AmyBrown
Hi Jon,
I have job hopped quite a bit for personal and professional reasons. One was for relocation (personal decision) as well as a move into a boutique firm and another was an industry change.
First job - 2.2 years
Second job - 1.2 years
Third job -1 year
Current job - 1 year+ (will be 2 year at matriculation)
Are these considered short stints and a cause for concern? Should I explain this in the optional essay?
This is not something you necessarily have to "Explain" in an optional essay. In fact, I would not recommend you 'explaining' anything. But rather, it is something that you should "Strategize" in your presentation of your career goals. When you start "Explaining" it immediately gives the feeling of something being wrong.... whereas if you take it as a fact, and you try to build a narrative around the actual facts of your life around it, you have a far better chance of making a cohesive story that will promote your application. So it will all depend on the specifics of your jobs and your goals, but there is always a way to tie it all together.