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Look Beyond the CV

 

One of the most rigid hiring criteria I’ve seen over and over again? "No job hoppers"

 

But here’s the truth: I’ve lost count of how many people I’ve met who had a period of short-term jobs for a reason.

It wasn’t instability. It was a turning point.

 

They were navigating workplaces that didn’t support them - and still trying to show up whole.

 

Here are just a few examples:

1. Start-up collapse. They took a risk on a growing company that didn’t survive. That’s not instability. That’s entrepreneurship - and faith.

2. Cultural misalignment. They joined companies that looked good on paper - but felt completely off once inside. Rather than stay and shrink, they chose to move.

3. Mental health preservation. They left toxic dynamics or unstable teams before it broke them. Not impulsive - just honest.

4. Learning over linear growth. They explored new industries or roles to broaden their experience. Some roles didn’t stick - but the knowledge did.

5. Broken promises. They were sold a role with growth, bonuses, or team culture that never materialized. They didn’t walk out - they walked away from a reality that didn’t match what was sold.

 

Do some people switch roles just for the salary jump? Yes. And often it leaves them wide but not deep.

 

But many others are navigating an outdated system where the rules don’t serve them anymore. They’re not the problem - the assumptions are.

 

So instead of jumping to conclusions, take a moment for context.

 

If you don’t have time to understand the story behind the moves - fair. But let’s not assume it’s always about loyalty or stability

 

Some of the strongest candidates we’ve worked with had one thing in common: they were misjudged on paper - and deeply aligned in person.

 

Reflection: Are you writing off people simply because there wasn’t time to get curious? Or are you staying in a role that stopped making sense - just to avoid being misjudged yourself?

 

It's time we tell the truth about the hiring world. No one owes you the full story. But it helps when you're willing to ask for it.

 

 

✍🏼 Written by Abigail Richard

Founder of arickard | Coach & Consultant | Author of Self-Love Blueprint & Unbreakable. Supporting leaders and changemakers to regulate their nervous system, gain clarity, and find calm - so they can lead with presence, purpose, and emotional depth.

 

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