Perils of job switching

The job market is throbbing and the hoppers are back. During the two years of (relative) unemployment sparked by the 2008 slowdown, most people were willing to take a pay cut to hold on to a job. Now, they are being tempted to consider a new one barely three months into their present one. However, it's important to consider if job hopping is as attractive as it seems, if it's being done for the right reasons and the ways one can make it work.

Let's begin by considering the market reality. When hiring picks up pace, as is the case now, it is difficult for companies to retain talent. Thus, there is a tendency to make employment offers increasingly attractive, encouraging people to switch jobs in search of better deals.

Job portals, a booming recruitment consulting industry, and social networking have, combinedly improved access to employment opportunities. In certain spaces, frequent change of jobs is common. These include start-ups (typically sunrise industries, software) and project-based jobs, such as consulting.

Too many changes in a short period signify lack of commitment and consistency and it can become harder for you to land a good job

Some of the common reasons for switching jobs include a sizeable increase in pay, promotion, better employer, meeting of specific career goals or bailing out of a wrong job. However, these reasons are not enough. Job hopping is good for one's career when it follows a plan to acquire a set of skills and expertise that are valued in the industry. It is beneficial when the purpose is to upgrade one's responsibilities and employer in order to reach a particular position.

To an extent, job hopping does help in building a dynamic professional network, which pays dividends in the long term. Changing jobs also helps in keeping one's interest alive at the workplace. However, all this works only if you can consistently deliver high levels of performance and can show a significant contribution in each job.

Despite the advantages and the current market condition, job hopping signifies lack of commitment and consistency, and it becomes increasingly difficult for a hopper to land good jobs. So, even though it's a growing trend and employers can no longer refuse to consider candidates who have shifted frequently, such changes are very visible on a resume.

They do nothing for your chances of being considered for a job and most companies are likely to outrightly reject a job hopper's application unless he has a plausible explanation or is able to show how he can add value to the firm. To make sure job hopping does minimum damage to the resume, it is best to put in some thought on how one should present it.

First, structure the resume around your performance as opposed to the chronological format. Consider a functional or a skill-based resume as an alternative. Eliminate the jobs or roles that have lasted only a few days or a month and which have not contributed to your skills. If you choose to do so, be honest about it during your interview and explain that you have included only relevant and meaningful roles and ignored those that did not add value to your career.

Second, you can use a cover letter to explain your career path to the prospective recruiter. Make a case for why you fit the role, highlighting your strengths and accomplishments and include your reason for switching jobs. If you were laid off on account of company downsizing, mention it. You can add references, written recommendations and other material that supports your candidacy. Finally, focus on accomplishments and reduce emphasis on dates through proper positioning and font sizes. If you have more than 8-10 years of experience, you can include only the years of employment instead of years and months.

However, if despite your efforts, you are unable to land an interview because of a consistent history of job hopping, the only way out is to rely on your personal connections or network to persuade an employer to give you a chance at an interview. Approach someone who knows you closely and has faith in your ability to deliver results.

In either case, once you are at the interview, make sure that you explain your employment history clearly so that the recruiter's concerns are addressed. Also, remember to focus on accomplishments and success rather than organisations and jobs. Be prepared to share insights from experiences where you lost a job and your growth since then.

Job hopping does have its advantages, such as a hike in salary, change in designation or escape from boredom. But remember that most of these benefits are transient. You should be careful about your reasons for changing jobs and avoid the tag of job hopper as it rarely commands respect in the employment market. To build a successful career, consistent performance and growth are a must. Job hopping does not help here.

The writer is CEO, Quetzal, a human resource solutions company started by four IIM-A graduates.

Shifting for wrong reasons Bad Boss or Colleagues Occasionally, it's okay to be a misfit in a company. However, if the reason for changing jobs is too often a fight with a boss or co-workers, then the fault is with the job hopper. It is better to work on one's team skills than to look for a new role each time. For a Little More Money Moving several times for incremental salary hikes is a quick way to end your career. This leaves no time to build a skillset, which can lead to a significant increase in responsibility in the long term. Employers are quick to recognise this and avoid such candidates. No Growth When a job hopper complains that each of his last several jobs failed to offer adequate growth, it means he did not seek out opportunities. Most firms are willing to give greater challenges, so if it is growth that you seek, it's better to speak to your present boss than to look for a new one. Too Difficult a Job Being fired for failing to match expectations or finding too many jobs extremely demanding is not a good sign. Take the effort to learn from successful people or invest in additional training to fill the gap between performance and expectation.