How long do you stay in a job?

shifty_uk

shifty_uk

shifty_uk

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I've worked with 3 different companies over the last 3 years and currently contemplating a new offer which will take it to 4. I'm getting slightly paranoid about the way it'll look in future. Every role has offered progression and package increases so it hasn't been for nothing, i've came a long way in a short period.

Will this be future career suicide? Will it look like i'm unreliable?

What's the average time you spend with a company and in what sector?
 
I had a discussion with my mum about this a long time ago who said that 'job jumping' looks terrible on the CV. I personally think it depends on the type of industry you are in, what you achieved at each company and your reason for leaving. If you say you were offered a role with a 20% pay increase, can any prospective employer really say you shouldn't have took it?

E: I'm a bit like you, since 2009 I have had 3 roles, all for Banks doing different things.
 
1st one 3 years,
2nd one 2 years
3rd one 4 years,
4th one 9 months
5th one 12 years
6th one 4 years, but I own half of it so hopefully until I retire.
 
Job jumping is different to rapid progression though. If you jump around in the same role over and over it won't look good, but if you lay it out to look like your moving to higher and higher roles rapidly then it portrays a very different image.
 
1st Job were I did my apprenticeship I was there for 7 years and my current job I am now 11 years this week :)
 
Skeeter said:
Job jumping is different to rapid progression though. If you jump around in the same role over and over it won't look good, but if you lay it out to look like your moving to higher and higher roles rapidly then it portrays a very different image.
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This.

All the roles I've moved to have been sort of like a promotion. I went from serving people at the counter in a Branch to Change Management/Process Improvement. My history tells a story about achievements - I guess that's the most important bit.

At my previous company there were people who had been at the same level for nearly 10 years across different banks. They were always at a 'grass roots' level and had only made more money by moving elsewhere, not by getting an actual promotion.
 
I don't think you need to worry too much if you can justify the moves... yes it can look bad to some hiring managers but the fact that given the first three moves a fourth company has made you an offer means its not affected your attractiveness to employers too much.

The main negatives I could see are either if you become unemployed for some reason it could look bad and also if you find the new firm isn't a good fit early on and you look for yet another move it could also be harder for you than if you'd been somewhere for a while.

On the plus side moving jobs rather than staying put tends to increase your salary significantly more... in general staying loyal to one particular company isn't the optimum solution in terms of pay/progression - there may be exceptions for people getting rapid promotion in one company or for fast expanding companies but generally once you've become competent in one role your promotion prospects are also party dependent on people immediately above you. Your raises are often controlled carefully by HR not to exceed a certain %... whereas jumping ship, taking the risk can tend to lead to a better rise and a jump to a role with more responsibility without having to worry about getting approval for an internal move, waiting for the right vacancy to open up etc..

I reckon you should take the offer if it is a step up, but consider sticking around for more than just a year in this one.
 
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wndsr said:
This.

All the roles I've moved to have been sort of like a promotion. I went from serving people at the counter in a Branch to Change Management/Process Improvement. My history tells a story about achievements - I guess that's the most important bit.

At my previous company there were people who had been at the same level for nearly 10 years across different banks. They were always at a 'grass roots' level and had only made more money by moving elsewhere, not by getting an actual promotion.
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Could I send you a quick message over PM?
 
1st job 8 years (on and off through uni too)
2nd job 1 yr
This job 7 years and right now planning to stay 22yrs to retirement at 47 yrs old :p (I'm now in middle management, soon to be senior. I'm deliberating going for my commission for a 2nd time though which will equate to a much better pension and pop star wages).
After retirement, shelf stacking to top my pension probably :p
 
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In my first 2 jobs I stayed over 2 years. But now I more experienced I never stay in a job for more than 2 years. In my career it's all about project experience, I work on big project(s), add it to my portfolio and move on to the next company.

I'm not trying to start a career, I'm doing a job.
 
Been a Civil Servant for 5.5 years.

I have had 10 jobs before joining the Civil Service.

This one will be a long term job though.
 
smokedog said:
In my first 2 jobs I stayed over 2 years. But now I more experienced I never stay in a job for more than 2 years. In my career it's all about project experience, I work on big project(s), add it to my portfolio and move on to the next company.

I'm not trying to start a career, I'm doing a job.
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Funny you should say this as I've never bothered keeping track of projects I have worked on. I'm now spending time looking back over old notes to put a historic portfolio together. A friend of mine uses one to help him in interviews and he says it's fantastic.
 
Given my particular line of work (ESL abroad), people staying in a job for more than a year is surprising :p Been at my current job 5 months now, with a lot of other things on the side for varying terms. Really depends on the industry.
 
1st - 10 years total inc 4year Apprenticeship
2nd - 9years so far... getting bored though so thinking of changing.
 
Captain Planet, if you think your pension will sort you at 22 years your sadly wrong, i take it your a full screw. With the pension change as of next year you will have only accrued 8 years of a decent pension if you are on pension 75.

I am on pension 75 and at the time of the change will have nearly 18 years sat on it and i lose quite a bit of money.

Also you need to be careful if you commission early with your pension as you will change again from what you have and if you leave before 18 years service (need to confirm) as an officer you will wait until you are at pension age before you pull anything.
Do the sums yourself.

https://www.gov.uk/armed-forces-pension-calculator
 
As long as I feel it can benefit me. Last job - 5 years.

This year I hope to gain my chartered status so really my future employability depends on experience. I may decide to move simply to "pad out" the CV. I'm happy where I am and have a solid career progression if I chose to stay.

The kicker in my current role is the commute distance. Realistically I'd take the exact same role closer to home, if it came up tomorrow.
 
Since I turned 16:

5.5 years, although most of it was part time.
5 months (moved to Scotland then back to England)
6 months temping
12 months fixed term
~2.5 years
3 years in the current job.

I was worried for a while when temping/on fixed term that I would struggle to find a permanent job, now I probably take it for granted a little.
 
1st job - 2 years
2nd job - 2 years
current job - 9 years

I'm handing in my notice on Monday as I've been offered a better job in a different company and I feel really bad about leaving after such a long time. Move often would be my advice!
 
dsb said:
Captain Planet, if you think your pension will sort you at 22 years your sadly wrong, i take it your a full screw. With the pension change as of next year you will have only accrued 8 years of a decent pension if you are on pension 75.

I am on pension 75 and at the time of the change will have nearly 18 years sat on it and i lose quite a bit of money.

Also you need to be careful if you commission early with your pension as you will change again from what you have and if you leave before 18 years service (need to confirm) as an officer you will wait until you are at pension age before you pull anything.
Do the sums yourself.

https://www.gov.uk/armed-forces-pension-calculator
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Absolutely, hence stacking shelves to make up my short fall :p signing on for another 18 yrs of guaranteed decent wage isn't such a bad thing either.
 
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