HOW LONG SHOULD YOU STAY IN A JOB?
Gone are the days when careers centred around one job, and job-hopping meant having more than two jobs in a lifetime. Today’s workers are much more in control of their career destiny.
But how long should you stay with the one company before considering new opportunities elsewhere? Most employers and recruiters would suggest 2-4 years for those seeking career development. Statistics back this up, with the median number of years that wage and salary workers had been with their current employers is approximately 4.1 years (Bureau of Labour Statistics).
However, one of the unwritten rules of taking a new job is keeping it for at least a year – even if you hate it.
THE ONE YEAR RULE
The one-year rule is founded in practicality: as starting a job is a huge adjustment, and it takes time to fully get used to it. Furthermore, the thinking goes, even if the environment is tough, you need to show professional commitment and stickability before moving on. A year also gives people time to make an impact at a company. That being said, more than one year with the same employer can seem like a lifetime if you’re spending every workday feeling underpaid, unappreciated, or unfulfilled.
PERCEPTION ABOUT CHANGING JOBS QUICKLY HAS CHANGED
RESISTANCE TO SHORT TERM TENURES BY EMPLOYERS
Turnover is one of the biggest expenses that a company can have, meaning Hiring Managers are less likely to choose candidates who have a track record of not sticking around. Furthermore, some employers see past performance as an indicator of future traits, and someone who leaves jobs before the “use by” date, could indicate to an employer that the same may happen again./
PUT A POSITIVE SPIN ON SHORT TENURES
FINAL THOUGHT
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