How Long Should You Stay at your Job?
What are the risks surrounding being at the same job for too long? Worried about being considered a job hopper? Not sure how long you should stay at your job, even if you don't like it because leaving it might impact your future employment options? Its good to weigh the pros and cons, on either end of the spectrum.
How Long Should An Employee Stay at a Job?
A Bullhorn survey reports that 39 percent of recruiters believe that the single biggest obstacle for an unemployed candidate in regaining employment is having a history of job hopping or leaving a company before they have been at a company for at least three years.
In fact, hiring managers said that a 58-year-old with a steady employment history is easier to place than a thirty-year-old job hopper.
Average Length of Time at a Job
How long does a typical employee stay at a job ? The median number of years that wage and salary workers have worked for their current employer is currently 4.6 years, according to an Economic News Release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics . However, this longevity varies by age and occupation:
* The median tenure for workers age 25 to 34 is 3.2 years.
* The median tenure for employees age 65 and over is 10.3 years.
* Workers in management, professional, and related occupations had the highest median tenure (5.5 years).
* Workers in service occupations had the lowest median tenure (3.2 years).
What is Job Hopping
Job hopping is a pattern of changing companies every year or two of one's own volition rather than as a result of something like a layoff or company closure, it also does not apply when making an employer change to a company that is not a fit, or whose job description changes after being hired. Rather than finding career development or promotion at one company, job hoppers tend to find that same career development by changing employers.
Everyone, whether you are aware of it or not, establishes a pattern of work history and decision making history, and creating a job-hopping work history isn't going to impress any hiring manager.
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There are times when you might start a job; It seems like the new company is a good fit, and after spending time doing the job, experiencing your first few obstacles, or collaborating with colleagues on a daily basis, you find that you may not actually be the best culture fit with the company in question. In those events, it is reasonable to be transparent, try to find a winning situation, but nonetheless, if your efforts to impact change do not turn in your favor, it is reasonable to leave within a couple months.
We often prioritize questions about title, job responsibilities, salary, benefits, and vacation time during the interview process—and we often overlook questions specific to the company culture, team structure, and HOW everyone works together. If that is the case, keep in mind, it is YOUR happiness at stake. It might make sense to include these major topics as part of your vetting process.
Questions to Ask
Some questions you might want to ask yourself before deciding to resign and start yet another job search:
Are your reasons for leaving based on issues that you have control over?
Staying Too Long at a Job
On the other hand, staying too long at a job can also hinder your employment prospects. A lengthy tenure with one company can give the impression that you aren't interested in growing your career. It can also lead employers to think that you may not have the ability to adapt to new responsibilities, or ways of thinking that would be required for success in a new role.
When is the best time to change jobs? The bottom line is that it's a question of balance.
There isn't really such a thing as a perfect resume?because there are so many reasons for leaving a job and for staying at a job. However, do be cognizant of the fact that your decisions matter on a long-term basis as well as a short-term one.