Changing jobs after a few months

Question

I've only been in my role for about 6 months and I'm finding it's not a great fit. I want to start considering other positions, however, I'm concerned about coming off as a 'job hopper'. The rest of my resume doesn't reflect this as I was employed in my last two positions for over 2-3 years. What are best practices for re-entering the workforce after only being at your current company for a few months? Do I just stick it out until I have more tenure at this company?

Lorrie Holtz · Answer

I have removed dates from my resume.  You can highlight your skills and knowledge in a resume with our stating exactly how long you've been at a particular  job. I think it also helps with age bias as I'm noe in my 50s.

Erin Howard-Reid · Answer

I know 'job hopping' is something recruiters and hiring managers consider, but is it worth your happiness?

Life is too short to be miserable in a job that doesn't fit. You owe it to yourself to look for opportunities that contribute to your life, rather than your life contributing to the company.

It never hurts to take an interview or network. Just focus on how you can solve the needs or each job description and not on your present situation. How can you feed each job description's hunger?

You can do this!

Anonymous · Answer

You don’t mention your industry. In tech, where I work, it’s not uncommon to see occasional 6mo stints because of a bad fit, and no one raises an eyebrow. If every job were always very short tenure, it might get questioned, but even the , with a good answer, wouldn’t be a block to hiring. 
I’m 4 months into a new role at a new company, and I’m already attempting to move to a different role within the same company. It wasn’t a fit for me and my goals, so I’m moving on so my current team can get someone in who is excited and eager to do this job. And I can go to a different role that makes me excited and fits my skills and career goals better. Win win.

Anonymous · Answer

I’m a job hopper averaging about 2 years in every position. Some were contracts and unavoidable. I’ve been told by many that this is not only pretty normal now but also desirable (to a point) because you bring a lot of different perspectives. I will say, I didn’t get one job because of it —they were very old school in everyone had been there for 10 or more years. It’s just not how careers function anymore,, Unfortunately. So I’d say, don’t worry about it really. I’ve seen resumes with nothing but 6 month stints and that’s a red flag but Yet those people keep getting jobs too. I think most people with some tenure have run into a job they knew was a bad fit and is easy to explain. I had one HR person tell me when this happened to me that I was due for one.

Annetta Moses · Answer

If the role is not a good fit, you should look for a new opportunity. You should examine why the role was not a good fit. When you interviewed, was the job positioned as X, yet your responsibilities were Y?

I know of people who accepted offers at companies and resigned from the new company after four weeks because the job was not as promised.

If this new role was a transfer within the company, see if you can return to your old role or a similar one.

Kimberly Buonomo · Answer

As a Talent Acquisition partner currently in all transparency it is something that I look at but in no way does it disqualify a candidate from moving forward to the next stages of the process. I am looking for someone who is qualified for the job and questions regarding job tenure can be asked during the interview.

Jess Stetson · Answer

I'm considered a job hopper, but haven't had it ever be a real problem. I always have concrete examples for why, and definitely always have a conversation with your current job about if it's not a good fit, why, if they can do anything. Then you have your bases covered.

sandmanstone · Answer

If you follow statistics on performance (Gallup for example) you find that exceptional results come only when there is a good match of personal talents to role.  Even if you try to make this current job work, you likely won't be a top performer.  
DO start looking for a new role, and have a good story ready for lack of fit.  You will be asked.  Maybe the answer is 'I was recruited to do data architecture, and the project was delayed so now I am doing interface development and it's not my strength.  I am looking for a role that will leverage my data architecture expertise.'.  
The explanation / story you tell about why you are looking should reinforce what you are great at.  2 birds, one story. :)
Moving jobs and explaining the resume blip is better than only being OK at your job.  
Pulling for you!  Let us know how the search goes.

Sandra Diaz · Answer

Agree with Erin. It doesn't hurt to network and say you're exploring new career opportunities since your current role is not the best fit. You can proceed to discuss your favorite pain point to solve for an organization. It takes a while to get a new job, so by the time you're actually ready to move on it will be a year, and 'job hopping' will not be an issue.

Changing jobs after a few months

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