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What's the minimum you want to stay at a job (In most situations)
N2IT
Inactive Imported Users Posts: 7,483 ■■■■■■■■■■
I realize this is going to vary A LOT I am curious to see what members on his forum think? I was thinking a year and you are in the clear, however 2 - 3 ideal. Thoughts?
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OptionsRouteMyPacket Member Posts: 1,104I think 90 days tops, you could at least justify that you were giving it a chance but was sold on something different than what you got.
I made it 30 days once, wanted to gargle Drano everyday due to the incompetence I was surrounded by. *shudders*Modularity and Design Simplicity:
Think of the 2:00 a.m. test—if you were awakened in the
middle of the night because of a network problem and had to figure out the
traffic flows in your network while you were half asleep, could you do it? -
OptionsDieg0M Member Posts: 861It really depends. I would say a year minimum before you start looking for something better. If you dislike the place because of the people and want to leave then give them 90 days like RouteMyPacket said. If your thinking of quitting because you are bored, I think its worth giving them some more time to move up in the ranks and get more responsibilities.Follow my CCDE journey at www.routingnull0.com
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OptionsHypntick Member Posts: 1,451 ■■■■■■□□□□For me personally I would say 1.5 to 2 years.WGU BS:IT Completed June 30th 2012.
WGU MS:ISA Completed October 30th 2013. -
OptionsBGraves Member Posts: 339^....lol @ route
Just my opinion but I take jobs so I can learn and grow as an IT professional, so sometimes I'll take a pain in the ass job if it'll let me put my hands on things I want to use and learn/master. (I don't mean having someone else pay for my certs, just hands on software/hardware)
After the learning is accomplished, I generally try to decide if I'm being paid appropriately and if the job is something I really want to be doing long term.
If not, I generally start looking for something new to tackle. I think I've had a few jobs that were just a year lately, though this current one will be good for a few while I work on my masters and continue getting to learn new things on the job.
It's an interesting question though, I'm interested to hear other responses and see what keeps people in their job or helps them move along from it. -
Optionsveritas_libertas Member Posts: 5,746 ■■■■■■■■■■At least a year for me. I don't want to look like a job hopper.
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OptionsFloOz Member Posts: 1,614 ■■■■□□□□□□It depends on the opportunity that comes up. I just recently left a job that I really liked after 9 months because an opportunity came up that I could not pass up. You have to weigh the pros and the cons. For me it was:
Pros:
- large pay jump
- reputable company that will look great on my resume
- meaningful and innovative work
- free catered bfast/lunch/dinner
- tons of awesome perks and benefits
- super smart people to learn from
Cons:
- farther commute
I do this kind of list with every opportunity that comes my way. I plan to stay at this job for as long as I am engaged and doing challenging work. Which honestly the innovation shows no sign of slowing down. -
OptionsThe Technomancer Member Posts: 96 ■■□□□□□□□□I like to stay with a company for as long as I get interesting projects and they keep up with market compensation.
The longest I've ever spent at a job is like 2 and a half years, with most gigs lasting about a year.Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. -
Optionsthe_Grinch Member Posts: 4,165 ■■■■■■■■■■I average about 18 months per job.WIP:
PHP
Kotlin
Intro to Discrete Math
Programming Languages
Work stuff -
OptionsAkaricloud Member Posts: 938Personally I would say try to average no less than 1.5 years between your current job and previous two. If your last job was only 6 months then try to stay longer the next time around.
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Options4_lom Member Posts: 485I think it really depends on the type of organization I am working for at the time.
If I'm working 'in-house' IT somewhere, I'll likely get bored after a few years of working with the same technology everyday. All depends on the position I'm in and how much opportunity I have to learn/advance.
If working for an MSP, my main concern would be for opportunities to advance. In my current situation, I'm starting to realize there is not much opportunity for advancement, and I've been here for nearly 2 years. So I'm think of moving on soon. However, if there was room for me to grow, I wouldn't mind staying here for a long time (10+ years).
Anywho, I'm thinking 2-3 years at one place is plenty if not considering all of the variables. After 2 years you've established that you are reliable and willing to show up to work everyday. You've proved yourself and any potential employers will realize this. Plus (as Veritas said) it's not good to look like a 'job hopper'.Goals for 2018: MCSA: Cloud Platform, AWS Solutions Architect, MCSA : Server 2016, MCSE: Messaging -
Optionspaul78 Member Posts: 3,016 ■■■■■■■■■■For me - I look at jobs where I can stay 5-7 years or longer. The exception would be ventures that may a desirable exit-strategy. I suspect that most people's idea of the minimum stay at a job will change as they get further along in their career and personal life.
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OptionsN2IT Inactive Imported Users Posts: 7,483 ■■■■■■■■■■Very interesting responses! @Paul I know you are apart of a leadership team, not sure I remember your role (CIO)? Anyway I know the life expectancy of an executive is ~3 years. The last company I worked for the COO had worked for AAA and Citigroup both 5 year engagements and I was told that was extremely rare. I recall a study showing ~3 years being the norm. Maybe with smaller companies those numbers change.
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Optionsrsutton Member Posts: 1,029 ■■■■■□□□□□It depends on your target company. I work for a small MSP and if I see that someone has worked at a big company for more than 5 years I generally don't view that favorably. Other companies would likely see that as a good thing. The ideal candidate for me, on paper, would have multiple 2-3 year tenures at different companies.
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Optionsdarkerz Member Posts: 431 ■■■■□□□□□□1 year minimum, 2 year desired.
If I hit 3 years, I better have expanded my role, done a lot of projects and have kept busy working my way up the org chart.:twisted: -
OptionsLarryDaMan Member Posts: 797Unless there are extenuating circumstances, then I stay long enough not to be considered a job-hopper (or 'beltway bandit' here in DC), but not too long as to let my salary/skills/job satisfaction become stagnant. I'd say 6 months is the least amount of time I'd prefer to stay.
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Optionstier~ Member Posts: 86 ■■□□□□□□□□In my opinion as long as you're getting promoted in your desired path every 18-36 months roughly, then you're doing it right. At least earlier in your career. If it's within the same company because the opportunities exist to move up, great. If you switch companies every few years, that works too. It's the <1 year stints that seem to appear as bad mojo.
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OptionsN2IT Inactive Imported Users Posts: 7,483 ■■■■■■■■■■Tier I agree. I have a 3 month contract stint and even with clear explanation and a solid story it just doesn't sit well. You can see it in the interviewers eyes. And to be completely honest, the position was advertised as a 3 month position, I took it to get SQL and reporting knowledge. But even with that explanation it seems wonky.
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Optionskohr-ah Member Posts: 1,277Tier I agree. I have a 3 month contract stint and even with clear explanation and a solid story it just doesn't sit well. You can see it in the interviewers eyes. And to be completely honest, the position was advertised as a 3 month position, I took it to get SQL and reporting knowledge. But even with that explanation it seems wonky.
I actually have a question regarding this. My case I have been at my position 2 months and was just informed that our home office is closing and to start looking for work.
Do I just explain in an interview what is going on? Is it going to hurt me resume wise? I mean I really don't have a choice I need to find work. I can't be without a job. -
Optionspaul78 Member Posts: 3,016 ■■■■■■■■■■I recall a study showing ~3 years being the norm.kohr-ah wrote:Do I just explain in an interview what is going on?
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Optionsdevils_haircut Member Posts: 284 ■■■□□□□□□□I have a 3 month contract stint and even with clear explanation and a solid story it just doesn't sit well. You can see it in the interviewers eyes.
I'm finishing up a 3-month desktop support position as well, but I haven't had any issues with recent interviews. I just tell them it was a 90-day contract that offered me the opportunity to get my foot in the door, and they never seem to have a problem with it. IT contracts seem to be pretty common nowadays, so if an interviewer has an issue with that, they need to get with the times. -
OptionsN2IT Inactive Imported Users Posts: 7,483 ■■■■■■■■■■Keep in mind I am going off of my experiences. I haven't had anyone come out and bash me for the 3 months, but I never have received a positive response either. That's all I am saying - while it might be acceptable it's not a plus or bonus. For the record I hope to stay for 3 years or so. (I'm speaking if opportuties arrive).
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Optionspaul78 Member Posts: 3,016 ■■■■■■■■■■devils_haircut wrote: »IT contracts seem to be pretty common nowadays, so if an interviewer has an issue with that, they need to get with the times.
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OptionsBryan0530 Member Posts: 30 ■■□□□□□□□□I agree... if your learning and growing no need to leave. Make sure your getting the title/promotion and pay also. Around DC a lot of people move quick
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OptionsAbout7Narwhal Member Posts: 761Depends a lot on why I am leaving. I will easily give a company a year to break me in before I start pushing for more responsibility. But if the job just isn't a fit, I decide within 90 days or so. I think that is long enough to get past the "New Guy" feel and really determine if the company isn't a fit or if you just haven't settled in yet.
A prime example would be my last job: I was there for a year and a half and loved the people and position. But I wasn't growing, learning, or gaining any value aside from a check after the 6 month mark. I hated to leave, but I am in my prime (no Kids, no family) and need to make moves while I can. I now work somewhere that I like less, but I have learned a lot over the past year.