What should be the best answer to "Why you are not stable in your career"?

It is completely true that some recruiters see frequent job shifts as a complete suicide. They feel that this exposes your lack of commitment and is a question about your loyalty.

This has been my professional journey in brief:

1. First Job – 5 months.
2. Second Job – 11 months. (
Yeah, did not even wait to complete a year! I don’t regret my decision :) ).
3. Third Job – 6 Months.
4. Current Job :D – Successfully completed 3.5 months ( 
and still counting…. :) )

I hope that my situation not only adds enough credibility to my subsequent answer, but also instills you with a new found confidence. You are not alone my friend! Don’t be ashamed of your situation, be confident. No matter what has happened in the past, it has only transformed you for the better. Your experiences (however short!) have helped you grow.


It is completely true that some recruiters see frequent job shifts as a complete suicide. They feel that this exposes your lack of commitment and is a question about your loyalty.

Although what they feel cannot be completely negated, it is a behavior exhibited by employers in the ‘90s. This millennial generation is much more dynamic, seeking and adventurous when it comes to jumping jobs.


They will question you, probe further, try and dig deeper – just to know if you are fit and mentally aligned to the short term and long term goals of their company. Whether you are ready to commit or you will just plunder away their resources (only for a short time) and leave in six months?

Your job in the interview is to just silence all their doubts by - 
walking them through your growth and experience while you shifted jobs, provide honest and acceptable reasons for such short stints and most importantly, exhibit and express a desire to commit!


Some key points you can cover:

1. Highlight your transferable skills.

“Job hopping into new industries or new positions can simply reflect [a] desire to gain transferable skills in order to thrive in our flux marketplace,”
Ryan Jenkins - millennial keynote speaker and author.

Employers like to see evidence of professional growth on a candidate's resume. As much as possible, highlight your career progression, which will show a larger purpose to job changes.

2. Be honest about your reasons for job hopping.

Explain why you made each move and how each one helped you in your career
Important of not getting defensive when you explain yourself — a potential employer won't want to hear a laundry list of excuses!

3. Show that you want to commit to this employer.

Prospective employers will be looking for reassurance that you won't leave them in six months, so be prepared to explain what's different now. Highlight why you want to work for the employer and your willingness to commit.


Since I’ve shared some real personal stuff in the beginning of the answer, following is an excerpt from one of my recent interview:

Interviewer: You seem to possess reasonable know-how about construction chemicals, however, you have not stayed in any particular company for a longer time! Can you explain why you have been job hopping? (
Yeah, that’s how he described me, a job hopper!)

Myself: Sir, as you have well established my knowledge about the industry and construction chemicals, this has not come just by working for a particular company. I have been blessed to work with all these beautiful organizations, although for a short time, they have added to my experience and have taught me a thing or two!

Also, I admit to have been impulsive and hungry for knowledge. I’m sure your perceptive eye would’ve noticed that I have only been “job hopping” in my industry and areas of interest. This has helped me to get hands on experience with various modalities and products.

I agree that stability is absent, and that is why I am here! I know that I can cement myself here for a longer time and hence would like to fill the only void that my resume possesses.

I also assure that I shall not leave after six months, because you have opened my eyes Sir! If I leave, the HR of the next company will ask me a similar question and it won’t be as very comfortable!

Result:The overall interview was good; I cannot just credit this answer for my selection. Since I was giving multiple interviews around that time, I had landed myself an awesome offer and ultimately had to reject this offer.