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jumpin jack

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by namitswar

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hi all,

I m a network engineer based in netherlands.
in my 3 years of jobs in IT field i have switched 6 jobs ...i have skipped job whenevr an oppurtunity came calling. But now i m facing trouble in getting a change as the prospective employers are wary of my history...what do i tell them ? how do i covince them that i wont leave them !!
Thanks in advance

27 replies

by tony hopkinson

I should think. If I saw a cv like yours, right or wrong.
It would make suspicious of
your ability (left before got found out)
attention span (got bored)
any claim whatsoever of loyalty. (liar)

Now personally I don't have a problem with you not being loyal to an employer, as long as you don't make the claim that you are. Employers do tend to view that one from their side big time though. In fact you usually find the ones most concerned about your loyalty as the ones who will do you up the back any time it's convenient, having absolutely none of their own.

The question to me, would be do I think I'm offering you an opportunity that would be valuable enough to you, to stick it out. If you couldn't convince me that I was, you wouldn't get a sniff. Sticking with me just to make your cv look better would not be a way to convince me by the way.

Personally I'd look at contracting if I was you, where this sort of thing wouldn't matter. When you do get a job stick it out for two years unless it turns out to seriously damage your future prospects.

My first employer last 19 years by the way, though I did do six jobs over that time, they thought I was showing disloyalty when I left.

Seeing as your case for making any claim to being loyal is quite (very very) weak, turn it on it's head. Ask them why you should be loyal. What's their retention policy like, how successful is it etc.
In other words show interest in being loyal, but state very clearly that loyalty is a two way street.

by wayne m.

Instead of trying to explain to employers why you have changed jobs so frequently, perhaps you should try to understand for yourself why you have changed jobs.

If you have gone through 6 job changes, each for a better opportunity, I would think you would be quite well off by now. What benefit do you expect to reap from a 7th job? Why not stick with your current position?

Without knowing any of the actual details, I would believe that you have been making, at best, lateral moves not upward moves. Unless your current situation is overwhelmingly bad (something you did not allude to in your initial post), I would suggest to stick with your current employer and get some upward mobility. Get a couple of promotions under your belt before testing yourself in the open market again.

Remember, you do not need to explain your past job history to your current employer. If you do choose to switch, you will need to come up with your own justifications. No one on this list can tell you why you have cosen to change jobs 6 going on 7 times in 3 years.

by m_a_r_k

Six jobs in three years... Why in the world have you switched jobs so often? And why are you wanting to move yet again?? There's nothing you can do to make potential employers think otherwise. Quite frankly, you couldn't convince me otherwise either. Why would any potential employer trust you if you've left each of your last five employers after six months and you want to leave yet another after six months? The best advice and the ONLY advice I know to give you is to stay with our current employer. Don't stay seven months. Not eight months. You better start thinking of staying at one company for six years rather than six months. Six jobs in three years...

By the way, you've created two "jumpin jack" discussions. You should edit your other one with a link to THIS discussion to forward everyone over here.

by jdclyde

none. :D

But right on the point.

Anyone that jumps ship like that is NOT a good hire prospect, unless you can do as Tony said and make it like your looking for someone with a reason for you to hang around and just haven't found it.

The first month of employement is usually much higher compared to the value because more time is spent on training and orientation than on actual productive work.

Better straighten up your act and stop looking for a job and find a career.

by namitswar

Thanks for the advice Tony , Mark and JD Clyde..
The reason i was shifting was i kept on getting different opputunities in fields like LAN /wan /exchange/WIFI etc....All jobs had a different profile so i did not mind skipping jobs ! But now i do feel that my future employers would b thinkin on the same lines as u are. Maybe its time to do more with the same job. Good day all !
sorry for the double posting

by m_a_r_k

You seem to like the short-term work. Is there much contract work where you are? Contracting might be perfect for you and would give you legitimate reasons to move around frequently. Some contracts last a month or two. Others could go for several years. It also gives you a chance to "try before you buy". You might find a company that you actually want to work for full-time and would be happy with for more thzn six months.

by tony hopkinson

You could do a task based cv, ie intead of listing your emploments, list what you did and then your employers details somewhere at the bottom out of the way. That way you'd emphasise your skills and experiences over the three years. Pay particular attention to the common tasks running through the three years and the flavour of the month 'marketable' parts.
Might get you to an interview, which should get you points anyway in terms of ability to present yourself, which is of course a useful communications skill.

by jdclyde

Is the application they are required to fill out as a standard part of job applications in the US.

by highlander718

Now, this supposing that the 6 jobs were not all exactly 5 months. Maybe you can omit a couple "irrelevant" jobs (that only lasted for 2-3 months) from your resume, not that you would be in a much better shape but still ...

*I was taught this at a career training/counseling class we got at my last company (before it moved out of the city) so I guess it's not illegal :-))

by jdclyde

to only give information that is relevant to the job applied for.

The same is said for skills to keep you from looking "over qualified", as an over quilified person will expect more than an adiquate employee will.

It isn't illegal to leave stuff off.

It IS grounds for termination if you put anything on there that isn't true.

Remember, this is your "best foot forward". That means your other foot can be left out of the converstation. :D

Good call!

by tony hopkinson

but you've got to explain what you were doing. Get caught lying at an interview and you are obviously dead meat. You need something good as your most recent for this to pay off.
The big problem with a cv like this will be getting an interview in the first place. My first impression would be never spent anytime at any place long enough to learn anything. Missing employments means you spent even less time doesn't it. I can see a serious pay cut coming this guy's way.

by faradhi

That way it appears to be longer stints. I was told to do that to cover a long period of unemployment.(due to injury)

by sean

I have a resume that is 5 pages long... I have worked on many contacts and projects for diffrent companies... All their experience leading up to the person I am today... Some places I go they make a huge deal of it and others do not... As long as you are up front with them about why you moved, i.e. better work oppertunity, better pay, better experience... Most employers know that the world is changing and people don't stay in the same place for 5, 10, 15, 20 years any more...

by jdclyde

People are lazy, and HR people are definately no exception.

If they get fifty applicants come in, they are NOT going to read your book that you just handed them about your life story.

Short and sweet, down and dirty. Get to the point and do it fast. You have about 10 seconds to get their attention or your toast!

Anyone out there do hiring/firing that can either back this up or set me straight?

Everything I have EVER read says try to keep it to one page, but NEVER over two pages, not including cover page specific to that application, and not including references.

by nazil dsouza

hey dude
its bad that in your 3 yrs of workin u have switches 6 jobs hahaha, but there is a draw back, i understand the fact that people switch over jobs just because they want a good pay and a firm standing but whats the prob buddy if u keep on switching u lack the experience thing huh, just think every company asks for a experience cert huh so what do u say i am well of doing my rounds in 6 jobs in 3 yrs, well thats bad they raise an eye brow just wondering " oh my " is this fellow going to stay with us and if so how long...... yeah thats the prob, plus just think some companies think of u as a jumping jack when u leave the job and nobody gives u a exp certificate as it does not make any sence. so its better guys like us get stuck to a firm job for around 2-3 yrs and then switch over in a brave manner..... so basically all u can say is a big fat lie, tell them " sir i want get on something firm enough and will do my best to serve the company i am workin for " but dude better stick to it.......

by tony hopkinson

Never had to fill one in when I was in Holland either. Would put the mockers on the idea though. Task based cvs are less popular now as well, used to be all the rage at one point.

by somebozo

tell them sensible reasons even if u had to make some of them.. like

- U had intense needs for money to clear debts u owe to friends and family so when ever a job came promising better pay, u jumped but now u have cleared all your debts and looking forward for a long term career

- The job put on you very little responsibility and hence you got bored with it fast and wanted better challenge

- you did not like the taste of management, this one works very best if u are italian.. ;-)

- the commute was very pain staking

blah blah blah.. there are tons of them u can make up with in the limits of sensibility..but honestly nothing impress the management more than asking for more challenge..

by tony hopkinson

Nothing impresses them more than meeting the challenge and you aren't going to get many worth while ones in six months. I've had projects that lasted longer than guy's been employed.

Bored fast won't play, especially in admin as a lot of it basic and repeatative.

Get's into debt as excuse, not a good idea at all.

Bad commute, six times ?. They are going to think he's stupid.

Bad management six times ?. = common factor = him = bad employee.

Better pay is the best one you raised, but that's going to have loud jangly alarm bells echoing in HR heads straight off.

Marry the MD's daughter might be another route.

by jdclyde

If you are in dire straights you are more likely to also be a thief.

Employers run a criminal background check and many will even run your credit rating!

Some will even check your medical background. Example, if you get HIV, good luck ever getting another job. People have had FALSE readings, and they are still scarred for life.

And no, I don't want to hear about how they can't, because the do anyways.

by jaqui

I can back you up on that.
cover letter, one page
Resume <= two pages
refferences, one page if a list.
one letter per refference if you have letters.

a cv is different than a resume though.
If a cv is requested, then they want that full schooling details, including extras done after graduation, complete employment history, professional qualifications certificates.. everything. I know one person whose cv is 27 pages long, and he gets hired with it. He only puts a 2 page resume out though.

by faradhi

When trimming your resume, be sure to tailor it to the company and job description.

by jaqui

I watched him trim the cv for a specific position, took 3 days to reduce it to the positions directly applicable, and fairly current.

This was when I suggested he try a "Skills" based resume, do one for each type of position and keep a listing of positions applicable for that skillset in it, trim that to suit, and tailor the skills as well, save a lot of time when next resume going out.

I've noticed that skills based resumes are most frequently used to hide a lack of experience, but they can be used to show the amount of experience instead of the Chronological when designed properly. [ If I hadn't ruined my back for the work, I would use skills based to apply for cooking positions, since 20 years cooking doesn't fit on a 2 page resume in a chronological format. ]

by m_a_r_k

HR or the tech person screening them that gets bombarded with resumes typically scans them in 45 seconds or less. At least that's what I'm told. I haven't timed myself but I probably spend about 30 seconds. You can't scan much more than a page and a half in 45 seconds. If it's more than two pages I won't even look at it. I look at education, the last five or so years of work history, scan for key words that fit the job requirement and anything interesting that I can relate to (such as working at a company that I have, same school I attended, etc). When you get down to it, most resumes are an obvious non-fit for the job, a few are middling but don't stand out and you can pick a few of those randomly for further evaluation, and occasionally you'll find a resume that looks perfect (until you bring the person in for an interview and you realize he/she can't even tie his/her own shoes without instructions).

by tony hopkinson

to put forward in explanation I think the guy was competing for the same position. Anyone of them would get you reamed at an interview

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