It’s a very rare occasion that someone starts a job only to be let go a few hours after, but it happens.

Before you read - please excuse my rambling, grammar, abbreviations... I am known to be a freedom blogger who writes about anything and everything which inspires me in that spur moment. Sometimes can be very emotional too LOL...

Having 10+ years’ experience in recruitment, believe me. I have seen countless of resumes with short stints, not 1 or 2 or 3 but many in one resume. As a former recruiter, my job was to identify the right candidate for my client. You see, a good talent doesn't mean the right talent for the company. A long tenure resume doesn't mean the right candidate for the company. But should we judge other people life experiences especially in this volatile economy that has been ongoing for the last 10 years. Ever since the Lehman brothers crashed, I have seen many legit cases and I remember this candidate very well - a senior finance guy who was retrenched thrice BACK 2 BACK when he is a great candidate, with good track record before that 3 unfortunate retrenchment incidents. Do you know how challenging that experience was for him? Do you know how many hiring managers I have to educate, nurture and influence? He is a great communicator, possess great leadership qualities and excellent financial skill sets.

Nobody has intention to join a company and leave within 2 months or 12 months. Nobody is that silly and so free - believe me. It's not an enjoyable experience. In the defence of that candidate, it was not culture fit, nor performance of his, or even his personality. He is one of the most positive and strong person I came across. Legit and impressive reference checks. 2 of his bosses were retrenched too at that period. And the other one - the whole team was removed. Politics....

I also come across many candidates who has tried so hard to get out of contract/ temporary jobs, seeking for stability and permanent job which offers good compensation and benefits. But all they keep getting is contract job. I am not saying that contract job is not good (in London contract is HOT like hotcakes and you get paid really well!) and in today's market, nothing is permanent, but do you know how many interviews they have to attend, how many times do they have to speak to recruiters, HR manager and hiring manager having to repeat why, what, when and why and why. Especially explaining to those who are very fortunate who don't have to/ or not yet have such job search experience, especially to those who do not read resume and those who lack empathy/ or possess poor listening/ interviewing skills. Do you know the amount of mental strength these candidates have?

I have candidates who have been out of job for more than 12 months, have bills to pay and put food on table. I have many candidates who are worried sick of their job security because of the Merger & Acquisitions, "increasing productivity = leaner structure, cost cutting measurements", so many stories. I can even write a book - different candidates' journey.

The point of this article is why do we judge these candidates so quickly. I acknowledged some resumes got me like - huh or wow... But not every company or job is for everyone. Sometimes we make a change thinking it's going to be a good one but it didn't work out.

Sometimes our boss dropped a bomb on us - by choice or force. Sometimes culture fit. So, you see - many different reasons. Same goes to business owners - those failed or struggling entrepreneur/ startups and business owners, do you think it's easy for them? No. It takes lots of guts and passion to be out of their permanent comfortable job to build something from scratch - in today's term: entrepreneur. How many has made it like Mr. Walt Disney, Mark Zuckerberg, Reid Hoffman and Jack Ma?

Success doesn't happen overnight. Most of the time we have to fail few times to be successful. But why are we only impressed with the successful ones and in this case, the long tenure resumes?

I know there aren't many recruiters who think like me (self praise...). But I have my own school of taught probably because I have tasted hardships and I was taught and trained to listen and not jump into conclusions. I like real stuffs, real people, real life! Let's get real.

First, let us be on the same page - define short stints.

In European market - short stint can be even 2 to 3 years! or 5 years. I have worked with hiring manager who rejected an awesome profile who has 5 years in each employment. When asked why - "ohh he has too many short stints." My eyes almost popped out... I revisit the line manager's profile - and I understood why, the hiring manager has been in the company for 20 years! And the previous employment was 8 years. (And there goes my education. In other words - my lecture begins...)

In Asia booming market and a challenging and very competitive one - 2 years is consider good like wow 2 years. Look, when we are hiring in different market - my advice is to never bring your market hiring practice in a new unfamiliar market. Be wise and save some time. Do some research by talking to senior recruiters and hiring managers from that market.

Second, look at the industries you are in. Is it so stable like the so call used to be stable banking sector? No..... Not anymore.

Third, look at the economy - like seriously do some reading and networking! Will you, please?

Try to understand why short stints are extremely common these days. There are thousands of companies who went through Merger & Acquisitions and cost cutting measurements. Everything is relative.

For example: Semiconductor - they are known for constant retrenchment exercises -why? Because of their customers in the consumer electronic industry - why? Because of consumer behavior - why? Because time to do some cutting down on expenses and crazy spending - why? Because of job security and stability - why? Because of their employers - doing so well in profit and still cutting cost to improve further - why, why, why? Because of increasing expectations in sales revenue and profit - why, why, why?

One more example: 7 to 8 years ago, I remember there were not many startups in the market and due to uncertainties in the job market back then, many candidates doesn't want to work for startups. Today, everyone does not mind leaving the big corporations to join the up and rising startups thinking it's going to be different. And startup companies are flooded now - go to India and Indonesia, you will know why I said so.

So many Investors are waiting to pounce on opportunities, invest or buy over startups and make money. Sometimes I wonder how our forefathers did it back then? No VC, No PE, they start their own company with their own savings... There you go boom – in the lights of Mustafa center and Axe Oil company. And I wonder how the future generations going to make it with these demands and expectations. It's crazy out there.

Well, I think I have made my point here. You see, I don't judge short stints neither I am impressed with long tenure. I take time to understand what's their motivation, reasons and challenges, and in some cases I sit down and listen to understand why do they get fired?

Long tenure is not an indication of success and impact. It's what you do in a short time matters. Not everyone is fortunate as another. Circumstances does play a part. I don't believe in all those shit motivations talking that we create our own destiny...

Yeah, we need to be positive and visualize positive things. But there are times where the road of life takes an unexpected turn and you have no choice to follow it to end up in the place you are supposed to be.

Thanks for reading. Ciao, Deema Yanni Ma'at

Former freedom blogger - who don't specialize in any topic. I just love to write and rant!