What is considered "job hopping"

TriciaJ, RN · Mar 9, 2019

There's no hard and fast rule. Just put yourself in the place of an employer. What would you look for on a resume and what would be a red flag?

I would look at the overall picture. If I saw a long stable job history, I wouldn't be alarmed at one short-term job. If I saw a series of short-term jobs, I'd be more concerned. Your three-year tenure may offset the shorter term, but your overall employment history isn't that many years yet, so it's hard to say.

It will of course depend on who else is applying for the same job and what they have to offer.

EDNURSE20, BSN · Mar 9, 2019

IMO you should stay in a job for at least a year. Unless there’s a very good reason why you left earlier

But then again if you change your job every year that doesn’t look good either.

Some one with five years experience whose had 2 jobs isn’t job hopping. Someone whose had 4,5,6 plus is.

Sour Lemon · Mar 9, 2019

I think it varies quite a bit based on where you're hopping to and from.
If you've had three similar med/surg jobs, with similar pay, in close proximity, within two years, that might look bad ...like you can't get along with people or you're a chronic complainer.
If you hop from mother and baby in one city to NICU in another and your pay rate is $10 higher, that's more understandable.

klone, MSN, RN · Mar 10, 2019

I consider consistently moving on after less than 2 years at a position to be "job hopping." Once is an outlier, though, and I wouldn't hold it against someone.

KalipsoRed21, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2019

As a nurse who has regularly only been at a company for 2 years or less my entire 10 years in the profession; I haven’t found it to be an issue. There aren’t enough staff at most facilities for them to be all that picky ; if you have any experience at all they will likely work with you.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 12, 2019

OP: I agree with the above that state that it will depend if an employer sees a pattern. Patterns of employment is telling of behavior. Your other employment reads 3 years and that is good. Less than 2 years at a particular place is looked at closely, but it is not a deal breaker. The red flag for employers in my experience is a pattern of taking jobs and working in a few (2-3+) within 1-2 years without a credible explanation. In addition, new graduate nurses (0-6 months in some places or 0-1 year in others) and newish nurses (less than 2 years of consistent work hours to develop nursing work experience) are more at risk to receive a rejection if he/she leaves a job too soon.

Thus, check your job market. If it is good to experienced nurses, then you are safe to leave when you get another job rather than later. We experienced nurses are allowed to make a mistake in accepting the wrong position once in a while and not have it count against us.

However, you do not want to make this mistake again too soon. So, the next time you get an interview, be sure to ask to shadow at least 1/2 a shift. It is important for you to get a sense of what it is like to work there before you accept the position. Also, you will need to meet all the key people in leadership that will affect your experience with the department and you will need to talk to other RNs and PCTs.

How long have they worked there? What keeps them working there? Or are they on their way out the door? ? Good Luck!

allnurses Guide · Mar 12, 2019

All my nursing jobs have been less than 2 years. It is the only way to get a decent raise. I have had no trouble finding employment. One employer did tell me I looked like a job hopper. I went to work for their main competitor.

It just comes down to whoever reviews the resume and how hard the position is to fill I guess. I finally found a position I am super happy in at a salary rate I feel is very fair. I plan to stay at this job more than 10 years, so in the end it all worked out for me as it should.