How to Frame Job-Hopping in an Interview

Let’s start off with a disclaimer:

I’m not a recruiter. I’m not a hiring manager. I’m merely someone who recently landed a good job as a copywriter despite having a somewhat chaotic job history.

I’ve worked for a non-profit dog rescue. I’ve been a stationer. I’ve been an event host. I’ve been a medical sales assistant. I’ve been a tutor. I’ve filed and digitized more freaking pieces of paper than I care to think about.

Yeah, I’ve been a job-hopper.

Job-hopping is hardly rare in our uncertain economy and ever-changing job market. Millennials and Gen Z-ers have especially embraced this trend.

But despite the fact is that job-hopping is common, it can still be a red flag to hiring managers.

In every question they ask, a potential employer wants to learn what value you will bring to their company. Dodging the question or trying to minimize and apologize for your history will more than likely have the opposite effect you intend. The interviewer is looking for information and if you won’t give them information, they won’t hire you.

Knowing the reputation that job-hopping has, it is up to you to dispel any concerns they might have about you as a potential employee.

So, how should you address a history of job-hopping when in an interview? Well, let me tell you what worked for me.

Going into the interview, I knew that every question I was asked was an opportunity to talk about how great I am.

Didn’t matter that I don’t believe I’m great. It my job to frame all my experiences as an asset to the company. My stance was that having experience in a lot of different roles was a strength I could bring to the table.

With this in mind, I made a commitment to face the job-hopping question head on and take control of the narrative surrounding my work history. So, I created a narrative that explained how every job I’ve held has prepared me this specific job.

Tooting My Own Horn

At a certain point in the interview, one of the committee members made the observation that I have experience in various industries. I got a big smile on my face, silently communicating that I was glad they brought it up. This was my moment to shine.

In my response, I highlighted a detail from each role on my resume that would directly benefit my performance in the position I was applying for.

At the dog rescue, I was primarily an office manager, but I also created and wrote a monthly newsletter.

As a stationer, my job description was to facilitate custom stationery orders, but I also launched a weekly social media campaign, creating and writing all the content myself.

As a medical sales assistant, I was responsible for a lot of data entry, but I also wrote blog posts.

With each of these roles, I was able demonstrate how I had used my writing skills, even if the application wasn’t obvious on paper. It may not seem like it at first, but I can guarantee you that you have learned something in every position you have held that will benefit you in the role you’re applying for.

Maybe there a certain software or platform you’ve worked with in the past. Maybe you brought a certain skill to a project that no one on your team had. Maybe you have adapted to differing industry standards.

And you don’t have to stick to the technical skills. I used anecdotal evidence to show off my soft skills too. I mean, if you have any experience in customer service, you’ll have plenty of fodder here. Don’t be afraid to hype yourself up. If there was ever a time to do it, it’s in a job interview.

Job-Hoppers Aren’t Slackers

Job-hoppers are often labeled as lacking work ethic, but what demonstrates work ethic more than being willing to constantly learn and take on new challenges?

I talked about how I took initiative in each role. I discussed how changing industries had made me adaptable. I mentioned being part of different teams and integrating into an existing dynamic and working under different management styles.

Job-hopping is fast-paced game. You have to learn quickly and be flexible. There isn’t an employer out there who doesn’t value those skills.

Also, if you ever worked multiple jobs at the same time, note it! As much as I don’t love hustle culture, you can use this to dispel the slacker myth surrounding job-hopping. In my interview, I mentioned how I worked a retail job and held a position as a grad assistant while I was in grad school (don’t romanticize burnout, please) and how this helped me learn time management.

Ultimately, I proved that job-hopping shows that I’m a risk-taker and I’m willing to keep learning so I can be the best I can be. I won’t be a complacent employee who phones in my work.

Setting Myself Apart

Going straight from college into my chosen industry may have been the logical path, but I wouldn’t be the creative thinker I am today if I hadn’t had all these experiences.

I made it clear to the hiring committee that trying different things when I was young and just starting out had made me confident that I knew exactly what I wanted to do and helped me become a stronger writer.

I’ve written content for a lot of different industries and it has made me think outside the box. It has made me search for solutions in unexpected ways. It’s what gave me the idea to write a cheeky poem to market a new medical device. It’s what made me write an adoptable dog’s bio in a voice that matched their personality. It’s what caused me to ask my manager if I could give our social posts a little flavor with the alliterative hashtag I came up with.

Your path hasn’t been a straight one, but that is what sets you apart from every other applicant they will interview. You will bring value as a creative voice in the room with a unique perspective. Show them that.

Good luck. Breathe. You got this.

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