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In today’s job market, career paths are increasingly diverse, suggests Angela Beatty, the Chief Leadership and HR Officer at Accenture.
“The traditional expectation of a 30-year tenure with one company is fading,” she remarked during an interview with CNBC Make It at the Uplift conference hosted by BetterUp. The reality is that many individuals now navigate various roles and employers over their careers.
However, Beatty highlights a specific concern when reviewing resumes: the presence of numerous short-term positions, particularly those lasting one year or less. Such patterns can raise questions about a candidate’s ability to commit and contribute meaningfully.
Short-Term Positions: A Red Flag?
Beatty acknowledges that short-term employment can occur for various reasons.
“For recent graduates, it’s only natural to have limited experience, often with just a few internships to their name,” she explains. In such cases, a lack of extensive tenure at previous jobs is understandable.
However, over a decade of employment, she notes, a trend of frequent job changes becomes more concerning. It “makes me question their ability to establish relationships, collaborate effectively, and make a lasting impact,” she adds.
This perspective is common among hiring managers; a survey conducted by LinkedIn in August 2024 revealed that 37% of hiring managers might hesitate to consider candidates who frequently switch jobs.
The reasoning is straightforward: if a candidate held a position for just nine months, it leads to doubts about their stability in the new role. As LinkedIn career expert Drew McCaskill told Make It, the mindset often is, “If you left after nine months there, you could leave after a similar time here.”
Providing Context for Short Tenures
For individuals with resumes featuring multiple short-term roles, Beatty recommends including additional context.
If a series of brief jobs occurred within the same company due to promotions or lateral shifts, it’s important to clarify this on the resume. Freelancers or contractors should summarize their short-term projects under an appropriate title for clearer differentiation.
“Make it clear if the role was intended to be short-term,” Beatty advises. This clarity helps reviewers understand the circumstances better.
If a resume lacks this context, candidates can leverage interviews to elaborate on their experiences.
“Interviewers value honesty. If short stints are not a recurring theme, you can explain that a particular role didn’t align with expectations and highlight positive contributions you made,” Beatty suggests.
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