Suitable length of time in a job

tisonlyme

tisonlyme

tisonlyme

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Hi Guys,

I've been in my current job for about 6 months now and although its a nice place to work, I get on with everyone, its nice and relaxed etc. I am starting to get itchy feet already.

How long would you say it's suitable to be in a job before you look for something else? I'm not looking to go anywhere just yet, but want to keep my options open. The job I had before this one lasted about 10 months, but was in an area of work I wasn't at all interested in (only really took the job because I had been let go and needed the work).

So if I stayed in this job, say, a year, would I be in danger of looking like a job hopper? I'm in a medium sized company atm but my goal is to join one of the big boys and start earning some decent money.

Any advice much appreciated - ta! :D
 
Depends on the type of job I think, I'm sure some industries will see a much quicker turn around of staff than others.

Personally I'd say a year MINIMUM and then only once, I'd have serious reservations about employing someone who keeps leaving jobs after a year or so but then it would take almost a year to learn all the systems we have in place. I'm just on 4 years now so hopefully that will stand me in a good position if ever I start looking.
 
If it is a full-time job and you are an adult, then I'd say at the very least one year. Are you sure you are doing the right sort of job? Six months is a very short time to be working there and already be thinking about moving elsewhere.
 
I agree on a year, in my early job history I generally stuck at most jobs for an average of a year or a year and a half and I still get asked at interview why I "skipped jobs" so often. I guess it is different from job to job though it's hard to tell really and in all honesty my early "job skipping" doesn't seem to have prevented me finding employment, I've always been able to get employed fairly easily.
 
simulatorman said:
What job are you doing, what job do you plan to do?
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I'm in IT Support, a 1st line monkey I'm afraid. It doesn't really bother me but where I'm at right now doesn't really have much room for promotion etc. I guess I'd be looking to do a similar role, just in a bigger company
 
tisonlyme said:
I'm in IT Support, a 1st line monkey I'm afraid. It doesn't really bother me but where I'm at right now doesn't really have much room for promotion etc. I guess I'd be looking to do a similar role, just in a bigger company
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Then move on. If there's no room for promotion then it's not really in your interest to stay. Unless it's your first job, where the years experience could help with you next application.
 
dead end jobs i imagine are fine with short turnover times, to some people that might make you seem eager for a proper job, aslong as they can offer you a proper job
 
tisonlyme said:
I'm in IT Support, a 1st line monkey I'm afraid. It doesn't really bother me but where I'm at right now doesn't really have much room for promotion etc. I guess I'd be looking to do a similar role, just in a bigger company
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It's no reflection on you at all. It's just time to move on :).
 
I shouldnt think that one or two short periods of employement are going to be an issue as long as you can explain why you moved, I wouldnt recommend doing it two much however as employing someone is costly interms of time and money and it will put potential employers off if they think "hey his only going to stick at this for six months and then bugger off"...
 
This is the only time I've ever done it really, before the 10 month stint (in a sales role, never again) I worked in the same job for over 3 years and was quite happy there.

Maybe I'll stick it out for the year and see where I am at the time. One of my colleagues said he'd been there 8 years before he got a promotion, so its not so much that it doesn't happen, you'll just have to wait a stupidly long time before it does! :(
 
tisonlyme said:
One of my colleagues said he'd been there 8 years before he got a promotion, so its not so much that it doesn't happen, you'll just have to wait a stupidly long time before it does! :(
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In most cases promotions happen so rarely that they are not worth hanging around for. If you think that the average manager's span of control is 6-8 people, all vieing for the same role, then if you aren't first in line then it's not worth waiting.

If you want to move up then move company. As soon as you've stopped learning it's time to move on.
 
Im in a similar situation, there is nothing wrong with the job really, quite a lot of driving but that part of being a field engineer :p my main issue is with lack of prospects as the company is so small there is no room for anyone else/to go up through the ranks.
I am keeping my eyes peeled but I am staying for a minimum of a year (on 10 months atm) because obviously I want the experience that will allow me to go into another similar/higher role.
 
My problem is that I've got a few temporary roles on my CV, and I've been made redundant twice (well, three times if you count a permanent job that didn't materialise from a temp position), so it looks like I job-hop a lot. Well, I suppose I have done, but not through any choice of my own. :(
 
whitecrook said:
I think you should ALWAYS be looking for another/a better/the next job.
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I agree to a point. Although Im still very new to my career (23 working as IT technical project support) Im intending on staying here for another 2-3 years. This is mainly dependant on the NHS paying for my masters though :p
 
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