How important is staying at one job for a certain length of time?

March 1, 2006 6:25 AM

How important is staying at one job for a certain length of time?

I've jumped around a bit in jobs since graduating college in 2000. There was a career change, and every job that I've taken since then has been for either more money, a better position, or both.

However, since looking recently (after discovering that I could make at least 10k more than what I normally do, which is considerable for me right now), I have been asked why I jump around so much. I've spent two years at one job, and about a year at each job after that. I've explained this satisfactorily, but I want to know if I should stick things out at a current job for sake of satisfying some longevity ideal.

Employers are showing interest in hiring me for positions that would mean more responsibility and pay, which is what I want, and it could take some time to get it where I am. Been at my current job for about 9 months. Thanks in advance!

posted by adampsyche to Work & Money (17 answers total)

I have done the same thing. I have heard that it depends on what line of work you're in. For me, a graphic designer, bouncing around has proven to be a very good thing. I was able to learn different programs, experience different forms of management, get a feel for different-sized firms, & broaden my style. I was asked the same question you were asked at an interview once. I simply stated that I was in search of the right place, and the other places took me as far as they could, and I needed to move on to push myself forward (or something like that). The interview moved on & I was hired. If they want you, they'll take the chance and hire you. Don't make an issue out of it, and always be confident and honest when asked those questions - many people bounce around for a few years right out of college. Good luck to you, and don't settle!
posted by Alpenglow at 6:36 AM on March 1, 2006

If employers are showing interest then it wouldn't appear to be a problem. if they stop showing interest then just stay where you are when the music stops until longevity isn't a problem any more.
posted by biffa at 6:36 AM on March 1, 2006

One basic life lesson is that you have to change jobs to increase your salary. Your current manager at your current job simply cannot, due to whatever quirk of human nature, evaluate your current worth on the market. They will always evaluate you against what you are getting paid now - if you were worth ($X) last year, you can't possibly be worth more than ($X * 1.05) this year. If they hired a new person with exactly your skills, they might be willing to pay twice your salary (because they would be creating a fresh new salary evaluation in their mind), but they simply won't increase your salary to twice what it currently is, ever.

I advise you to continue to move when opportunities are available that are significantly better than your current job.
posted by jellicle at 6:40 AM on March 1, 2006

You're looking for job opportunities that challenge you and grow your skills. Most employers would love to hear that since it means you'd be a productive, eager employee. You just have to make any place new think that they're the one who will be able to continually challenge you so that they think you'll be there a while.
posted by mikeh at 6:47 AM on March 1, 2006

9 months is a little short. If you've been out of college a few years, you should be trying to find a job that allows you upward mobility within the company now. And that's a great answer when they ask you why you've jumped around -- "I'm trying to find a position that will allow me to advance within the company, and although these other places said they would, it became clear to me that they weren't interested in my advancement." You want a prospective employer to think you are going to stay with them, and if you have a track record of leaving, you need to specifically address that.

Also, it would help for us to know what line of work you are in.
posted by MrZero at 6:59 AM on March 1, 2006

What everyone has said, except I'd leave out the "although these other places said they would" part. Do not badmouth a previous employer unless you have to.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 7:05 AM on March 1, 2006

If you are being actively recruited by other companies, it doesn't matter too much. If you are out of work and looking for a job, it can matter a great deal. You can get cut from the pile just for being a potential jumper. You won't get a chance to make your case as you won't get the first interview.

I think most companies like at least 3 years in at any company and would prefer over 5. But it depends a great deal on the industry.

If you need to just get a raise, getting an offer from another company can be the leverage needed to get the salary upped in your current position. That way you build your income and your tenure at the same time.
posted by qwip at 7:40 AM on March 1, 2006

Thanks for asking this question because I am in the same predicament, although I have a little over a year under my belt now. I initially got a 25% raise after 8 months (which was very exciting), but I got denied 3% raise for the start of the year because of my "new anniversary date".

They suggest I will get a minimum 5% increase in October, but I don't feel that is substantial enough in regards to what I do, however, having a longer time spent at a company on my resume seems to build my marketability.

I am trying to put in two years and see how far I can go in the company during that time. I work for an online university so I am getting my Masters for free too.
posted by mic stand at 7:56 AM on March 1, 2006

Employers want long-term hires, because finding new employees takes time and money. Hopping jobs annually for a few years sends a signal that despite your qualifications, there's a good chance you aren't going to stick around.

Ideally, an employer should have a medium-term plan for your growth that will encourage you not to leave. Ask about what the company has in store for you that will make you a long-term, dedicated employee. At the end of the first year, instead of planning a departure, plan a growth strategy within the company that rewards both sides.

One of your interview tasks is convincing the employer that you're not going to quit at the drop of a hat, because having five employers in six years is less than ideal. Leaving your current employer after nine months is only going to exacerbate that. Your next move should be to a place where you can spend two to five years honing your skills and showing a commitment to an organization.
posted by werty at 8:54 AM on March 1, 2006

You don't need to stick around at one job for some longevity ideal. However, when it comes time to apply for a mortgage, it is to your advantage to have been with an employer for more than a year at that time. Lenders like longevity, perhaps moreso than employers.
posted by crazycanuck at 9:03 AM on March 1, 2006

Define "jumped around a bit". How many jobs have you had since college, and how long has that been?

Were they large companies or startups?

These things all matter. It's all about context. If they're big companies that your potential employer has heard of, this does not bode well for you. If they're apparent startups, you can always say something like "through all of my networking at those jobs, I encountered several opportunities for growth that I simply could not pass up."

If you've had 3 jobs in your, say, first 5 years out of college, this won't be too surprising to a lot of employers. Most entry level jobs probably only last between 1-2 years.

So ... details?
posted by twiggy at 9:05 AM on March 1, 2006

As a hiring manager, if I see someone hopping all over I would never take the risk on investing time in them. Of course this is conditional, and often in a phone interview I can dig up the underlying reasons for them to have moved. If they seem mercenary, a gun for hire to the highest bidder, I won't give them a second look. There will always be another company who will offer more at some point, and if this person is always looking, they will find them. Then I am back to the drawing board, down one employee, and run the risk of potentially losing the open position altogether. That's not worth the risk.

If the applicant has been unfortunate and hooked themselves up with companies that went under or downsized (common in biotech) then I am much more forgiving.
posted by genefinder at 9:08 AM on March 1, 2006

Yes, I've had about five jobs in six years.
posted by adampsyche at 9:47 AM on March 1, 2006

If you are making steady salary progress, it's hard to say it's a bad idea, but I think the jumps are too fast. It will likely catch up with you. If you get another offer, try asking for more $ from your current employer. Also, make sure you're not missing out on any pension vesting. That can be a significant hidden cost.
posted by theora55 at 10:08 AM on March 1, 2006

Do not badmouth a previous employer unless you have to.

I agree, and you never have to.
posted by phearlez at 10:33 AM on March 1, 2006

In IT in both Ireland and the Bay Area (US) I found that the easy mobility of 20-somethings can lead to a sense of massive optimism that eventually founders on the shoals of 30-somethinghood. You get out of university and start work and for a few years you can job hop every year or so, pulling in 10-30% increases in wages, and within a few years you find you've doubled your salary, and then doubled it again. It's quite impressive to someone who is young and without much perspective and probably accounts for a lot of the antipathy to collective bargaining, unionisation and a weird fondness for Objectivism common in that demographic. After 5-10 years of this, people begin to think they will be pulling in million dollar salaries by the time they are in their 50s. After all, that's what the curve looks like!

However, what I've noticed is that as these employees advance in years they reach a point where they simply aren't atttractive hires - they cost too much, their skills aren't as buzzword-friendly as recent college grads, and their family or living committments make it difficult to extract 70+ hour work weeks from them that boost productivity numbers. At that stage, unless they have been smart enough to build a serious consulting or contracting business, or have moved into the MBA/management track, they can find themselves relegated to the "slow track" IT world of 1-5% annual raises, and paltry bonuses. In their late 30s/early 40s is when a lot of techies suddenly start re-evaluating their attitude towards collective bargaining and anti-age discrimination policies.

It's probably a good thing that you got a reality check at this stage. It's a wake up call.
posted by meehawl at 10:59 AM on March 1, 2006

I find that the people that ask that question are usually clueless idiots. On my resume, it clearly says "CONTRACT" in red letters. I chose red thinking it'd stand out. It didn't. I still got people asking me "Why have you had so many jobs?" I still had to say "As I've noted on the resume, they were long term contract positions."

And meehawl speaks the truth.
posted by drstein at 11:48 AM on March 1, 2006