Like Most People, Your Career History Probably Isn't 'Perfect'.

And sometimes you can't win.

Stay with the same company more than 3 years and you're institutionalised. Move companies every 18 months to 3 years and you're a job hopper. And heaven forbid you make a mistake, and join a company for which you aren't a fit, that has unforseen financial difficulties, or you find you are working for a manager who is an idiot (or worse).

Even after Covid and new working patterns turned the world of work upside down this attitude persists. We as recruiters, and the clients we work for are sometimes far too judgemental. As candidates what can you do to minimise this as far as your CV is concerned?

If you have been 'too long' at one company, try to show progression by showing achievements and projects that show development, even if your job title hasn't changed.

If your job title has changed, make sure that it is obvious that this is through progression through the same organisation by having a header and a couple of lines with the total time you have spent there, with individual roles below this.

If you have had short term positions, then make sure that it is clear if these roles were contract or temporary positions (I'd show this next to your dates of employment).

If you were made redundant or headhunted it may also make sense to include this information, particularly if you were at your previous company for a relatively short time.

Attitudes may eventually change, but until then, it's worth thinking about the way your work history may be interpreted in a snap judgement and seeing how you might be able to present this information differently.

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