I dunno. Looks like it's too confrontational towards the end -- last sentence puts them into an awkward stance, and if people had to choose between taking you or someone else, based on *that* response -- guess what??? They would probably choose the other person.

In an age today of "political correctness", I have found that companies want *ANY* reason to lay people off, switch their entire IT operations over to Bangladesh, or hire their niece or nephew from grade school. If *ANYTHING* sounds negative within a given email, letter or fax, then you will be passed up with someone who matches the abovestated qualifications (see previous sentence).

-r

P.S. People usually don't care what I think until it's too late and too expensive. Either you can pay me now, or pay me much later! ;)

At 02:35 PM 2/23/2003 -0600, you wrote:
Here's how I would address that question.

For the past five years I have been trying to find a stable company
where I can settle down and establish myself in a career.  I selected
your company because you have a good reputation and appear to be stable.
Do I need to be concerned about that?

Paul Schmehl ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
Adjunct Information Security Officer
The University of Texas at Dallas
AVIEN Founding Member
http://www.utdallas.edu/~pauls/



-----Original Message-----
From: Aaron Whyte [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Saturday, February 22, 2003 7:30 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Had a lot of jobs - how do I avert that negative aspect


Hi,


I am on the job market again.

I have been in the security space for a while, and have unfortunately,
had a
lot of jobs.  In my early years, I admit it, I was a jumper.  I stayed
at a
company about 1-2 years, and then moved on to bigger and better
opportunities.

As to my last 5 years in the industry, I have had 4 jobs.  Two with
software
companies that both went belly up (not a rarity in the infosec space)
and
the other 2 with consulting companies that also ran out of money.

Now when I go on interviews, they all say, we like your experience but
view
my job hoping as a negative.

I have not found a good way to answer that questions. Any ideas?

I just tell them that yes, early on, I was a jumper.  But in the last 5
years I had some bad luck.  But then again, this is a volatile sector.

Can anyone assist me (and I am sure there are others in the exact same
boat)
in how I can answer the questions of 'why have you had so many jobs?' in
a
positive manner?

Thanx!

Aaron
[EMAIL PROTECTED]


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