Executives who made poor career decisions can get back on track

Can previously successful executives who have damaged their resumes by job-hopping get their careers back on track? Yes, if they recognize the flawed pattern of their decisionmaking and adjust accordingly.

Most entrepreneurs do not hit the ball out the park the first time.

Many who leave established firms for startups succeed after several attempts. But some never achieve the same level of success they did in their corporate careers.

What is the "resume repair" strategy for a previously successful executive who "swung for the fences," say, three times in four years, taking a series of positions that ended without significant accomplishment?

The solution, in baseball terms, is simple: If you are in a slump, stop trying to hit home runs. Shorten your swing, and focus on making contact and putting the ball in play.

Here are my four principles of executive resume repair. They are aimed at executives who consider joining existing firms rather than at the entrepreneurs who create them.

Identify the pattern. In most cases, there is an underlying pattern to a series of unsuccessful job moves — if you assess it ruthlessly. Have you been joining firms that are consistently undercapitalized? Are you attracted to esoteric technologies without defined markets? Do you ignore the signs of a dysfunctional corporate culture until it's too late? In many cases, the risks were known to you but rationalized away. ["This time will be different."]

Halt the pattern. Confront the decisions you have made and accept them. As the old saying goes: "If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging."

Rebuild your foundation. Identify quality opportunities that will give you the best chance to re-establish your previous track record of success and stability. Quality in this context does not necessarily mean prestigious.

Seek shelter from the storm. The goal is to select an opportunity with the highest likelihood of three years of successful performance. Focus on hitting good pitches and getting on base, and the home runs will take care of themselves.

Don't compromise on stability, ethics or scope of responsibility (compromising on title and compensation is sometimes appropriate, if the other factors are met).

Isaac Cheifetz, a Twin Cities executive recruiter, can be reached through catalytic1.com.