Respectable Tenure these days?
Discussion
I've had a few jobs but mostly stay in a company for 3-4 years. The last job I had was only a year as I was headhunted for my current role. The job I took on however is HIGH pressure, no support and toxic as anything to the extent I want out after nearly a year (I am on 6 month notice so would be 18 months all in). In terms of last 4 jobs- 4 years- 2 years- 1 and now 1
is this bad? Should I care? This current role has me staying awake some nights and at time can negatively effect my mood and health.
is this bad? Should I care? This current role has me staying awake some nights and at time can negatively effect my mood and health.
Depends.
Whilst there are clearly exceptions (e.g., sale of a business) I’d say for a senior role you need to be in for at least 2-3 years; any less than that and it’s pretty hard to say it was a success or that you stuck out the rough with the smooth. One-off short tenures can perhaps be explained, but repeated it becomes a suspicious pattern.
Whilst there are clearly exceptions (e.g., sale of a business) I’d say for a senior role you need to be in for at least 2-3 years; any less than that and it’s pretty hard to say it was a success or that you stuck out the rough with the smooth. One-off short tenures can perhaps be explained, but repeated it becomes a suspicious pattern.
It gets easier as time goes on and you have a little more money to play with I find....
The tendency to want to stick 2 fingers up at everyone becomes more than irresistible urge but perhaps more difficult for those who have longer term finances, targets and agendas to plan for
But I think I'm in the same boat on the job front needing to change ( except the stress, they ain't keeping me up at night lol ).....can you stay in the role but kind of look at it differently, stress about it less perhaps
Personally I wouldn’t care.
I am seeing more and more applicants to where I work with tenures of under 18mths and also people leaving after 10-14mths for the next challenge.
Just seems to be a current trend and frankly, I’m looking, and unless it’s something extra special it will only be a short period (max 2yrs I expect) for me (and I’ve been with my current employer for approaching 10yrs as it stands now)
I am seeing more and more applicants to where I work with tenures of under 18mths and also people leaving after 10-14mths for the next challenge.
Just seems to be a current trend and frankly, I’m looking, and unless it’s something extra special it will only be a short period (max 2yrs I expect) for me (and I’ve been with my current employer for approaching 10yrs as it stands now)
x5tuu said:
Personally I wouldn’t care.
I am seeing more and more applicants to where I work with tenures of under 18mths and also people leaving after 10-14mths for the next challenge.
Just seems to be a current trend and frankly, I’m looking, and unless it’s something extra special it will only be a short period (max 2yrs I expect) for me (and I’ve been with my current employer for approaching 10yrs as it stands now)
Easy for you to say with your big, shiny 10 years I am seeing more and more applicants to where I work with tenures of under 18mths and also people leaving after 10-14mths for the next challenge.
Just seems to be a current trend and frankly, I’m looking, and unless it’s something extra special it will only be a short period (max 2yrs I expect) for me (and I’ve been with my current employer for approaching 10yrs as it stands now)
Thanks for this, I suspect as long as there is a story, it can look better than saying in one place for too long.
I don't think I'd worry about the length of your tenure in your current role, so much as the trend. 4, 2, 1. That would make me worry that the next one will be six months!
If you have the money set aside, taking six months out to gain a new qualification could be a better bet I think. If you need the income though - I feel like all you can do is ask your network and try to avoid that initial rejection phase.
If you have the money set aside, taking six months out to gain a new qualification could be a better bet I think. If you need the income though - I feel like all you can do is ask your network and try to avoid that initial rejection phase.
TopTrump said:
x5tuu said:
Personally I wouldn’t care.
I am seeing more and more applicants to where I work with tenures of under 18mths and also people leaving after 10-14mths for the next challenge.
Just seems to be a current trend and frankly, I’m looking, and unless it’s something extra special it will only be a short period (max 2yrs I expect) for me (and I’ve been with my current employer for approaching 10yrs as it stands now)
Easy for you to say with your big, shiny 10 years I am seeing more and more applicants to where I work with tenures of under 18mths and also people leaving after 10-14mths for the next challenge.
Just seems to be a current trend and frankly, I’m looking, and unless it’s something extra special it will only be a short period (max 2yrs I expect) for me (and I’ve been with my current employer for approaching 10yrs as it stands now)
Thanks for this, I suspect as long as there is a story, it can look better than saying in one place for too long.
x5tuu said:
Its certainly not a positive IMO - lots of friends/family/ex-colleagues used to criticise me when I was in my 20s for job hopping every couple of years (essentially when I got bored of the politics) and then when I hit 31 settled into a really varied role, but I would argue that its actually stagnated me and made me less desirable as a new-hire elsewhere (thankfully 'only' 41 so plenty of time to rectify this for me!). Keeping going with the short-tenure, variety really is the spice of life!
Good luck with your next steps. It's all about the stories IMOPeople can have a funny attitude about this. I used to be an IT contractor- 21 years - and people always said a permie employer wouldn’t want me as they’d think I’d leave after a short period.
I’ve had one permanent job ever - just about to start my 11th year in it; they actually bought me out of my contract.
If the job makes you happy, you’ll stay in it.
I’ve had one permanent job ever - just about to start my 11th year in it; they actually bought me out of my contract.
If the job makes you happy, you’ll stay in it.
Flooble said:
Wow that's quite a career length anyway - 21 + 11 + however long it took you to skill up prior to going contracting (5 years?). Impressive, I think I'd have knocked off by now. You must really love it!
Contracting pretty well straight after getting my degree (computer science and French). I’d done over a year on my sandwich placement doing what I needed (in French) so got my degree and world was my lobster. Straight into a contract doing the same thing. If you’re young(ish) and looking for advancement then the value of a long tenure at one employer is only in the growth you can demonstrate over the period.
10 years in the same role just ticking over looks very different on the CV to 10 years where you’ve seen business growth of 10x and been promoted 4 times along the way.
10 years in the same role just ticking over looks very different on the CV to 10 years where you’ve seen business growth of 10x and been promoted 4 times along the way.
I wouldn't see an issue with the pattern of jobs you have. Might ask about it in the interview. Everyone makes the occasional duff move but if you can explain it and not seem completely self unaware then it's not a problem
The CVs that ring alarm bells are the ones that have no jobs longer than a year, lots of 6 month, 9 month.
The CVs that ring alarm bells are the ones that have no jobs longer than a year, lots of 6 month, 9 month.
x5tuu said:
Its certainly not a positive IMO - lots of friends/family/ex-colleagues used to criticise me when I was in my 20s for job hopping every couple of years (essentially when I got bored of the politics) and then when I hit 31 settled into a really varied role, but I would argue that its actually stagnated me and made me less desirable as a new-hire elsewhere (thankfully 'only' 41 so plenty of time to rectify this for me!). Keeping going with the short-tenure, variety really is the spice of life!
I was similar; job-hopped a bit in my early 20s but found a role I stayed in for 7 years and then the next one where I am now having just reached 11 years. I'm really happy where I am with no plans to move at present but I'm aware it'll get harder to move as I get older (I'm 44 now).TopTrump said:
I've had a few jobs but mostly stay in a company for 3-4 years. The last job I had was only a year as I was headhunted for my current role. The job I took on however is HIGH pressure, no support and toxic as anything to the extent I want out after nearly a year (I am on 6 month notice so would be 18 months all in). In terms of last 4 jobs- 4 years- 2 years- 1 and now 1
is this bad? Should I care? This current role has me staying awake some nights and at time can negatively effect my mood and health.
OP, if you can’t change this, you should leave. The length of time doesn’t matter much, just needs to be explained when asked. More importantly though, it is not healthy or productive to stay in a job that makes you feel like this. is this bad? Should I care? This current role has me staying awake some nights and at time can negatively effect my mood and health.
The bigger risk is that if you stay where you are you end up with burnout and/or depression. Start making plans to move on. You deserve better.
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