Will a 6 month job look bad with otherwise long term resume?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been in a role for 6 months and am considering restarting my search, but wondering if it will reflect poorly enough to disqualify me from opportunities.

My job length history is:
3 years
3 years
6 years
Currently 6 months

Thoughts?

If you are in the fast-food industry, you're a catch !

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I finished grad school in 2020 and am on job #4. Longest is 1.5 years, a couple under 1 year.

It really hasn’t been brought up.

This isn’t a good look. I recently had open postings (I head a division) and saw so many resumes like yours. All younger people (for reference I’m mid 30s so not a boomer and I don’t consider myself old) seemed to be doing these short stints. From 2020-2022 I give people a pass usually, but if it’s all your roles that is a huge red flag. I was surprise they had been hired by these other companies but by looking at the names I would assume they were desperate/ didn’t have great candidates.

Most seemed like they job hopped to get a better title and more money, but they most likely add anything to their organization in that short period and I’m also assuming didn’t learn much or add to their skill set. OR made me wonder if they moved that much because they weren’t a good fit and were about to be let go. Either way, that is a huge red flag to me unless of course it’s part of the field.

Those with similar resumes didn’t even make it to the HR screen. I know you say it hasn’t been a problem yet but eventually it will be an issue (to anyone who has any sense). Honestly I would stay somewhere for a minimum 3-4 years and try to be promoted in that role.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think a single short stint is a problem on a resume with otherwise long term stays.

But I don’t think your resume has long term stays. If I saw your resume, I would see three short stints and one borderline long term job that I would wonder if it was long enough to vest in you as an employee.

That said, I work in an industry with high entrance requirements and knowledge requirements, and most hires don’t start to bring value until the two year mark. If you’re in a career where you bring any value for a three year stint, my best advice is to find a better skill set - because otherwise you’ll be unemployable by 45.

This is silly. It's entirely industry dependent. Even senior ppl in tech are viewed as getting stale if they stay longer than 4 years.

My relative stayed at the same tech company for decades ended at C-suite and did just fine. Another relative stayed decades not C-suite but own step below. Both are rich, doing fine. If you’re a hard worker that adds value to a company you don’t get stale.

[Anonymous]

It all depends on if they seem to “make sense,” ideally at a glance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I finished grad school in 2020 and am on job #4. Longest is 1.5 years, a couple under 1 year.

It really hasn’t been brought up.

Lol you’re a baby in a baby career. Check back with us in 15 years about how this worked for you.

Anecdotally, this constant jumping was a pretty standard trait for the women I knew who decided to stay at home once they had kids. Finish grad school at age 25, jump to four jobs over six years, have baby at age 32, and lo! It’s time to go back to work, but you have no career capital, you don’t really like working because you haven’t really vested yourself in any positions yet, you aren’t really on a upward path to promotions or career advancement, and you haven’t developed a good skill yet. Meanwhile your spouse, who graduated at the same time as you has put their head down and worked hard, stayed in the same role, developed colleagues and managers who value them, and are starting to get a bit of traction in their overall career trajectory. So when mom is home on Mat leave, she suggests that, honey, I make so little money and have never really found something I love or that values me, so maybe it makes more sense if I stay home. I saw this play out over and over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Meanwhile your spouse, who graduated at the same time as you has put their head down and worked hard, stayed in the same role, developed colleagues and managers who value them, and are starting to get a bit of traction in their overall career trajectory.

Or just put in a lot of face time, goofed off and went drinking with their bosses.

[Anonymous]

OP, I’d assume there was some problem with your current job and wouldn’t necessarily assume you were the problem. I’d ask you about it but expect you to fudge it in your response.

Why are you leaving your current job?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I’d assume there was some problem with your current job and wouldn’t necessarily assume you were the problem. I’d ask you about it but expect you to fudge it in your response.

Why are you leaving your current job?

The product isn't ready yet (I was hired to sell it) so I have yet to get any commission and am losing money every month living off my base pay alone (2 kids in daycare)

[Anonymous]

This is fine. Nothing to worry about.