evaluating job hoppers

Mike Travis was quoted recently in The New York Times in a column discussing the challenges facing job seekers who have a history of job hopping.  (Click here to read the article).  We thought it would be worthwhile to expand on the topic.

A pattern of job hopping is a career killer for executives.  Why?  Because executives who have only been in a job for a year or two have not been around long enough to get anything done.

Top executives have a track record of achievement.  And the achievements that matter at the executive level are all long term enterprises: growing businesses, defining and executing strategies, leading people and organizations.  In fact, it’s often said that it takes a new executive one to two years just to come up to speed. 

So by definition, executives with lots of short jobs haven’t done much.  And their inability to stay in one place begs all sorts of other questions. 

We’ve stated a general rule, but of course there are exceptions.  Short jobs at start-ups are common  given the inherently risky nature of those enterprises, and are only rarely seen as a negative.  And many executives have had short jobs as a result of corporate downsizings or restructurings that were entirely out of their control.  One or two short jobs aren’t necessarily a black mark on an executive’s record.  But a pattern of job hopping is a show-stopper.