functional resume or a hybrid resume. A functional resume places emphasis on skills rather than work history, which can help to mask frequent changes in your employment history. A hybrid resume is essentially a combination of the reverse-chronological and functional formats, and works well for job seekers who have worked for many employers. For those who job hop more frequently, the functional resume format is recommended. If you’d like to learn more about different resume formats, check out our previous blog on the subject.

Omit Job Experience

Another tactic that can be used to distract from frequent job hopping is to simply leave out job experience entries that were short-lived. When listing work experience on your resume, prioritize jobs where you achieved your best accomplishments or held your best titles, and consider omitting jobs where nothing or note occurred or in the event of a negative experience. You might have to make some tough choices if you decide to go this route, as accomplishments and title changes can still be achieved during short stints with employers.

Let’s say you worked at a company for four years, left to go work at another company, and only stayed with the second company for a few months before leaving to start with your current or most recent employer. In this case, you may leave out the job in the middle so you don’t have to explain it during an interview. Keep in mind that certain hiring managers might ask about gaps in your work history, so you should always be prepared to explain  them if you decide to omit any jobs from your resume.

Recommendations

It’s always good to have a bunch of recommendations on your resume, especially if you find yourself changing jobs frequently. The key to getting great recommendations is putting your best foot forward at each company you work for so that the people around you are more than happy to advocate for you in the future.

The best kinds of recommendations are ones from your immediate supervisors, and depending on your field, professors that were particularly impressed with your work. In the event you forgot to request recommendations from your boss before leaving a job, you can always reach out to them via email or on LinkedIn and politely ask if they’d vouch for you moving forward. The benefit here is that having multiple recommendations will lessen the impact of your job hopping in the eyes of the hiring manager.

Combining Work History

This strategy works most effectively for those who have taken on contract and freelance work in addition to their full-time jobs. For example, if you previously worked full-time at one company, then left to take on a number of freelance positions over the course of the next year or so before jumping back into another full-time role, you could group your freelance jobs together on your resume.

In order to do this, create a second “freelance” header on your resume directly under your work history, then list your contract or freelance work accordingly. Again, this may lead to gaps in your full-time work history, but the interviewer might be less inclined to ask you about it when they see an entire section of your resume that’s devoted to freelance work. In other words, you’ll look really busy, and that’s a good thing.

Diversion Tactics

A particularly well-written summary statement will catch the eye of the hiring manager before they even see your work history, and it also gives you an opportunity to make some strong points. For example, you could make statements such as “5 years of experience in [your field]” or “seeking a long-term position in [your field]” in order to highlight your experience and loyalty. Statements such as these may lessen the impact of a resume with frequent job changes.

When it comes to listing your work history, you could also perform some trickery with the dates. Of course, you want to be honest, so you could try moving the dates of employment to the end of each entry while leading with the company name and your title. Another way to divert attention away from job hopping is to leave the months out entirely. Including only the years of employment might make your work history look more solid.

It’s important to remember that using any of these strategies might bring up questions during a job interview. Honesty is the best policy, so take the time to come up with good explanations for gaps in your work history, the use of alternative resume formats, or why you decided to move onto contract work. With a little effort and some trial and error, you should be able to create an attractive resume despite all that job hopping.

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