Bad to change jobs often?

[oiprocs]

I'm interested in many different careers and I think it is possible that I'll move from job to job, depending on how quickly I decide that I don't like the current job and/or want to try something else.

Perhaps many years down the road I will be able to say "Yeah, out of all the things I did, I enjoyed this the most" and concentrate my efforts on that career. At this age though, I'm not even thinking about settling.

Does it look bad on your resumé if you change jobs every year, or every 2 years? Maybe you see something like "Neffer, 6 months......Key Maker, 2 years....QA tester...1 year..",etc.

 

[buck]

Short answer, yes.

 

[zerocool1]

Originally posted by: buck
Short answer, yes.

depends on how long you stay in each position, the switches you made and why you made those switches,

 

[HN]

makes it more difficult to get paid more; you lose a bit of leverage. other than that, i see no problem.

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: oiprocs
I'm interested in many different careers and I think it is possible that I'll move from job to job, depending on how quickly I decide that I don't like the current job and/or want to try something else.

Perhaps many years down the road I will be able to say "Yeah, out of all the things I did, I enjoyed this the most" and concentrate my efforts on that career. At this age though, I'm not even thinking about settling.

Does it look bad on your resumé if you change jobs every year, or every 2 years? Maybe you see something like "Neffer, 6 months......Key Maker, 2 years....QA tester...1 year..",etc.

If you plan on staying a company for such short times, you're better off doing contract positions.

 

[CRXican]

Originally posted by: zerocool1

Originally posted by: buck
Short answer, yes.

depends on how long you stay in each position, the switches you made and why you made those switches,

agree with both posters

"I didn't like it" will not be the best answer when a potential new employer asks why you left the last job or two

 

[spidey07]

It does look bad and will remove you from consideration for many jobs. It costs a lot of money to bring somebody on. Many times you're not even supposed to put it on your resume if it's under a year.

 

[Pacemaker]

If you have a history of staying with a company for under a year then businesses will probably think you will do the same to them and may shy away from you.

 

[sonambulo]

It depends on a lot of different factors. Looking to move around between unskilled, entry-level jobs? Not a problem. You want a career? That's going to be a lot tougher.

I sort of do this now. The biggest problem you're going to face is getting your foot in the door. I read a lot about people applying for 100 jobs and hearing back from 2 or 3. I have to apply for about 200 to get the same amount of responses but any time I get an interview I'm offered a job on the spot once the employer sees what I'm all about.

So in short it's doable it's just a lot harder than going from one long steady job to another.

 

[joesmoke]

Considering the responses here with my own experiences I say this: If you bring a lot to the table and are confident about it, dont sweat it too much. If youre still trying to figure out what you want to do by doing lots of different things (and are fairly young) dont sweat it. If you are looking for a career in a certain area (especially if it will be the kind of position where lots of training will be required) you may want to take more consideration before jumping around. Just my $.02

 

[DayLaPaul]

Rather than jump around so much, you should be trying to find a position within the company that better suits your interests, even if it means transferring out of the department that hired you. It's a lot easier to do with a larger company, of course.

 

[BrownTown]

I dunno, it really depends what you do I guess. Most of the people I work with switch jobs every 6 months to 3 years (having a 3 year job would be considered very long). Its my understanding that if you don't switch jobs every 2 years or so you aren't gonna make as much money as you otherwise could. I would say where I work the average span for employment is about 9 months. Hell, even if I stayed with the same company I would probably move every 1-2 years to different job sites across the world. (its kind of cool actually having people around you who have worked in like 30 different states, or 10 different countries etc). All of us are going to be leaving this time next year, leading candidates for my next job are probably going to Maryland (Calvert Cliffs 3), Alabama (Bellefonte 1&2), or maybe even Cairo (brand new plants)

 

[oiprocs]

So even if I excelled at my job and produced great work, switching departments/jobsbecause "I want to try something else" is not a good idea?

Hmm. That sucks.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: oiprocs
So even if I excelled at my job and produced great work, switching departments/jobsbecause "I want to try something else" is not a good idea?

Hmm. That sucks.

Put it this way, what would you think if you were interviewing someone who said that?

 

[LumbergTech]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: oiprocs
So even if I excelled at my job and produced great work, switching departments/jobsbecause "I want to try something else" is not a good idea?

Hmm. That sucks.

Put it this way, what would you think if you were interviewing someone who said that?

I wouldn't think anything....are people supposed to lie to you instead?

I see your point, but I think its unreasonable.

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

As a manager, if I see someone that has changed jobs often I usually pass on their resume/application. Why? Because I'm looking for someone who wants stability not just an experience. Nothing worse than bringing someone on board, train them, then have them quit in a year or so.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: LumbergTech

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: oiprocs
So even if I excelled at my job and produced great work, switching departments/jobsbecause "I want to try something else" is not a good idea?

Hmm. That sucks.

Put it this way, what would you think if you were interviewing someone who said that?

I wouldn't think anything....are people supposed to lie to you instead?

I see your point, but I think its unreasonable.

You HAVE to think something as an interviewer. Your choices determine how much ime and money is spent on an employee. Poor choices are not an option in this economy.

 

[imported_Imp]

Suggests that you lack committment and loyalty. If you constantly move upward, then you maybe seizing oppurtunities, but how long can they count on you to stay? Same goes for quitters.

 

[BrownTown]

Originally posted by: Imp
Suggests that you lack committment and loyalty. If you constantly move upward, then you maybe seizing oppurtunities, but how long can they count on you to stay? Same goes for quitters.

I would say its foolish to have any "commitment and loyalty" to a company, because they will not do the same for you. If you are not moving up then you can expect nothing more than the nominal raises of like 3-5% a year. If your company hasn't given you a REAL promotion in 2-3 years then its time to go somewhere else. If you are excelling in your job and not being paid accordingly then make plans to leave. Remember that the goal isn't necessarily to move up in rank, but move up in money, these are 2 different things.

But anyway, like I said before, its a totally different thing if you being hired for a 6 month contract , or a permanent job.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: BrownTown

Originally posted by: Imp
Suggests that you lack committment and loyalty. If you constantly move upward, then you maybe seizing oppurtunities, but how long can they count on you to stay? Same goes for quitters.

I would say its foolish to have any "commitment and loyalty" to a company, because they will not do the same for you. If you are not moving up then you can expect nothing more than the nominal raises of like 3-5% a year. If your company hasn't given you a REAL promotion in 2-3 years then its time to go somewhere else. If you are excelling in your job and not being paid accordingly then make plans to leave. Remember that the goal isn't necessarily to move up in rank, but move up in money, these are 2 different things.

But anyway, like I said before, its a totally different thing if you being hired for a 6 month contract , or a permanent job.

Sounds like you have only worked for uber-corporate companies. My company may be a billion dollar enterprise, but the owner is incredibly loyal and committed to his employees.