Job hopping

[Aunt Slappy]

I swear I am looking for somewhere to land long term. However, I'm now considering changing jobs for the third time in a year.

My biggest question is how to deal with job hopping when it comes up in an interview. I'm sure they don't want to hear about how at both of my last two jobs, extreme changes occurred within two or three months of my start date and were handled/implemented by leadership in ways that made the situations untenable. I'm sure they'll be thinking that the only common denominator is me. I'm sure they'll suspect that I'm rigid and can't handle change.

So how do I answer questions in a way that dispels concern about me personally and doesn't equate to talking badly about your employer, which I know you shouldn't do?

[llg, PhD, RN]

You can't make this situation look good. It will look bad no matter what you do. Your best is to stay with your current job for at least a full year -- preferably longer. You have to be able to show that you can handle a certain amount of upleasantness in your job. If you can't cope with usual "ups and downs" of a job, then you will be an unattractive candidate. Period. Saying that it was "all somebody else's fault" 3 times in one year is going to give a bad impression and people will be skeptical no matter how you say it. Stay with your current job unless forced to leave.