It's challenging to determine how long the average employee stays with their present employer. The length of an employment relationship varies depending on a number of variables, including geography, age, and how much a person enjoys their work.
Most experts concur that you should remain in your current position for at least two years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median tenure of wage and salary workers at their jobs as of January 2020 was 4.1 years.
The biggest fear some people have about leaving their current jobs is how their resumes may look after. Only being employed somewhere for six months might be a red flag to potential employers.
There is no ideal period of employment, though. It should ultimately be up to you to decide how long you should stay at a job before quitting.
When thinking about how long you should stay in a job, make sure you consider the positive things that can happen. Here are five pros that can come from switching to a new job:
1. You can enhance your career and learn new abilities at a new job. 2. You might be able to make more money than you did in your previous position. 3. You might leave bad bosses or a poisonous workplace behind.
4. You'll gain greater confidence and step outside your comfort zone. 5. As you interact with new people, networking will become simpler for you.
Your decision about how long you should stay in a job can definitely be impacted by potentially negative consequences. Here are five cons to consider when switching jobs:
1. It's possible that you won't land a job that pays more than your last one. 2. It could be challenging to adapt to new changes. 3. It might turn out that your new job is more stressful than you anticipated.
4. Depending on your industry, the state of the market, and your level of expertise at the moment, your employment options may be restricted. 5. Unless the job is remote, you might work more hours or have a longer commute.