Too many switches in short time. How to justify?
After completing my MBA from a Tier-1 institute, I’ve had a few quick transitions: • 1.5 years as a Consultant • 1.5 years as an APM at a startup • 8 months as a PM at another startup • Currently 5 months into a PM role, but the work isn’t aligned with my goals and I’m finding it increasingly difficult to stay motivated.
Given the frequent switches, I’m concerned about how this might be perceived. I’m trying to decide between two options: 1. Should I stick it out here for a year just to avoid another short stint on my résumé, even if the work is not adding much value? 2. Or, if I do decide to move on, is it advisable to merge my last two PM roles into one continuous experience (around 25 months)? Would that be risky in terms of background verification?
Would really appreciate your guidance on how to approach this in a way that doesn’t hurt my long-term prospects. Thanks in advance!
Talking product sense with Ridhi
9 min AI interview5 questions
No. of switches is a meaningless measurement.
you are from T1., even if you take a year break and go on a road trip and come back, companies will consider this break awesome.
I'll share my scenario in case it helps.
I'm also a Tier 1 MBA with 2.7 years in Retail Sales, 0.6 years in B2B Sales, 2.9 years in E-commerce Category, and 1 year in Ad Sales. I had an okay experience with Retail and B2B Sales, but a great experience with E-commerce—though the work was too hectic, which is why I moved. I'm not happy in my current Ad Sales role and want to transition. I’ve been trying for the past few months, but justifying these switches in interviews has been tricky and leads to too many follow-up questions. In my case, it’s even more complicated because the roles and industries have changed.
Looking back, I shouldn’t have made the last switch. Instead, I should have either stayed in the same company or moved to another E-commerce role in an organization where I could see a long-term future.
Here’s what I’d suggest in your case:
-
No need to merge experiences since all of them are in the product domain. Try to justify that you’ve always liked the domain, but the roles you got weren’t challenging enough. (Assuming you genuinely like the domain—if not, this advice won’t apply.)
-
Whether you stay 5 months or 1 year, it won’t make much difference—you’ll still be asked about the frequent switches. From a career POV, the next role is the most important one. You may need to stay there for 5–7 years and grow into a mid-senior manager role. So, shortlist companies where you can see that long-term path and start applying. Just keep in mind: once you enter, it’s crucial to build your career by staying for the long haul.
Good Luck.