Christopher Harris, a business expert at Calculating.com, says hiring teams are paying more attention to patterns, not just titles or speed of movement. 

In the recent dynamic labour market, he says, certain career choices now point to fear rather than direction.

Speaking with recruiters while reviewing Harris’ comments, the perspectives aligned. Just movement can’t impress them anymore. What is important is whether a person appears settled, clear, and deliberate.

Below are six career moves Harris says now raise doubts instead of confidence. The reality is already seen in hiring sessions.

Six career moves recruiters now question

1. Changing jobs every few months
   Short stints used to pass as ambition. Now they usually trigger concerns about what will happen if they take you in. Recruiters want evidence of follow-through, not constant exits.

Harris says, “When I see someone with four jobs in two years, I don’t think ‘ambitious’, I think ‘what’s going wrong?’”

2. Jumping across unrelated roles without explanation

Switching careers is not the issue. Silence is. When a CV jumps from one field to another with no clear link, recruiters assume guesswork, not planning.

“Career pivots work when you can articulate the thread that connects them,” Harris explained.

3. Stacking certificates with no proof of use
   Courses and credentials are still important, but only when applied. Multiple certifications earned in quick succession, with no real-world use, now suggest insecurity.

“That comes across as someone trying to make themselves feel more secure by ticking boxes.”

4. Chasing titles instead of responsibility
   A bigger title without broader work no longer grabs attention. Recruiters look at scope, not labels. Repeated senior titles with shrinking duties raise doubts.

In Harris’s words: “If you’ve been a ‘Senior Manager’ at three different companies in 18 months but the scope kept shrinking, that’s ego management, not progression.”

5. Always signalling availability
   Being permanently “open to work” can work against candidates. Recruiters read it as a lack of focus or selectivity.

Harris says that constant availability can actually work against you.

6. Leaving roles badly and making it public
   Public criticism of former employers or dramatic exits is now seen as poor judgment. Recruiters assume the behaviour will repeat.

“All it really shows is poor emotional regulation and an inability to navigate difficult situations professionally.”

What recruiters are actually looking for

Harris says the key test is coherence. Can a candidate explain their choices without sounding defensive or rushed?

He adds: “What recruiters and hiring managers are looking for in 2026 isn’t constant motion. It’s coherence.”

The advice is to slow down, make fewer moves, and be clear about why you made them.

“Movement without direction just looks like panic.”

A career in STEM is an opportunity to create a prosperous future, solve some of the world’s most challenging problems and embark on an intellectually fulfilling career that offers many paths to growth and development, says Monica Luwes, Manager of the Graduate Centre at Sasol Corporate Bursary Services.

Companies with career opportunities in STEM fields can help attract more women to the field by providing mentorship and training opportunities as well as promoting STEM careers to girls and women.

Says Luwes: “We have seen steady growth in the numbers of women considering a career in STEM over the past few years, with many of the structural barriers to them studying STEM-related degrees falling away. However, we could do even more to attract women to STEM careers, given that they account for only 32% of South Africa’s STEM graduates, according to UNESCO.”

One challenge that South Africa still faces is that many girls drop out of secondary education. A lower proportion of those who complete high school earn pass grades in Mathematics and Science when compared to boys. According to the World Bank, 50.3% of girls achieved 30% or higher in Mathematics in the National Senior Certificate Examination versus 58.6% of boys.

Another challenge lies in a lack of role models for learners from underrepresented or formerly marginalised communities, including women.

Employers in the sector should lead the way in addressing unconscious biases and stereotyping that favour men in STEM careers, says Luwes.

They also need to nurture inclusivity to ensure that women have the chance to make an impact and remain in the field of study and their jobs.

Luwes says that attracting more women into STEM is vital in creating a more inclusive and equal society, especially in a world where automation is putting many traditional jobs at risk.

Furthermore, tapping into the potential of young women is key to stimulating economic growth.

Nurturing diversity also helps to spark innovation by bringing different perspectives to the table when solving problems and creating opportunities.

STEM skills rank highly on the Department of Home Affairs’ Critical Skills list, gazetted in February 2022, indicating that there is not enough supply of these skills in the market to address demand. Bringing more young women into STEM-related studies and careers is essential in addressing this challenge.

She adds: “With a severe shortfall of STEM skills in South Africa, ambitious young learners have the opportunity to enter a field that promises a long and fruitful career. STEM-related fields offer young women enormous opportunities for personal growth and advancement. They also offer stimulation and the chance to play a part in solving challenges like climate change and energy security.”

Sasol, regarded as the employer of choice in the Chemical & Pharmaceuticals sector in SAGEA’s employer awards, is inviting high-performing Mathematics and Science learners currently in Grade 12 to apply for all-inclusive bursaries to study Engineering and Science degrees at approved public universities and Universities of Technology.

To apply:

·        Register online here.

·        Answer a few questions regarding your field and level of study.

·        Log in and fill in an online application.

·        Alternatively, you can find more information on how to apply here.

Applications close 27 May 2022.