Ask a Career Advisor: How Do You Explain Job Hopping in an Interview?

Resume-based questions are the most common questions you’ll encounter in an interview. There’s only so much of your story that a one- or two-page resume can tell an employer, and they’ll use your interview as an opportunity to dig deeper and learn more about your background, skills, and qualifications.

In addition to seeing how your qualifications line up with the open position, hiring managers will also closely examine your resume’s career timeline – where you’ve worked and for how long. For job seekers that have held a lot of positions in a short period of time (also known as job hoppers), this can be nerve-wracking.

How do you explain job hopping in an interview if you’re asked why you frequently change jobs? Are there right and wrong ways to explain job hopping? We sat down with Lori Cole, Certified Career Coach and Advisor at iHire, to find out.

Is Job Hopping Always a Red Flag?

First off, don’t panic. Savvy hiring managers will notice job hopping, but it’s not the immediate deal breaker that it used to be.

“Job hopping may raise eyebrows, but it’s not always a major red flag,” said Cole. “For example, over the last few years, the pandemic forced a lot of people to leave their jobs or make career changes they otherwise wouldn’t have. Your interviewer will understand if circumstances were out of your control.”

The Great Resignation and talent shortages also created a candidates’ market where employees were being headhunted left and right, readily seeking greener pastures, and willing to leave their jobs despite how it may look on their resumes. iHire's 2023 Talent Retention Report showed that voluntary quits have held steady year-over-year, with 43.3% of survey respondents saying they've quit a job in the past 12 months.

“While employers are used to seeing frequent job changes on resumes these days, you should still be ready to explain yours and provide context,” Cole added. “Hiring is an expensive and time-consuming undertaking, and employers will ask you about your job hopping because they don’t want to go back to the drawing board a few months after they hire you.”

Ready to Find the Right Job?

Create Your Free Account Today to Get Started

Job Seeker Sign In

Sign In With Google

Sign In With LinkedIn

Sign In With Facebook

Or, use your email address:

Next

We Value Your Privacy

How to Answer Job Hopping Interview Questions

So, how do you answer job hopping interview questions like, “Why did you leave your last position after only one year?” or “I noticed you’ve held three positions at different companies in the last five years. Could you please tell me more about your career history?” without sabotaging your chances of getting the job?

“The best way to explain job hopping, regardless of the reason, is as concisely as possible,” advised Cole. “Put a positive spin on your frequent job changes if you can, and bring the focus back to the position you’re applying for and your intent to stay with their company long-term.”

Here are a few examples:

Unfortunately, I was part of a company downsizing at ACME, Inc. about a year after I was hired. While I was only there for a short period of time, I was able to contribute to key projects and help implement process improvements in my department. Additionally, my former manager at ACME, Inc. wrote a letter of recommendation for me that I’d be happy to share with you.

I’ve held a series of short-term positions over the last few years so I could also manage the care of an elderly family member. I wanted to remain in the workforce, but needed to balance my career with personal responsibilities. We’ve recently secured other arrangements for my family member, and I am now excited to get back into teaching full-time and would be thrilled to join your school community.

I am looking for a new job again after only being in my current position for a few months because I’ve discovered that it isn’t the right fit for me. I am looking for a company with a culture that’s centered around innovation and collaboration, and after I saw your job posting and researched your company, I knew I had to apply!   

My spouse’s previous job required us to relocate frequently. Because of that, I diversified my skill set and was able to secure a wide range of positions over the last few years and learn about many different industries. My spouse now has a permanent position, and I was thrilled to see that you were hiring an Administrative Manager for your Washington, D.C. branch!

“Don’t let tough job hopping interview questions keep you up at night,” added Cole. “Now that you know how to best explain job hopping in an interview, prepare and practice giving a strong answer that will present you as the best candidate for the position!”

Looking for more interviewing help? Enroll in our self-paced Interviewing Masterclass for more step-by-step guidance from Lori Cole, or explore additional free resources in our library for job seekers.