CareerMysteries

Having a multitude of past employers for relatively short time periods on your resume is historically a red flag for human resources professionals.  The sad truth is that many employees are getting a bad rap for this, when it is no fault of their own.

Particularly with certain industries, like manufacturing in the northern tier of the country, companies have been closing, relocating, downsizing and changing the nature of their businesses based on necessity.  I personally know several people who have been laid off through no fault of their own, but are suffering in the job market, because old-line managers have problems seeing beyond this issue.

If you have been victimized by multiple layoffs and are having difficulty finding a new job, look very closely at your resume to see if there are ways to minimize the “job hopping” stigma.  Can you focus on years of employment instead of delineating in months?  Can you eliminate mention of some jobs that do not pertain to your field?  Just be sure you reflect the detailed information accurately when you fill out employment applications.