Q: Should I take a contract job that lasts for four years and then they renew the bid?

A: Considering that most jobs have even less security than that, why not? It really depends on the job and whether it’s the right fit for you. Focus on that, not how long the job is “guaranteed” to last.

Q: I have had several jobs on a contractual basis in the past six months to a year. How can I show potential employers that I am not “jumping around”?

A: First, make peace with the fact that you are indeed “jumping around.” Show them that it’s not necessarily a bad thing. It shows you’re flexible, for one thing. If they hire you, they can be confident that you will hit the ground running. That’s no small thing these days, as many employers are working to keep their staffs as lean as possible.

You should make it clear on your resume that these were contract gigs. Perhaps in the bullets under the individual jobs? For example, say that you worked on a $4.5-million contract for the Defense Department, or whatever metric is appropriate.

If they were all in succession — and similar work — you could put them under one heading, perhaps describing yourself as a “defense consultant” (or whatever title is appropriate for the work you have been doing).

Adapted from Career Tracks Live, Washington Post reporter Mary Ellen Slayter’s online discussion.