What If The Interviewer Asked You About Changing Job Too Often?

"Looking at your resume I can see that you don't stay long with a company ..."

Some interviewers like to bring this up.

If they do, here's what I suggest you do.

First, smile.

Second, ask:

"I can sense that you're concerned with the job change. Would mind telling me more?"

You seek first to understand.

Then you listen to your interviewer's response.

When s/he finished, you come up with a response like this:

"I understand your concern about me leaving the company etc. and tell me, which one you'd rather have:

* Non-performer who is loyal? Someone who says,"Look, Boss. I know I didn't meet plan, but I'll stick around with you until the end."

OR

* Performer who leave? Someone who says,"Boss. I've delivered what I supposed to. And I've got this nice offer from another company which I can't ignore. As much as I like to stay, I'm thinking of going for this one."

Somehow, the question about changing jobs and linking them to loyalty just annoys me.

Clearly, the interviewer is not aware of what's going on around the pharma industry.

When Syntec was acquired by Roche, did they think about loyalty when they took the VSS?

Did ex-Syntex people said:

"You can't cut us out. We've been loyal to this company for the past three decades!"

And do you think if they did say that, the Roche people care?

Then I saw it happen again to Pharmacia reps.

Did Pfizer keep Pharmacia reps who are loyal?

Then the same thing happens to Schering-Plough reps.

Did loyalty carry higher weight then?

What about Wyeth reps:

Did the most loyal ones stick around smiling?

I thought it almost happen to Astra Zeneca in recent years, but it did not...

... Yet.

Who can tell if it's really not going to happen, right?

The question is not whether it happens or not but what will you do when it does happen?

Would you stick around to flash your loyalty card?

Would you think that the new Boss care?

Then why are you asking about changing jobs like it is a sin?

Just because it doesn't happen to you yet does not mean it would not happen, ever.

PS. Go here if you want to learn more about interview questions they asked and interview answers you can give.