How to interview with lots of short jobs on your resume.

In the last 15 years of working I have, on average, left jobs within 2 years and have not worked in the same industry twice. For some, this is perceived as "millennial entitlement"; leaving jobs due to lack of recognition and low pay. 

In reality, I left a lot of these jobs because I felt I had accomplished as much I could in that position, learned more about my vision, or wasn't being challenged enough. I left all of my positions on great terms with my teammates and supervisors. 

So, in a world where moving around often is seen as a lack of loyalty or poor work ethic, how can we tell our stories to potential employers? 

Here are some ways to authentically re-frame your story to show that you will be a great fit for potential employers:

They think: "This candidate is flaky and doesn't know what they want"

You say: "I love to learn"

• A love of learning is one of the strengths I focus on in interviews, and a changing resume is proof of that. I'm a fast learner, I adapt to new industries well, and enjoy a "trial by fire" training style. 

They think: "They will leave quickly, what's the point in hiring them"

You say: "Here's how I can help"

• A track record of leaving jobs quickly may be a red flag. Having a truthful answer of how you can help their company in the time you'll be there can help them see the fit. This is a great way to have the honest conversation that yes, you may not be a lifer at this new position, but you will leave the job (whenever you leave it) in better shape than you found it. And here's the proof.

They think: "Their experience is all over the place"

You say: "I play the role of..."

• Even with a variety of jobs, i'll bet that with a little reflection, you'll realize that you naturally gravitate towards similar roles. Perhaps you are always the leader. Perhaps (like me) you enjoy calming the chaos. Maybe you're always the one improving client relations. Finding your through-line will help you tell the story of who YOU are, not what your resume says. 

They think: "They have no experience in this industry"

You Say: "Here's what I've learned from other industries..."

Often having someone outside the industry join a team is a huge benefit to productivity. Perhaps you've worked events for Not For Profits and want to make a change to business operations in the financial industry. I'll bet that your time in the NFP world has forced you to work within restraining budgets and enhanced your creative problem solving abilities. Maybe your 3 year stint as a film director has given you insight into working with many people in different jobs, and that's why you would be a perfect team leader for an insurance company. 

Honesty is king, and these are some conversation starters to address potential employers valid concerns in a way that allows you to show you're a great fit while not making promises you might not be able to keep. If you have kept jobs on average for 8 months, it will come off as disingenuous if you say you're excited to spend the next 10 years at the com

Whatever the new industry you're breaking into, do not let a resume full of jobs tell the story that you're unreliable. This is an opportunity for you to show potential employers that, even if they don't have you for long, you'll make a lasting impact.