Five résumé tips for job hoppers

People used to work at the same company for their entire careers. Nowadays, however, most of us make multiple career moves. Whether it’s a transition to a different focus area, a step up to a more senior position with another company, or even a switch to a completely different industry, we’re significantly more mobile than our parents and grandparents were.

But while it’s okay to move after a couple of years, from a potential employer’s point of view, someone who’s held a lot of positions during his or her career could be considered a job hopper. And since job hopping is generally associated with a lack of commitment and reliability, that’s not a good thing. That’s why we’ve put together five résumé tips on how to use your work experience to show your broad range of skillsets, as well as your versatility and ability to fit into many different work environments. 

1. Include a powerful summary statement. In her article “7 Resume Tips for Job Hoppers” for The Balance Careers, Madeleine Burry advises that you can leverage your summary statement to your advantage. For example, you could say, “Five years of experience as a technical support agent” or, “Looking for a long-term position that challenges me.”
2. Tailor your résumé to the job requirements. As Sophie Tarnowska points out in her article “Resume Writing Tips for Job Hoppers” for Monster, it’s important to understand the requirements of the position you’re applying for so you can tailor your résumé accordingly. For example, if the position is in sales, you’ll want to highlight any retail experience and training you have. 
3. Use a functional résumé. According to the Indeed article “Functional Resume Tips and Examples,” a functional résumé highlights your skills and experience rather than providing a chronological order of experience. To create a functional résumé, include a summary statement, your skills listed in groups along with your most impressive accomplishments, your professional experience, and your education. Note that it’s advisable to only list the years for your work experience, not the months. 
4. Leave out irrelevant positions. If you’re applying for a sales job, you really don’t have to list the landscaping job you did five years ago. The only exception is if you’ve worked for well-known companies.
5. Use your résumé and cover letter to tie things together. You only get one chance to make a first impression, so it’s important that the hiring manager can see that you’re a good fit. In her article “How to Appear Reliable With a Job-Hopper Resume” for Fast Company, Molly Triffin recommends addressing each of the job duties by highlighting something you accomplished in that area. For example, if the position involves generating new business, list how you were able to upsell customers or attract new accounts in previous positions.

By using your résumé to showcase your skills and accomplishments, you can clearly communicate the fact that you’re a good fit for the position you want — and that can increase your chances of being called for an interview.

Source:

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/job-hopper-resume-tips-4025412

https://www.monster.ca/career-advice/article/resume-writing-tips-for-jobhoppers-canada

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/functional-resume-tips-and-examples

https://www.fastcompany.com/3058883/how-to-appear-reliable-with-a-job-hopper-resume

Our strong, long-term connections—with the most admired companies—mean a new world of possibilities for your career. Find your new job today!