Reader Graham has changed jobs several times over the past ten years. He explains: 'I’ve changed jobs several times over the past ten years and, at the time, each move seemed perfectly sensible. One company was going nowhere, another role offered more money, and, once, I was head-hunted.'
But now he is worried his CV makes him look restless. He asks: 'At what point do employers start thinking: “This person won’t stick around”?'
Our Jobs Guru James Innes replies: 'A few moves over ten years is not automatically a problem. These days, plenty of people change jobs every two or three years and nobody bats an eyelid.'
The importance of pattern
Innes explains: 'What makes employers nervous is not the number on its own. It’s the pattern.'
If each move brought more responsibility, better pay, or a clear step forward, recruiters understand. But if the CV shows short stays at the same level with no obvious reason, questions arise. 'Unfair? Perhaps. But those questions will occur to them.'
He advises against writing long explanations on the CV. 'Give clear dates, show what you achieved, and be ready to explain the moves calmly at interview.'
Top Tip
'Don’t apologise for every move. Explain the pattern calmly – what drew you to each role, what you achieved there, and why the next move made sense.'
Spotlight On: Job-hopping
There is no magic number that defines a job-hopper. 'A 25-year-old with four short roles may simply have been taking temporary contracts and finding their feet. But a 45-year-old who has left every permanent job after nine months may prompt rather more questions!'
Recruiters notice the difference between movement and drift. If each role added something – responsibility, pay, specialist knowledge – the changes look sensible. 'What worries them is a row of brief jobs with nothing much to show for any of them.'
Give them a reason to see progress, not restlessness.
Get a head start in your job hunt with James' new book, The Job You’ve Always Wanted – out now from Pearson at £16.99. James Innes is a best-selling careers author and founder of the world's leading group of professional CV and resume writers.
