Great Resumes Fast » Resume Writing Tips » How to Overcome Executive Job Hopping in Your Resume

Are you so in love with your career that you’ve managed to switch jobs more than the average executive simply to test the waters at multiple employers?  Or have you suffered back-to-back layoffs in the uncompromising job market that has left workers of all levels struggling to stay employed?

Unfortunately, as today’s executive job seeker, any type of movement from one employer to another makes you appear to be a chronic job hopper—and job hoppers don’t have great reputations for reliability, especially at the executive level where reliability is crucial.  So what can you do to overcome what appears to be executive job hopping in your resume?

List Jobs Relevant to the Current Position

If you have held several positions within a short period of time (e.g., three executive jobs in a two-year period) and one or more were so short that you barely had a chance to impact the company, don’t list them all.  Simply note the ones where you stayed longer and/or are most relevant to the position for which you’re applying.

Move Employment Dates to the End of Your Job Descriptions

Instead of listing the dates of employment as the headers for your job descriptions, consider listing them at the end of the descriptions.  Also, consider utilizing the years that you were employed with specific companies instead of both months and years.

Call Attention to Mass Layoffs and Mergers

While employers aren’t excited about seeing executives job hop, they can certainly understand when doing so was unavoidable due to mass layoffs or company mergers.  If you’ve been the victim of either during your executive career, be sure to say so in your resume.

Highlight Your ROI in Each Position

No matter how long you were working for an employer, as long as you were able to make a difference, you can prove in your resume that you are a great return on investment (ROI).  Be sure to highlight your expansive leadership roles, list plenty of quantitative value-driven accomplishments, and showcase several complex yet successful initiatives that prove you can hit the ground running.

Being a job hopper at the executive level is undoubtedly less desirable than professionals further down the corporate ladder, but this doesn’t mean you are incapable of being hired.  By creating a resume that highlights your strengths and then backing them up with an impressive cover letter, you are likely to get the interview call you desire.

For additional tips and advice on resumes and cover letters, follow us on Twitter @GreatResume or visit our blog.

Share

About Great Resumes Fast Product Templates MRP-3882

About the author

Jessica Hernandez, President, CEO & Founder of Great Resumes Fast

Hi, I’m Jessica. I started this company back in 2008 after more than a decade directing hiring practices at Fortune 500 companies.

What started as a side hustle (before that was even a word!) helping friends of friends with their resumes has now grown into a company that serves hundreds of happy clients a year. But the personal touch? I’ve kept that.

You might have seen me featured as a resume expert in publications like Forbes, Fast Company, and Fortune. And in 2020, I was honored to be named as a LinkedIn Top Voice of the year!

I’m so glad you’re here, and I can’t wait to help you find your next perfect-fit position!

Leave a Comment





Improve Your Resume: Download Your Free Executive Resume Template Today

Are you struggling to create an executive resume that will impress employers? Download this free executive resume template and receive a series of 10 emails with expert guidance on how to write resume content that resonates with employers so you get more interviews.

It's everything you need to stand out, make an impression, and accelerate your job search.