Dear Cindy – Not a Job-Hopper!

I'm a sonographer, and have changed jobs three times in the past five years in order to live in different places and experience new things. I'm having a bit of trouble finding work right now, and I'm afraid that potential employers think I'm a "job-hopper." What can I do to convince employers that I'm ready to settle down?

Sincerely,

Ready to Settle

Well, technically you were a job-hopper, but three times in five years isn't that bad, because it's a relatively short period and (I'm guessing) you probably held at least one of these jobs for more than a year. It's also somewhat surprising that since registered sonographers are in such high demand that you're having trouble finding work. Is it possible that one of your former employers is giving you a bad reference? I'd check this out first.

You may also want to change your résumé to be a combination or functional style rather than chronological style, which will foreground your hard skills and soft skills.

Otherwise, a few of the points we made to a travel nurse who wanted to settle down and was having difficulty convincing employers that she wanted to do so will also pertain to you. You'll have to address the following concerns:

If you are serious about settling down, your cover letter will be key in getting your résumé past the initial pre-screen. In the cover letter, emphasize your readiness to settle down into a permanent position, and be prepared to address the issue again in an interview.

Good luck!