How to answer ‘Why did you change jobs so often?’ job interview question
Are you changing jobs or changing careers?
A career describes your entire professional journey, whereas a job can be any task you complete to earn money. Your career path may take you through a variety of jobs, from your first job in your field of choice to your last job before retirement. People who change their careers may do so by switching industries or by locating a new kind of position within the same industry. In contrast, when people change jobs, they might be doing so to work for a different company or in a different but related role.
Job-hopping, or changing jobs more frequently than twice every two years, can give employers the impression that you might not be a good fit for a long-term position. In contrast, leaving a role that you feel isn’t right for you can give you the chance to make sure your next job is in line with your career goals. It is ultimately up to you to decide when it is appropriate to move on to a new position or career.
How often do people change jobs?
Many people in their 40s, 50s, and 60s may also consider midlife career changes if they want higher salaries or more challenges at work, even though changing jobs is less common as people get older.
Why do people change jobs regularly?
Some people may find that switching jobs will increase their job security. For others, its all about maintaining a good work-life balance. A new job can also help someone advance in their intended career if they want to change industries.
There are a variety of reasons why people change jobs. They may be looking for:
How many career changes do people go through in a lifetime?
People no longer typically work for one company for 30 to 40 years before retiring with a pension. The workforce has changed, and people have changed with it.
Although there is no limit to the number of careers one can have throughout their lifetime, it can be difficult to determine when a career change has occurred. For instance, hiring managers may view a teacher’s transition from teaching to textbook writing as part of their career path or as a switch from publishing to education.
By emphasizing your long-term career journey, a well-written resume can ease your transition between jobs and prevent you from appearing to be a job hopper. If you want to boost your next resume, think about keeping job changes to no more than every two years. You could also try revising your resume and cover letter to highlight your transferrable skills.
If you have a good reason for changing jobs frequently, like moving for your spouse’s job or being laid off during a merger, most employers will understand. Try to be specific when describing your motivation for leaving your previous position, highlight its positive aspects, and go over how you continued your professional development while working at other positions.
How long should you keep a job before leaving?
It’s important to think about a few questions if you’re considering quitting your current job:
Regardless of how you responded to these inquiries, your decision to leave your current position is a personal one. It might be time to think about changing jobs if your current position doesn’t allow for career advancement or support your goals.
How do you answer interview questions about changing jobs too often?
You can anticipate a few related questions in your upcoming interview if you’ve changed jobs more than once in the last two years or have employment gaps in your work history. Here’s how to respond to them well and make the most of your prior employment:
1. Highlight your transferable skills
Think about how your prospective new job relates to your prior positions before the interview. Make a list of your hard skills and consider how you might be able to apply them to the new position. This list should include:
After that, make a similar list of your soft skills. Soft skills help you connect two seemingly unrelated jobs because they place more emphasis on your personality and work ethic. This list should include:
2. Showcase your education and training
Your educational background can highlight the relationship between your prior employment, regardless of whether you attended a four-year university, completed online certification training, or underwent on-the-job training.
Suppose you have experience working in restaurants and retail but your degree is in psychology. Knowing the response to this question can help you prepare for your interview: “How did you use your specific knowledge in a particular situation to provide measurable results?”
Heres an example answer:
I accommodated a family with a crying child by using my understanding of child psychology; as a result, they became regular clients and left a 50% larger tip than usual. ”.
3. Be prepared to ensure your long-term commitment
Tell the company the truth about how long you plan to work there. Discuss your desired career path if you intend to relocate in five years. You might not have been aware of any opportunities for advancement within the organization.
If you’ve changed jobs a few times, think about how you demonstrate long-term commitment in your personal life. Consider your other experiences, such as any volunteer work you’ve done, the organizations you’re a part of, and any lifelong social obligations you have.
Explain your long-term professional aspirations to the interviewer and demonstrate how your prior employment fits into this overall journey. then investigate how the same goal is achieved by your potential job.
FAQ
How often is too often to switch jobs?
Job-hopping, or changing jobs more frequently than twice every two years, can give employers the impression that you might not be a good fit for a long-term position.
Why do I change jobs so often?
Following a brief period of employment, a person may change jobs for a variety of reasons, including: Departmental or corporate layoffs Company restructuring, causing your position to become obsolete. Facing a personal health problem.
How many job changes is too much?
Most executives surveyed agreed that having six or more jobs in a ten-year period is excessive. A history of frequent changes, according to 51% of CFOs in larger companies, is not significant if a candidate is a good fit.
How often is too often job hopping?
More than once every two years. If the role is not right, move. However don’t do it too often. Someone who has held several shorter jobs (less than two years) is likely to have trouble blending in and is not a good team player.
