Jumpy track record costs corporate climbers

According to Madge Gibson, partner at Jack Hammer Executive Headhunters, potential employers are often wary about investing in candidates with jumpy track records. "In South Africa we are still dealing with quite a conservative corporate world and this means that the higher one climbs up the corporate ladder, the more important it is to show tenure of over 3-4 years," she says.

"Of course a few false starts at the beginning of one's career are generally expected, but if a candidate shows an ongoing chop-change trend in their tenure, this is likely to set off alarm bells for both headhunters and, more importantly, potential employers.

Companies question jumpy track records

"Nowadays it's very common to see CVs and employment histories that display tremendous mobility. Candidates typically work at a larger number of companies where they spend shorter periods of time before moving onto the next position in the next organization. It is however a fallacy that modern employers turn a blind eye to job hopping - companies will seriously question jumpy track records and often opt for a less qualified candidate who shows staying power with a steady track record.

Gibson says one way around a jumpy CV is to make sure the resume and references prove that an exceedingly huge contribution was made in each position. "If performance is outstanding throughout various career moves, this can detract from short durations."