How Long Should You Stay in a Job? The Pros and Cons of Job-Hopping

Depending on the situation, job-hopping or changing jobs can improve your career or dim your job prospects. Thus, it's crucial to understand when to leave or when to stay in a job.

Switching careers has its pros and cons. While each person’s circumstances are unique, and the decision to stay or leave is personal, you must consider several factors. It’s also necessary to assess when it’s time to leave your current role for better opportunities. 

How Long Do People Usually Stay at Their Jobs?

A recent survey of 1,000 Singaporean workers found that about 200 (20 per cent) have worked in their current jobs for five to six years. However, 25 per cent of the respondents have changed jobs in the last year.

In a similar study dated January 2022, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reveals that the median number of years workers have stayed with their jobs is 4.1 years. Workers in the service sector had a median tenure of 2.8 years. The job's nature and conditions, worker age, and economic factors affect how long a worker stays.

Is There Such a Thing as Staying Too Long?

Do you think you're missing out on other opportunities because you've overstayed at your current job? Accumulating years for one employer may signal that you've gained expertise and are good at what you do. However, potential employers may wonder if your scope of knowledge is too narrow. If you don't play your cards right, your lack of movement may also be a sign of complacency and a lack of adaptability.

Doing the same thing over several years without being promoted or evolving may leave you stagnated and lower your value to other companies. You may also find yourself feeling less and less fulfilled. So if the years aren’t adding to your skills, hireability, and happiness, you know it’s time to move on. It's necessary to embrace a growth mindset, whether you're sticking it out in your current role or moving on to a new one.

How Soon Is Too Soon to Quit?

The concept of working for a company for life is outdated. The old belief was that it was acceptable for workers to leave after two years. The period entails the company has recouped the costs from training and onboarding you. Your ability to commit to a job may be questioned if you depart in less than two years, giving the impression you're a job-hopper.

What Is a Job-Hopper?

A job-hopper is someone who has held more jobs in fewer years. If you have a series of short-term stints in your resume, prospective employers will see you as a job-hopper. Thus, you must be ready to explain why you changed jobs often. Workers who quit easily are lost investments for companies, so employers are wary of those who cannot seem to commit to a job.

What Are Good Reasons to Leave a Job?

There are good reasons to leave a job. For example, if you are unhappy and dread going to work daily then staying may not be your best option. 

According to job satisfaction statistics, around 79 per cent of people leave their jobs because they feel undervalued, while 75 per cent do so because they are unhappy with management.

Another good reason to leave a job is when you feel that you are no longer learning anything new. It is when you are stuck doing the same things every day without variety and progress.

Job stagnation is another reason. It is when you are passed over for promotion due to politics or a freeze. If you haven’t moved from your role in over five years, it is time to question your future in the company.  

Being presented with better opportunities is another valid reason to leave. Perhaps it is a step up from your current role, a higher salary, or a chance to work on more challenging projects. More than the length of time you spent at a company, you should consider how your stay there is helping to boost or hold back your career.

Pros of Changing Jobs

You gain an opportunity to gain new skills and experiences.

New roles present new challenges and thus allow you to build a more diverse skill set. In turn, it helps you grow professionally and makes you more hireable.

You get to meet new people.

You can expand your network each time you change jobs as long as you are careful not to burn bridges when you leave. Taking on new roles opens new doors and widens your world professionally. 

You have more chances for career advancement.

If you are not getting promoted at your current job, perhaps you can take on a higher role at a new company. Internal reasons such as seniority, a freeze policy in promotions, or competition among employees can prevent you from getting the recognition you deserve. All that changes when you move to a different company because your new employers have the advantage of seeing you and your abilities more objectively.

You're receiving an increased salary.

A broader your work portfolio bolsters your expertise, which makes your compensation more likely to increase. Some people change jobs for this reason alone. If you move to a different role because of money, it's okay. Remember to prove your worth and show that you are also committed to doing a good job.

You'll experience a new environment. 

When you’ve reached peak stagnation at your job, a new environment may be just what you need. A change in your physical workspace can stimulate your creativity and drive while meeting new people gives you new input and perspectives. 

Cons of Changing Jobs

Of course, there are also disadvantages to changing jobs frequently. 

You need to prove yourself.

With a new role comes a need to establish your value to the company. The job market is highly competitive, so everyone at the office will be curious about just how good the new hire will be, including the person who would have been promoted to the position you just occupied. Imagine doing this over and over again with every switch. 

Your new job may be more stressful.

Do you job-hop because work got too overwhelming? Just because you changed jobs doesn’t mean the new one won’t have its problems. For example, your new boss might be more challenging than the last one. However, as long as you are willing to embrace change and everything that comes with it, you will be able to cope just fine.

Adjustment may be challenging.

Policies, rules, norms, processes, and routines may be different from what you are used to. And many times these issues come from growing pains. If you quit too quickly, you might not be giving yourself enough time to adjust. Try to learn as much as you can early on to reduce any friction with colleagues. 

Ready to quit your current job? Here are some questions you need to ask yourself to assess whether or not you are prepared for the change.

Questions to Ask Yourself

What are your career goals? 

This is important because you need to know what you are working toward.

How is your current job accomplishing these goals? What is it not fulfilling?

Knowing this tells you what you want from moving to another job.

How does your job history look?

If your resume shows consecutive short-term jobs, think about how quitting now would affect your image to prospective employers. However, if movement is common in your industry, then varied work experience would be a plus.

What are your prospects?

Consider the industry, economic factors, and your age when you think about your hireability. If there are opportunities available, then you should have no fear of quitting. 

However, Channel News Asia (CNA) reports that total employment in Singapore has posted positive numbers. Employees are also reskilling. So make sure you have what it takes to enter this competitive job market before quitting your job. 

What to Do When You Decide to Quit?

Find out how much notice you are required to give

Two weeks is standard, but your company policy may be different. 

Look for job prospects.

It’s better to start looking for a job while you are still employed. But be discreet and don’t do it on company time. Also, make sure to update your resume. You can check out templates here.

Prepare a resignation letter.

Keep it professional and remember not to burn bridges. If you leave on good terms, you could get a glowing recommendation. 

Check with HR.

Are there benefits due you, such as unused vacation leaves? Discuss with your HR how you can avail of these before you go.

Clean up work devices.

If you are using a company laptop or tablet, remember to delete personal files before handing in the machine. 

Prepare for turnover.

Make sure your department and your successor won’t be lost. Organise the files and projects to be turned over ahead of time.

Prepare for exciting days ahead.

Changing jobs is an exciting event. It can be a terrific opportunity for growth and advancement. As long as you do it at the right time and plan for it well, the change should be positive all around.

How long you should stay in a job before quitting depends on the industry, your history, and your readiness to embrace change. It also depends on whether or not you want to #SEEKBetter for yourself. That’s better work life, better opportunities, and better job satisfaction.

Ready to #SEEKBetter? Log on to JobStreet today to check out what opportunities are available to you. If you haven’t signed up yet, download the JobStreet app on Google Play or App Store.