When hiring managers review your resume, some will look at your length of time with current and previous employers for signs of "job hopping," which could send a message that you lack career focus, get bored easily, or have a low tolerance for frustration.
An applicant who’s held five jobs in the last five years, for instance, may be sending the reddest of red flags. But an applicant who's spent one year each at two jobs and three years at another might raise only mild concern.
Indeed, job tenures are shorter than they were in, say, the 1960s and 1970s, a combination of less employer loyalty, more ambitious employees, and workers who are more apt to quit than put up with what they believe are frustrating jobs.
But how short is too short when it comes to job tenure? I had asked this question in a post earlier this year, but thought it would make a good poll question this time. So, what do you think is an acceptable length of time to stay in a job before moving on to something else? Vote in the poll below, and I welcome you to comment on this topic.
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While I would think a year is an acceptable amount of time, I think there are always exceptions. I know several people who have held jobs for only 6 months because it just wasn't right for them & they were miserable. Doesn't mean they are a bad employee.
@ Casie -- You're right, those short stints don't mean the people are bad employees. But it also offers a lesson that if you see or hear something unsavory about the job or company before they offer you the position, you should ask yourself if you really want it if you might wind up looking for something else in a matter of months.
I've also heard that staying too long in a job can also be a red flag; for example, if a person has been with the same company in the same position for 7 years or longer, the concern could be that the candidate is not very flexible. I don't necessarily agree with that assessment, but it could be something it keep in mind when thinking long-term about a career.