My full time record is 7 months (including notice period) I stayed at my next job 3 years which was at least 6 months too long probably more like 12 though. I've been in my current role 5 months and have been looking for something new since day 3, they lied in the interview but hey ho at least they pay well. I say stay as long as your happy and progressing your skills/career and enjoying it, get out if you stop enjoying it for more than a few weeks or things stagnate. Most emplyers will be happy to get rid of you if it suits them so never be afraid to do likewise.
Suitable length of time in a job
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Soldato
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Oh I'll be keeping an eye on the market, thats for sure. But I do not plan on moving away from this for the next 2-3 years.
I have had 5 jobs in the last 6 years... and my CV is now a mess. I intend to stay where I am for at least the next 2 years. I have very good reasons for leaving 3 of my jobs but you have to get in front of someone to explain them.
I am now in a good stable small company, the sales model is excellent and I can see myself doing well here. I took a £4k drop in salary to take the job though as I have completely changed sector.
I am now in a good stable small company, the sales model is excellent and I can see myself doing well here. I took a £4k drop in salary to take the job though as I have completely changed sector.
I just changed jobs after 8+ years - although I did a fair bit of moving around internally before running out of new things to get stuck into.
Before that, my longest permanent employment stint was 18 months, and the shortest was 6 months.
I don't think it's a real problem, although 7 or 8 years of 1 year employment would probably not be viewed favorably...
Before that, my longest permanent employment stint was 18 months, and the shortest was 6 months.
I don't think it's a real problem, although 7 or 8 years of 1 year employment would probably not be viewed favorably...
I was at my old place for over 7 years and my current job just over a year. I've found that when I was trying to get another job before this current one, employers didn't look to favorably that I been with the same company for over 7 years. Even thou I've had serveal positions during that time and it was my first real job, they question why I was wanting to leave after committing myself for so long.
I was planning to start looking for another job once I've reached two years in my current job but with the job market as it is, I may try to sit out this recession or wait until they tell me I'm going to be made redundant.
To answer your question, imho it all depends on your age/experince. I know now I should have left my previous place a lot sooner than I did, but milk whatever experinces and eduction/training your current place is prepared to give you then move on to a higher position in the company or to another company, theres no such thing as loyalty in the work place now.
I was planning to start looking for another job once I've reached two years in my current job but with the job market as it is, I may try to sit out this recession or wait until they tell me I'm going to be made redundant.
To answer your question, imho it all depends on your age/experince. I know now I should have left my previous place a lot sooner than I did, but milk whatever experinces and eduction/training your current place is prepared to give you then move on to a higher position in the company or to another company, theres no such thing as loyalty in the work place now.
Caporegime
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Friend of a friend been at her job since she left school (she's now late 30's, started at the bottom and now just 1 position under the owner. The company is a rather renowed sauce making company based in the midlands.
There is no "too long or too short" as long as there are room to grow, if it is a dead end job then obviously 28 years is far too long.
I'm in a similar situation, my experience so far is 2 years of 'gap year' work between a-levels and uni (totally irrelevant to programming), 1 years placement and my current job which I've been in since the end of june,
It's not a bad job, but they led me to believe I'd be doing more low level stuff in the interview (doing C# mostly, not exactly low level), the pay isn't amazing, no benefits at all and no real prospects for either formal training or promotion so I'm looking to finish my current project and then start looking for a new position.
imo It's not too bad as long as it's not a repeated 6-months then switch jobs on your CV, and obviously if they do interview you you may well be asked about it so best to have a good answer beforehand
It's not a bad job, but they led me to believe I'd be doing more low level stuff in the interview (doing C# mostly, not exactly low level), the pay isn't amazing, no benefits at all and no real prospects for either formal training or promotion so I'm looking to finish my current project and then start looking for a new position.
imo It's not too bad as long as it's not a repeated 6-months then switch jobs on your CV, and obviously if they do interview you you may well be asked about it so best to have a good answer beforehand
You should always be looking for something better, although if your a permanent member of staff (not a contractor) then you should try to stay at as many employers as possible for 1 year +
It simply shows a level of loyalty, moving on constantly after 6-10 months in a post will hurt your C.V. after a few years.
It simply shows a level of loyalty, moving on constantly after 6-10 months in a post will hurt your C.V. after a few years.
Man of Honour
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I was in my last job for 27 years and only left because I got made redundant 
Even though I've got a fantastic job there is a large part of me that would love to go back and be with all the family I lost.
Even though I've got a fantastic job there is a large part of me that would love to go back and be with all the family I lost.
Associate
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2 years 2 long 
Soldato
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Apply to new places. If the job you are in is dead end then move on.
Rolls Royce said they would take me for a placement year, but they said they would not want me after uni as I am on a Beng not an Meng. I did not even bother to apply, why work somewhere when I KNOW I cannot make somthing good of it?
Rolls Royce said they would take me for a placement year, but they said they would not want me after uni as I am on a Beng not an Meng. I did not even bother to apply, why work somewhere when I KNOW I cannot make somthing good of it?
The wanting a new job feeling comes and goes for me, ive worked at my place for 2 years now (albeit crappy retail) and ive been tempted to leave many a time, but I keep on forgetting I want to move and just getting on with it.
Soldato
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If you are motivated to do better/progress then I agree, although this doesnt have to mean leaving the company and working for a new one.
some people get to a point where the demands/hassle of progression are greater than they are willing to tolerate so stay at the same level
Soldato
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Cool, but what IF you see your dream job? The job you always wanted? a job that's too good to be true? A job with 2x, hell 4x your current salary? Would you move or would you say to yourself "Nah, I promised myself I'd stay here for 2-3 years" ?
Do you see what I mean?
Soldato
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Oh yea I see, but there will always be more jobs to apply for, and more positions to take (sounds rude
) and eventually like previously stated your cv will look like a mess and you may strugle finding work. And lets me honest, unless you are head-hunted for a specific role or switch to high-paying contracting work you're not going to double your pay 
Soldato
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Oh yea I see, but there will always be more jobs to apply for, and more positions to take (sounds rude
Never say never. And the golden rule is look after number 1. If you can do better for yourself somewhere else, doing something different then go for it. Loyalty to employers is overrated.
I haven't read through the whole thread but spotted the OP is working in 1st line. These roles generate a huge turnover of staff so I would have no qualms about moving on after 6-12 months.
Questions may be asked of him during future interviews, but these can easily be answered along the lines of, 'I felt I was ready for some progression which the role could not offer me'.
Questions may be asked of him during future interviews, but these can easily be answered along the lines of, 'I felt I was ready for some progression which the role could not offer me'.