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Job Duration: indicators of stability, commitment, and growth
Hi,
I’m Alix and it’s my mission to help as many of the next generation as possible work in jobs that meet their passion and purpose, making them happy and fulfilled adults.
As I had to traverse the career path on my own, from working out what options I should take at school, right through to what happened next and which job to go for, I settled into a career not knowing the multitude of possibilities out there.
With no support, advice or mentoring myself, this website is here to provide support and hand holding where you may not have any.
If I’d had any type of support, someone who could see my strengths and weaknesses, cared enough to ask me what I liked doing and how could I turn that into a career, I could have found my right path years ago.
But I want you to find a career that makes you want to jump out of bed in the morning, keen to start. like I am now.
Here on this website, you’ll find a series of articles that I pray will guide you in finding your passion and purpose early.
I want you to treat this website as a ‘virtual mentor’ available for you to jump in and out of no matter where you are in your career.
So, as I always say, grab a snack and let’s jump in.
Today we’re investigating, from a recruiting employer's viewpoint, the ideal length of time to stay in a job so that your CV impresses when you apply for that coveted job, leading to an interview for the one position that will make you a happy and fulfilled adult.
A job length varies depending on the industry, role, and career stage, but generally, the following guidelines are what recruiters look for:
Early career (your first 5 years)…
2-3 years per role:
During the early stages of your career, it's often acceptable to stay in a job for 2-3 years. This shows that you're gaining experience and building skills without appearing as though you're jumping around too much.
Employers understand that early in your career, you might still be exploring different paths, though if you’ve read my book, ‘I am Choosing my Options’, crammed with hints and tips for finding your right career path, you will know already!
It can also, however, be an indication that you’re still searching for what type of company can offer a natural progression, with promotions almost laid out in front of you. If this is the case, state that you’re looking for a company that you can grow with, that you’re keen to make a career with them, they could be keener to employ someone they can invest heavily in, knowing you’ll be repaying that investment.
If you’re applying for a training programme, companies definitely want to know you’re going to repay that training, so, again, tell them you’re looking for a company to grow with.
Mid-career (5-15 years of experience)...
3-5 years per role:
At this stage, employers generally expect more stability. Staying in a role for at least 3-5 years demonstrates that you can grow within a position, handle long-term projects, and contribute meaningfully to an organisation.
It also shows commitment and reliability. Any position will involve training, if only in how a particular company works. Companies want to avoid having to train new employees over and over.
Senior level (15+ years of experience)…
5+ years per role:
For more senior or leadership positions, employers prefer to see longer tenures, typically 5 years or more.
This suggests that you have the capability to lead and sustain strategic initiatives over the long term, build and maintain relationships, and guide a team or company through different phases of growth.
Exceptions…
Contract or project-based work:
In industries or roles where short-term contracts or project-based work is common (e.g., consulting, freelance, tech startups), shorter stays might be more acceptable, as long as they’re framed within the context of the job market norms.
If your work involves this type of positions, make sure your CV states this, rather than it reads that you’ve moved from one job to another. Also, if you’ve been asked to stay on at a company to handle another project, or asked to return to do so, make sure this is added so that the fact that you’re so good at what you do, companies would rather you came back than find another contractor, is evident.
Career changes or upheaval:
Employers may also understand shorter stays if they are due to significant career changes, company closures, relocations, or other personal circumstances.
However, consistent short stints (e.g., less than a year in multiple roles) may raise concerns about your stability.
Red flags for employers…
Frequent job hopping:
Regularly leaving jobs after less than a year can be a red flag, as it might suggest a lack of commitment, poor performance, difficulty working with others or that you’re still searching for the right career for you, the one you’re prepared to invest in.
Employers may worry that you might leave them too soon as well, wasting any time invested in training you into the position.
Conclusion…
In summary, while there's no one-size-fits-all answer, generally staying in a job for at least 2-5 years depending on your career stage and industry is seen as a positive indicator of stability, commitment, and growth.
So, make sure you’re on the right career path by identifying your passion and purpose. This will lead you to your highest potential and make you a happy and fulfilled adult. Something we all should aim to be.
To finish, I’d love to hear how you’re getting on and, where possible, if we can help more.
Lastly, I wanted to both wish you luck and say that I know you can do it.
Success is within your grasp!
