Job Hopping
If you were in a position simply to gain experience, and were looking to move to a better company within a reasonable amount of time, how long would you stay at your current position? There seems to be a magic number between having too short of a stay in a company or staying too long without advancement. I have been told that one year was sufficient, others have said that companies are looking for longevity in a potential employee. I enjoy my job, but am wanting to move to a different type of industry. I have been with my current company close to six months, and am wondering how long I should be staying that would be considered long enough without appearing flaky.
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Replies
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I've heard from multiple, reliable sources that you should stick it out for 3-5 years when working somewhere, especially if you're new to your career.0
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When I see less than 3-5 years, it catches my attention... if you're over the age of 26'ish, that is. Before then, and depending on the job, you get a pass for the "figuring out things in life" stage.
But let's say you're a beautician and have worked at 3 different salons in 5 years (no relocation or business shut-downs)... I'd question why.
Let's say you're an administrative assistant, again... why?
Unless there's some reasonable explanation, it seems a bit "job hopping" or unreliable?
Can you give more info?0 -
I used to be a recruiter. Anything less than 4-5 years was almost a redlight... but if you worked somewhere 7 years, then your next job was only a year and then your next was 5 years then that kind of evens things out. You just don't want a year, 2 years, a year, 6 months, etc etc all in a row.0
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There's no harm in just applying to whatever industry you want to move into right now.
I'd say 12 months is a good length of time to stay in one job, if it's not a fixed-term-contract. References are more important than longevity. If your boss says they are sorry to see you leave and would have you back in a heartbeat, then don't worry about the term you've been in a post.
Definitely don't stay somewhere where you are unhappy, especially now the economic climate is on the up and it's not neccessary any more.
I've moved around quite a lot in the last 5 years and it certainly hasn't done my career any harm. If anything, the contacts I've made in this time have allowed me to progress and helped me along.
That said - it depends on the sector. Financial services and public sector like a bit of longevity, but cultural sector and the arts are less concerned. That's my experience anyway (after the last 6 years working cultural sector and the prior 4 working in recruitment and then public sector).0 -
I used to be a recruiter. Anything less than 4-5 years was almost a redlight... but if you worked somewhere 7 years, then your next job was only a year and then your next was 5 years then that kind of evens things out. You just don't want a year, 2 years, a year, 6 months, etc etc all in a row.
I've worked in HR and agree with this. If your entire 10 years of work history is 6 months to 1-2 years at each place, that sends up red flags. If you worked somewhere for 3-5 years and then have "job hopped" with 1-2 years at a couple of other employers it generally doesn't pose a huge problem.0 -
When I see less than 3-5 years, it catches my attention... if you're over the age of 26'ish, that is. Before then, and depending on the job, you get a pass for the "figuring out things in life" stage.
But let's say you're a beautician and have worked at 3 different salons in 5 years (no relocation or business shut-downs)... I'd question why.
Let's say you're an administrative assistant, again... why?
Unless there's some reasonable explanation, it seems a bit "job hopping" or unreliable?
Can you give more info?
I work in compliance at an asphalt industry. I am looking to change to a more corporate space, away from manual labor. That being said, I am not sure how long I should stay where I am before it is considered acceptable to search for another job.0 -
I've heard millennials will work up to nine different career positions in their lifetimes.
Times are changing.
You don't just graduate HS, go to work at the firm and retire 30 years later anymore.
Most of my jobs have been 2-3 years, and it's rarely a problem, especially when I explain that I moved on to accept a higher paying position.
I'd worry far more about professional appearance, gaps in employment and job skills than how many times you changed companies or fields.0 -
Let's say you're an administrative assistant, again... why?
Because admin is duller than dishwater and a change of scene is pretty damn good for the soul and in enabling you to know which sector you want to work in??0 -
I'd say 2-3 years but it depends on how often you're job hopping. If your resume shows 5 jobs that you've been at for a short amount of time it'd be a red flag for me. It takes a lot of time and money to train employees for the job that they're doing. If you are consistently showing that you can't commit to a job then I would be less likely to hire you.0
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3 years
Although I'm in the miltary and we rotate every 3 years anyway. But when I had a civilian job back in the day, I stayed with one company for 10 years. I probably shouldn't have stayed that long though.0 -
When I see less than 3-5 years, it catches my attention... if you're over the age of 26'ish, that is. Before then, and depending on the job, you get a pass for the "figuring out things in life" stage.
But let's say you're a beautician and have worked at 3 different salons in 5 years (no relocation or business shut-downs)... I'd question why.
Let's say you're an administrative assistant, again... why?
Unless there's some reasonable explanation, it seems a bit "job hopping" or unreliable?
Can you give more info?
I work in compliance at an asphalt industry. I am looking to change to a more corporate space, away from manual labor. That being said, I am not sure how long I should stay where I am before it is considered acceptable to search for another job.
What was your experience and longevity before this position?0 -
I would say it depends where you are in your career. If you're a company junior looking for experience and learning new skills then anything over 12 months would seem reasonable.
If you're higher up the ladder and looking to put your mark on a company or department then the 3 to 5 year mark would seem more reasonable.0 -
You are probably better off waiting at least a year. But if you held down your previous position for awhile, and you plan to hold down the next one for awhile, I don't see why this would greatly impact you. It's a blip, and you may get asked about it in an interview, but you just simply respond that the position was not what you expected or hoped it would be.
You just better hope that you are happy in your next position.0 -
When I see less than 3-5 years, it catches my attention... if you're over the age of 26'ish, that is. Before then, and depending on the job, you get a pass for the "figuring out things in life" stage.
But let's say you're a beautician and have worked at 3 different salons in 5 years (no relocation or business shut-downs)... I'd question why.
Let's say you're an administrative assistant, again... why?
Unless there's some reasonable explanation, it seems a bit "job hopping" or unreliable?
Can you give more info?
I work in compliance at an asphalt industry. I am looking to change to a more corporate space, away from manual labor. That being said, I am not sure how long I should stay where I am before it is considered acceptable to search for another job.
What was your experience and longevity before this position?
I worked for five years as Manager for a Mcdonalds. It was horrible, horrible work, but I stayed for the experience. I then worked for an animal shelter for a year training animals. I had to resign when I became pregnant, and it was too dangerous to continue working. I have only been back in the work force for about a year after being a stay at home mom. The issue I am running into is that the company I work with is very small, and our employees are not treated well at all.
*Adding that I am not looking to jump ship immediately, just curious as to what realistic expectations people have when hiring someone based on their ability to stay with a company.0 -
If you're a company junior looking for experience and learning new skills then anything over 12 months would seem reasonable.
And again, it takes a lot of time and money on the company's part to train people. I personally wouldn't hire someone who is "looking to learn a skill and gain experience" if it means they're quitting after a year. If everyone did that companies wouldn't be able to stay in business.0 -
When I see less than 3-5 years, it catches my attention... if you're over the age of 26'ish, that is. Before then, and depending on the job, you get a pass for the "figuring out things in life" stage.
But let's say you're a beautician and have worked at 3 different salons in 5 years (no relocation or business shut-downs)... I'd question why.
Let's say you're an administrative assistant, again... why?
Unless there's some reasonable explanation, it seems a bit "job hopping" or unreliable?
Can you give more info?
I work in compliance at an asphalt industry. I am looking to change to a more corporate space, away from manual labor. That being said, I am not sure how long I should stay where I am before it is considered acceptable to search for another job.
What was your experience and longevity before this position?
I worked for five years as Manager for a Mcdonalds. It was horrible, horrible work, but I stayed for the experience. I then worked for an animal shelter for a year training animals. I had to resign when I became pregnant, and it was too dangerous to continue working. I have only been back in the work force for about a year after being a stay at home mom. The issue I am running into is that the company I work with is very small, and our employees are not treated well at all.
*Adding that I am not looking to jump ship immediately, just curious as to what realistic expectations people have when hiring someone based on their ability to stay with a company.
Have you been looking? What kind of field are you wanting to enter?0 -
You managed to stay 5 years working in MacDonalds.
You win all the longevity competitions.0 -
I used to be a recruiter. Anything less than 4-5 years was almost a redlight... but if you worked somewhere 7 years, then your next job was only a year and then your next was 5 years then that kind of evens things out. You just don't want a year, 2 years, a year, 6 months, etc etc all in a row.
I've worked in HR and agree with this. If your entire 10 years of work history is 6 months to 1-2 years at each place, that sends up red flags. If you worked somewhere for 3-5 years and then have "job hopped" with 1-2 years at a couple of other employers it generally doesn't pose a huge problem.
This is very good to know.
I'm not a recruiter or anything, but I feel like a year is reasonable.0 -
Let's say you're an administrative assistant, again... why?
Because admin is duller than dishwater and a change of scene is pretty damn good for the soul and in enabling you to know which sector you want to work in??
That's precisely what a switch every year would show and why I wouldn't want to hire this individual for an admin position.0 -
It also depends on the turn around where you are applying.
For a job like McDonald's that has a huge turn-around, five years is like forever.0 -
When I see less than 3-5 years, it catches my attention... if you're over the age of 26'ish, that is. Before then, and depending on the job, you get a pass for the "figuring out things in life" stage.
But let's say you're a beautician and have worked at 3 different salons in 5 years (no relocation or business shut-downs)... I'd question why.
Let's say you're an administrative assistant, again... why?
Unless there's some reasonable explanation, it seems a bit "job hopping" or unreliable?
Can you give more info?
I work in compliance at an asphalt industry. I am looking to change to a more corporate space, away from manual labor. That being said, I am not sure how long I should stay where I am before it is considered acceptable to search for another job.
What was your experience and longevity before this position?
I worked for five years as Manager for a Mcdonalds. It was horrible, horrible work, but I stayed for the experience. I then worked for an animal shelter for a year training animals. I had to resign when I became pregnant, and it was too dangerous to continue working. I have only been back in the work force for about a year after being a stay at home mom. The issue I am running into is that the company I work with is very small, and our employees are not treated well at all.
*Adding that I am not looking to jump ship immediately, just curious as to what realistic expectations people have when hiring someone based on their ability to stay with a company.
Pffft.... 12 months is fine (not years, edited LOL). You survived 5 at McDonalds and have perfectly legitimate reasons for job changes that aren't questionable at all in my book.
Your'e fine. Apply for the corporate positions you want, no questions asked.0 -
When I see less than 3-5 years, it catches my attention... if you're over the age of 26'ish, that is. Before then, and depending on the job, you get a pass for the "figuring out things in life" stage.
But let's say you're a beautician and have worked at 3 different salons in 5 years (no relocation or business shut-downs)... I'd question why.
Let's say you're an administrative assistant, again... why?
Unless there's some reasonable explanation, it seems a bit "job hopping" or unreliable?
Can you give more info?
I work in compliance at an asphalt industry. I am looking to change to a more corporate space, away from manual labor. That being said, I am not sure how long I should stay where I am before it is considered acceptable to search for another job.
What was your experience and longevity before this position?
I worked for five years as Manager for a Mcdonalds. It was horrible, horrible work, but I stayed for the experience. I then worked for an animal shelter for a year training animals. I had to resign when I became pregnant, and it was too dangerous to continue working. I have only been back in the work force for about a year after being a stay at home mom. The issue I am running into is that the company I work with is very small, and our employees are not treated well at all.
*Adding that I am not looking to jump ship immediately, just curious as to what realistic expectations people have when hiring someone based on their ability to stay with a company.
Have you been looking? What kind of field are you wanting to enter?
I mean, I browse careerbuilder a couple times a week, nothing serious. I am looking to move back into non profit animal industry, hopefully working in compliance at a shelter. It is such a niche job though, that it could be years before something like that comes up.0 -
When I see less than 3-5 years, it catches my attention... if you're over the age of 26'ish, that is. Before then, and depending on the job, you get a pass for the "figuring out things in life" stage.
But let's say you're a beautician and have worked at 3 different salons in 5 years (no relocation or business shut-downs)... I'd question why.
Let's say you're an administrative assistant, again... why?
Unless there's some reasonable explanation, it seems a bit "job hopping" or unreliable?
Can you give more info?
I work in compliance at an asphalt industry. I am looking to change to a more corporate space, away from manual labor. That being said, I am not sure how long I should stay where I am before it is considered acceptable to search for another job.
What was your experience and longevity before this position?
I worked for five years as Manager for a Mcdonalds. It was horrible, horrible work, but I stayed for the experience. I then worked for an animal shelter for a year training animals. I had to resign when I became pregnant, and it was too dangerous to continue working. I have only been back in the work force for about a year after being a stay at home mom. The issue I am running into is that the company I work with is very small, and our employees are not treated well at all.
*Adding that I am not looking to jump ship immediately, just curious as to what realistic expectations people have when hiring someone based on their ability to stay with a company.
Have you been looking? What kind of field are you wanting to enter?
I mean, I browse careerbuilder a couple times a week, nothing serious. I am looking to move back into non profit animal industry, hopefully working in compliance at a shelter. It is such a niche job though, that it could be years before something like that comes up.
Being that its a "niche" job, it means that they would require you to have a certain skill set that might be difficult for them to recruit. So I would say that a little job-hopping would likely be excused.0 -
I've only stayed at my jobs for 2 years max and then I leave. I get bored and then really start to dread going to work. I've been at my current employer for 4 1/2 years and it's a miracle. But I also get to work at home when I want, so....................... that doesn't happen often in my field of work... it's a rarity... so it keeps me around. Now I am starting to see that my 2 year max on my previous positions wasn't that bad... I'd like to even high five my 16 year old self who managed to work 2 years at the awful Walmart... The company that locks you in on xmas eve and refuses to let you leave.. the company who violates child labor laws and tells you, "oh, I will deal with it if you submit a complaint." Oh you will? Will you ALSO deal with it when I call the fire marshall because you have put chains on every single exit door so your employees wont leave? Yeah... I got to say a big "F YOU" to the manager and walk out of the store. It's pretty pathetic I was the only one out of the store that day.... and I didn't lose my job... but I did get to say F U to the manager that I hated... and that was pretty awesome.0
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According this Forbes article, people who stay at a job more than two years end up making 50% less than those who switch jobs (provided they are gaining experience and training then moving up in their profession).
http://www.forbes.com/sites/cameronkeng/2014/06/22/employees-that-stay-in-companies-longer-than-2-years-get-paid-50-less/
Part of the article does state that for maximum gains, jump ship every three to four years.
The TL;DR version of the article is that over the course of a persons employment, people have gotten used to a 3% increase each year as being the "norm", while the average inflation rate each year is something like 2.1%, thus netting the employee a .9% increase each year. Gaining experience and even a cert. or two while at your current employer will increase your worth, but sometimes not your pay with a current employer while jumping ship can increase your pay by 10%-20% with experience and talent.
Basically, when I was managing and hiring, anything less than three years to me was a red flag unless they noted a decent reason. Things can happen to anyone, but if it ALWAYS happening to the same person, it would seem to me that the problem wasn't the employers but more on the employee. It all depends on the market, the employee, and the current hiring trends.0 -
According this Forbes article, people who stay at a job more than two years end up making 50% less than those who switch jobs (provided they are gaining experience and training then moving up in their profession).
http://www.forbes.com/sites/cameronkeng/2014/06/22/employees-that-stay-in-companies-longer-than-2-years-get-paid-50-less/
Part of the article does state that for maximum gains, jump ship every three to four years.
The TL;DR version of the article is that over the course of a persons employment, people have gotten used to a 3% increase each year as being the "norm", while the average inflation rate each year is something like 2.1%, thus netting the employee a .9% increase each year. Gaining experience and even a cert. or two while at your current employer will increase your worth, but sometimes not your pay with a current employer while jumping ship can increase your pay by 10%-20% with experience and talent.
Basically, when I was managing and hiring, anything less than three years to me was a red flag unless they noted a decent reason. Things can happen to anyone, but if it ALWAYS happening to the same person, it would seem to me that the problem wasn't the employers but more on the employee. It all depends on the market, the employee, and the current hiring trends.
Great article, thanks!0 -
I'd think your long term goals will make a difference as does your past. When you move to the next company, twelve months is probably enough, especially if you explain to them that you were simply trying to gain experience there. The question is, how long were you at the job previous to this? Do you have a pattern of staying for only a year or so at each company? And then, how long are you planning to stay at the new job? If that stay is also short you could have difficulty finding the next position and so on.
People who have a pattern of short employment terms are usually considered a risky hire. Since most companies won't give anything more than your position and length of employment when they are called for references, prospective employers may have concerns that you've been fired for one reason or another or, at best, are just flighty.0 -
I've had quite a few jobs in the past 4 years but I've also quadrupled my income in that time. If it's a lot of lateral moves it may raise an eyebrow, but if the job switches are a clear promotion/advancement it makes more sense. I don't know if I would "wait out" a certain period of time at a job I already view as temporary, I'd rather be ready for an opportunity if it presents itself.0
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The issue I am running into is that the company I work with is very small, and our employees are not treated well at all.
I'm sorry to hear that OP. Obviously people only leave jobs when they are unhappy. HR hirers and "recruiters" are well aware of this but they make you play the game, test your story and call the shots as you can see from some of the replies posted here. It's an ugly system and there's a reason why wage earners are frequently referred to as wage slaves, thanks to the people who pull the strings and decide who's employable and who isn't. And the criteria for this, since the job market has downturned, is becoming more and more ridiculous and exclusive. In my area now, *secretaries* are now required to hold 4 year college degrees or they don't get the job.
Staying in a job where you're treated badly and feel unhappy for 4 to 5 years to make yourself appealing to some recruiter or HR maven who has the power to place you in a company where the standards of conduct are probably 'anything goes' is a gamble not worth taking based on my personal experience. I'm 47 and wish I could take back the 12 years of my life working for corporate firms as a miserable wage slave. It would have been worth giving up my car, my weekends off schedule and the security of my paycheck at the time. I am not college educated but eventually went to trade school for a year in my forties to train in a practical and in demand field which released me from the limitations the job market had always placed on me.
In my twenties and thirties, I would have been happier working for half the money in a field I could stand and putting in longer hours than to have put up with the b*llsh*t of 9 to 5 life in a profit driven paper factory or in the many restaurant jobs I worked as a menial.
If you can, try to continue the stay at home mom role and make whatever sacrifices are necessary. Or with your husband's support, start your own pet sitting or pet walking business? Or at the very least, investigate union opportunities in your area and try to get a union protected job if you can. Working in private industry without collectively bargained contractual protection is pretty often a really awful deal. For the employee. Do whatever you can to protect yourself, support yourself and guard your dignity. Because in this work culture, God knows, almost no one else will.
When did she mention ever wanting to be a stay at home mom? What if OP is fulfilled by having a career? She doesn't like her current company, that doesn't mean she needs to quit working and "make sacrifices".0 -
If you're a company junior looking for experience and learning new skills then anything over 12 months would seem reasonable.
And again, it takes a lot of time and money on the company's part to train people. I personally wouldn't hire someone who is "looking to learn a skill and gain experience" if it means they're quitting after a year. If everyone did that companies wouldn't be able to stay in business.
This really depends a lot on the industry. When I was in public accounting, 20% retention beyond one year was par for the course for entry level junior associates. Of that 20%, maybe half would put in around 3-4 years to become senior associates. From there, even fewer would go on to become managers, senior managers, and very few ever go on to become partners.
There is kind of a mutual understanding in the CPA world that many juniors come in simply for the experience with no intention of staying on board and holding more senior positions...a CPA firm is probably the number one place to go for recent accounting graduates and is the best place to gain experience in financial or tax accounting. The trade off is that basically for the first year at a firm you aren't much more than a body that gets sent out all over the place to do **** *kitten* grunt work...you get worked to the bone. We never invested substantially in junior associates until after at least 12 months..at that point you can kind of get a feel for who is going to really be able to help out the firm as an associate and who you think will ultimately go on to become senior associates and beyond.
All that said, most definitely we would have taken pause in hiring as associate position if that individual had maybe been with a few different firms over the course of a year or two and wasn't moving into a more senior associate role.0
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