How long should you spend in your first job?

Sleepy

I've been working in the same role (Application Support Consultant/Analyst) since I finished my post-grad studies two years ago and I'm starting to find elements of the job quite boring and getting a little frustrated at some of the companies practices. Don't get me wrong, it's a great place to work; the people are lovely, management are very fair and it's a straight working week without much over-time.

I'm wondering how employers tend to look at these things when looking at a CV? Should you stay a certain length in your first "proper" job? Or, are you better to move around a bit?

is_that_so

Two years is good enough. Anything less than 1 year is viewed with extreme suspicion. Most people expect to change jobs 3-4 times in their lives, excluding the holiday jobs. If you have been there over two years, then put it down as years so put 2002-2005 and not dates.

0utshined

Two to Three years sounds about right. It shows that you can stick at a job without bailing at the first sign of trouble while also showing that you're a decent enough worker as they kept you for that long. Having said that if you enjoy where you're looking maybe you should stay in the company but look for a new job within it?

ixoy

I vote for thinking about moving on. I was in a previous job for 3.5 years: the hours were grand, the work easy (but boring), and the people nice. Complacency sunk in and I would have drifted in the same position there for ages, given there was a lack of promotion opportunities (and not those I ultimately desired anyway). I wanted to motivate myself to move on further, knew on some level that I should, but could never get the impetus to do so until exigent circumstances came about (I was made redundant).

I'd like to say I'm in a better place now but, more correctly, I hope to be in a better place soon (got a new job to replace my new job). I say go ahead and try a new place.

Sleepy

That sounds quite like where I am ixoy. There's some opportunity for promotion to an area which would be a good step towards what I'd like to do eventually but at the moment, I'm a bit too necessary to the team I'm currently in to be let take the position with the team I want to get onto. (Nothing to do with my talents, just the position our team is in at the moment due to others who are here a year or so longer than me getting promoted and new staff hired to replace them).

The other thing keeping me here is there are rumours of us going public in the press and as we all know, that can be lucrative for employees!

the_syco

Sleepy wrote:

two years

...

I'm wondering how employers tend to look at these things when looking at a CV?

Look at where you want to go. See how many years experience you need to get into that job. Add 6 months, and thats your answer.

Sleepy wrote:

I'm a bit too necessary to the team

If your necessary, they may not let you go too easily, as its in their best interests to keep you.

Boggle

You'll only find out how much they want you to stay when you are leaving. Look for a job more in line with what you want to be doing and when you leave tell your boss why you are leaving. If you are any good to the company then you will get that job you want otherwise move on.

Don't worry about the company going public - if you move you will be moving to a better salary anyway.

nesf

The whole 3-4 jobs in your life thing is based on the older job markets and job types. In more recent times, things have changed in some industries. Top level people can be very mobile. (Top level as in highly skilled not necessarily high up in a company).

Although most people seem to prefer to find a place they like or one that is comfortable and stick with it. People like security. Security is hard to find if you're changing job every few years for a long period of time.

Plus if you do it too often you can get "labelled" as someone with no loyalty to your employers. This isn't a good thing.


However in your case Sleepy, I'd say give serious thought to moving on. Maybe in another 6-12 months or something. As you said it's not something that you need to rush, you're not unhappy there. If you rush it you might end up in a worse postition and regret it.

Take your time. Relax and check out the different positions you could move into. If you've completed a PhD would research or lecturing appeal to you? (I don't know your field so I don't know if this is viable)

Regardless, good luck with it.

OctavarIan

I'm still in school and in a part-time job, how long would you say I should stick with it?

is_that_so

OctavarIan wrote:

I'm still in school and in a part-time job, how long would you say I should stick with it?

School jobs don't really matter unless you're changing every few months . If you can get a better one go for it.