Minimum amount of time you shoud spend at a job (on average)

N2IT

Before it looks "bad". I am just curious what you all feel is the safe zone before moving on? One year, 2 years, etc. This question was asked a few years ago but in our day and age things change at a very fast rate. Without addressing all one off situations, what do you think is the bare minimum? Personally I think it's a year, but I'd like to get your opinions as well. Thanks

networker050184

Depends on how often you are changing jobs. If you have a whole list of jobs under a year then it's going to make me question your dedication. If you have one or two jobs that are less than a year and you moved up to something better I don't think it is a bad thing at all.

All in all, anything less than a year certainly brings up some questions you will probably have to answer. Just make sure you have a good reason.

iBrokeIT

I think you really have to take into account the candidates overall work history and circumstances. Most employers realize sometimes its not a good fit, they relocated to a different city for spouse's job or medical/family issues ect. You also have to take into the types of jobs like internships and contracts that usually have an end date. Really hard to blanket answer this question but I would say for a full time W2 job 2 years minimum to actually become proficient at a job and provide a return to your employer.

BGraves

Really quite curious to hear more responses here.

I'm actually in a position now where I've had two jobs previously that were only 1 year each and I've just completed my 1 year at my current job.
(The circumstances for the past two jobs were legitimate reasons for moving on.)

I am in the process of updating the resume and considering looking around....

jthunderbird

I think a year is fine. I am on my 5th job since separating from the military 4 years ago. Career progression and relocation have been my reasons and no employer has batted an eye so far and I still get calls and emails for jobs pretty often.

It starts looking bad when you left a job to go down the street for a $5k raise.

Tom Servo

I really try to stick it out at least a year. My last job I only made it 10 months, and the length of time definitely came up in the interview as a major concern. Obviously, it wasn't enough to deter them from hiring me though. I hope not to stay at my current job longer than 1.5 years, and I think I will be counting down the months (only been 6 so far). That said, if a 'perfect' job came up tomorrow, I'd leave in a heartbeat.

A collegue of mine has gotten a new job every 10-14 months since he finished school. He is on his 4th or 5th job now, and he says it has never been an issue for him. Your mileage may vary of course

mikeybikes

I would consider 1-2 years reasonable in IT. I've been at my current job for 3.5 years which seems rather long.

Less than a year, as long as it was only a contract, I wouldn't worry about it. My work history is sprinkled with a few contract positions that were 3-6 months.

kohr-ah

Contracts - Whatever the contract is it is.
Full Time - Unless you have to leave for a reason at least a year if possible.
(I also count if you go contract to full time, your contract time there counts as part of that year :P)

But I dont think I could do that for the next 30 years. So I say once you find a place you like and are comfortable with go longer stints.

darkerz

I've hit 4 jobs in the last 3.5 years, each jump was a 20-40% pay increase and a title, responsibility and skill set "up".

I'm at # 5 now. It's my last leap for the next 3-5 years. Hit a good one.

Admittedly, I made a 7 month hop from my previous company but for the right reasons (so I could stay a long time with a role like the one I currently have, since it's so dynamic and Senior facing). I was so so so so so bored doing the same network, same tech, same project depths.

As long as you land in the right place, you'll be fine. If you keep landing in 1-2 year stunts after year 5 or 6 of your career, I suspect you may bored or extremely capable.

JoJoCal19

I've always aimed for 2 years, for purposes of looking good on the resume. The minimum I would like is 1 year, which is why I'm struggling with a situation that has arisen now.

Hypntick

Currently my trend has been between 1.5 and 2 years. I think that gives you enough time to learn what you can and see if the role is going to progress.

LionelTeo

My question would be why would you want a job change? Aside from getting into different industry, changing frequently because of salary jump would eventually bring you a stage where an employer would think twice before hiring you. One years is actually sufficient for a jump, but doing too often would result in side effects.

You could probably fill the hole if you could sell yourself, I had friends who jump frequently, if your jumping from different areas (EG Help Desk to Netwok, Network to Security) , then one year would be safe suffering minimal side effects; hopefully by then you had found a sector you like and keep to it, and from then you can always explain yourself out of the situation by saying 'back then' your finding an sector you like to develop your passion in, and eventually found it and now finding a company to bring the best out of you. If your intending to keep within the same type or role, then varies from 1 to 3 years without fixated on a pattern would be good, if you build good experience and capabilty within an organization, try asking for an internal movement if you can.

kohr-ah

LionelTeo wrote: »

My question would be why would you want a job change? Aside from getting into different industry, changing frequently because of salary jump would eventually bring you a stage where an employer would think twice before hiring you. One years is actually sufficient for a jump, but doing too often would result in side effects.

You could probably fill the hole if you could sell yourself, I had friends who jump frequently, if your jumping from different areas (EG Help Desk to Netwok, Network to Security) , then one year would be safe suffering minimal side effects; hopefully by then you had found a sector you like and keep to it, and from then you can always explain yourself out of the situation by saying 'back then' your finding an sector you like to develop your passion in, and eventually found it and now finding a company to bring the best out of you. If your intending to keep within the same type or role, then varies from 1 to 3 years without fixated on a pattern would be good, if you build good experience and capabilty within an organization, try asking for an internal movement if you can.

Well for my case it is really 2 things - I get paid very well where I am at now. Sometimes it doesnt even make sense to me but I am apparently doing something right but I have no where I can move up from here and it is over an hour commute. I'd like something closer to home where I could move up to a senior position if wanted so that is why I would hop.

Deathmage

I've been with my current job for about 3 years now. I'm starting to want to venture away from the company at some point.

The industry my job is in is a very demanding job, like on-calls and having operations 24/6 which requires me to be on-call all the time. I'm also not liking how my boss think his **** doesn't stink and holds the employee base in total fear. He holds over everyone heads in my trade and my venodrs that he was 30+ years in IT but when push comes to shove on how to fix a problem he can't even connect his laptop to the wireless let alone troubleshoot it. He's also extremely impatient/nasty/rude/two-faced and a bully, All of these things yes clearly show I'm not happy with one thing; my boss.

I'm not sure if this feeling is normal with all people. But recently my boss decided to bring on a IT outsourced firm and didn't even ask for any input from me and now he wants them to have complete administrative ownership of our network; there response time is 30 minutes to 1 hour. I personally love doing administrative work on the network and servers. But I'm realizing that the saying I sw on this forum someplace is really quite true, something along the lines of "don't be loyal to a company because the won't be loyal to you; you only should be loyal to yourself".

but getting back to the OP. I ideally didn't think I'd be here this long; but I'm still earning so much here. The day I quit learning or my daily duties go in reverse is the day I move on...

N2IT

Just for the record I think optimal would be 3 years. After that IMO it doesn't matter if you are there 5 years or 10. I plan on staying at this job for as long as they let me. ***Sorry slow day! don't get to many of those.

LionelTeo

kohr-ah wrote: »

Well for my case it is really 2 things - I get paid very well where I am at now. Sometimes it doesnt even make sense to me but I am apparently doing something right but I have no where I can move up from here and it is over an hour commute. I'd like something closer to home where I could move up to a senior position if wanted so that is why I would hop.

Well if career is stagnant then moving is really the only choice you had, its a reasonable explanation to move away from your current company and I would do it if it was me too. In 2 years times it should be easy to see if the company had any career advancement for you.

Deathmage

N2IT wrote: »

Just for the record I think optimal would be 3 years. After that IMO it doesn't matter if you are there 5 years or 10. JMHO

I concur.