How Can I Explain Frequent Job Changes in Interviews Without Hurting My Chances?

I am Hariharan and have around 5 years and 5 months of experience in the HR field. So far, I have worked with five companies. Now, I have quit my job from my last company and am looking for a new job. I had worked for just five months with my last employer. The problem is that wherever I attend interviews, everybody is asking, "Why do you keep changing companies?"

I don't know what to tell the interviewer, but honestly, I did not change companies just for the sake of increasing my salary. The reason is that all the companies I worked for were very small, and they were not willing to spend money on employee welfare. Additionally, they did not have good HR policies and rules in place. There was limited scope to learn and develop myself in the field of HR in all those companies. Therefore, I had to quit and join another company that faced the same conditions. Please advise me on how to answer this question in future interviews.

Thank you,

Regards,
Hariharan
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]

You won't like this, but I guess it has to be said. Being an HR professional yourself, you ought to have expected this scenario at some point in time. Coming to the reasons you mentioned for leaving every earlier company, I'm not sure they really gel.

For example, you mentioned, "all the companies where I worked are very small companies, and they are not ready to spend money on employee welfare. Also, there were no good HR policies and rules in place."

Isn't it Your Job to Devise HR Policies?

Isn't it your job to devise or find ways to convince the management to place good HR policies in place and formulate them too? Maybe that was the reason why these companies hired you in the first place?

Your statement, "no more scope to learn and develop myself in the field of HR in all those companies," does seem very odd—given the fact that this was the opportunity many HR professionals aspire for and eagerly look for—when there's so much that can be done, isn't this an opportunity to learn?

Frankly, I think you are confused between 'studying' and 'learning'—if everything is in place, what is it that you—or anyone for that matter—can learn, except study what's already in place? Hope you notice the difference?

Please, for heaven's and your sake, come out of the student mold as soon as possible.

Repeated Mistakes in Career Choices

There's another aspect that seems to come out of what you mentioned, "I had to quit and joined another company which also has the same condition." Getting our judgment calls wrong once or twice is understandable, but to get it repeatedly wrong five times in a career of five years does indicate:

1. That you definitely need to focus on how to evaluate opportunities, situations, and people—especially being in HR, this would be more important than in other areas or functions.

2. You failed to learn from the first one or two mistakes you made. Everyone makes mistakes (like the saying goes: to err is human), but the much larger mistake is when we fail to learn from them.

Addressing Your Query

Coming to your actual query, it indeed is a tough call for you—with your credibility taking a beating. The only way for you, as far as I can see, is this: First, make sure you do the background checks about the company even before you attend any interview. Next, be sure to indicate the truth—on the reasons why you changed five jobs in five years and assure them that you plan to stick this time around. If needed, you are prepared to give it in writing—if that's what can convince them.

I suggest waiting for other members to respond.

All the best.

Regards,
TS

Agreeing with what TS has mentioned, I hope you understand what needs to be done. Analyze your interests with respect to the industry, sector, and type of company you would like to work with. Probably your decisions have always been wrong because there seems to have been a mismatch between what you want and what you opted for. Frankly, it appears that money was the only driving factor—even if you deny it 

Why Did You Leave Your Current Organization?

Firstly, could you also explain why you left your current organization before opting for another? It is quite strange—sitting idle is acceptable, but working, earning a livelihood, facing challenges in the current environment, and adjusting to the company culture seem to be unacceptable to you. Remember, it is all about "survival of the fittest."

Criticizing Previous Employers

However, the moment you criticize your existing or previous employers (all five companies) in front of a potential new employer, your chances of being hired are further reduced. Your only option is to convince the new employer of what you can offer with the skills you have acquired, how long you intend to stay—in fact, you should be ready to do anything to ensure stability—and how their company can benefit from your contribution.

Finding Answers Within

If you assume that HR executives and managers will provide you with answers to serve to another HR professional, you are mistaken. You seem to lack focus. Look within yourself for the answers, and you will excel.

Kind regards,

I can understand from your post that you still do not know what you want and what you are expecting from this corporate world. As said by TS and Hiral Mehta, you have to search for answers within yourself because you are in utter confusion about what you want.

Even I had undergone such a phase and now know what I need. It takes just a few minutes of silence and concentration to speak to yourself and listen to your soul.

Regards,
Bharghavi

Hi, I am Rahul, a MarComm Professional. I too have faced the same problem. During the tenure of 5 years of my career, I have changed 4 companies. So when I went to attend my last interview, I was asked the reason behind frequently changing companies. I would like to share how I have addressed their queries. Also, I would like to have a few suggestions to improve the ability to choose the right employer.

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Since the start of my career, I have been very concerned and choosy about my specialization, job profile, scope of work, and especially how I am going to add value to the company. My first company, XYZ Pvt Ltd, was a leading company, and I was appointed as an Executive Marketing Communication. I was there for 11 months, and during that time, I took lots of initiatives. The most notable one was introducing a full-fledged Call Center for Sales and Service, which was the first of its kind in the industry. Initially, my objective behind this was to channelize the communication...

Regards,
Rahul

Seeking Career Guidance: Overcoming Frequent Job Changes

I am facing a similar issue as Hariharan. I appreciate any advice you can provide for my career assistance!

Let me explain my situation. I started my career in 2008 with a reputable Indian recruitment company as a "trainee - finance and admin," thanks to a personal reference. Initially, I was completely inexperienced, but I dedicated myself to learning everything from finance to vendor management. Despite feeling out of place due to my connections, I worked tirelessly, even on weekends, until April 2012. I left due to a mix-up in my profile and overwork, coupled with health issues. My official designation was AM-finance and admin, with a package of around Rs 3 lakhs per annum.

After leaving, I struggled to find a job matching my profile and had to rely on my parents financially. Eventually, I took a sales job at half my previous salary, which I excelled in. However, I soon received an HR role offer from an automobile company, which I accepted. Unfortunately, they planned to relocate me to a remote location, so I resigned. After a period of unemployment, I joined an MNC in the sourcing and compliance department, but health issues forced me to quit.

I continued to face challenges, including incomplete BCA studies, family pressures, and frequent job changes due to health and job dissatisfaction. Despite working in various roles across finance, HR, operations, and more, I have changed jobs 14 times in 8 years. This pattern has left me feeling depressed and uncertain about my future.

Currently, I am pursuing an MBA in Operations and seeking guidance for a stable and fulfilling career path. I hope to find a direction that leverages my diverse experience and allows for long-term growth.

Thank you again.

Regards,
[Username]

When one is eager to develop, they will find ways to do so. If you quit jobs in a short span of 5 months, one after the other, then you are not giving enough time for it to germinate. As TS and a few other colleagues pointed out, why did you not take the 'initiative' to make your career more meaningful? If during an interview you were promised something and were asked to do something else, you should raise it as quickly as possible and find ways to enrich yourself.

I am not sure if it answers your question.

You are in HR yourself, tell me what you would do if you get a candidate who keeps changing jobs every year. Would you select him/her?

In this scenario, as an HR professional, I would approach this situation by conducting a thorough interview with the candidate to understand the reasons behind their frequent job changes. It's essential to delve into their motivations, career goals, and job expectations to assess if they align with the company's values and requirements.

Additionally, I would review the candidate's work history and achievements during each job change to determine if there is a pattern of growth and development despite the short tenures. This information can provide valuable insights into the candidate's adaptability, skills, and potential contributions to the organization.

Ultimately, the decision to select or reject the candidate would depend on a holistic evaluation of their qualifications, experiences, cultural fit, and future potential within the company. While job-hopping may raise concerns, it is crucial to consider each candidate on a case-by-case basis and make an informed decision based on the overall fit for the role and the organization.