How old are you and how many jobs have you had?

[JunesDunes]

My Dad was moaning about how no one sticks to one job/company now and that he doesnt understand why people are constantly looking for new jobs and moving about.

He is past retirement but still working. He works for a very traditional company with a job for life, only move for a promotion type approach. He has been there since school and excluding a couple of sideways moves, he has followed that path. He hasn't always been happy there but "it's what you do".

I tried to explain why most jobs don't work like that anymore and that people are more willing to move if they are unhappy and all the other reasons to change jobs/careers. But he didnt get it.

So I'm curious about your experiences?

I'm late 40s.
At school/college/university I had 4 jobs but they were typical transient student jobs so I dont really count those.

Since then I've worked for 4 companies. However within those companies I've had at least 12 different roles, some sideways and some progression. Some my choice, others due to restructure or redundancy etc.

So basically a new job on average every 2ish years which seems a lot when I put put like that! But I do stay in companies for a while.

Assuming nothing major happens, I dont have any plans to leave my current company, although I'll probably move about in it. I dont always like it but it fits around my life not the other way round. I am also counting down to retirement (😂), I'm not ambitious anymore and just cant be bothered tbh.

Late 40s, not including ‘while at college’ type jobs, I’ve worked for four companies and moved about within them. Was at one company for 19 years full time and part time as I had kids. I know people that move jobs every two years. I suspect this is how they get good salary raises but I don’t think I could be arsed to keep doing that.

I’ve had 6 different jobs with 6 different companies. I’m 55. I’m currently working freelance for an agency, so lots of different companies, but I’m only counting that as one. My longest stint was 10 years, so I’m. It a job hopper.

I’ve only ever quit twice, the rest were redundancies. I would have loved a job for life type of career, but it hasnt worked out like that.

I’m mid 40s … 3 college / uni jobs.
Since starting my career I’ve worked for 5 different companies. Not stayed more than 4 years, current company been there just over 4 years and no current plans to leave.
When moving up the career ladder you can progress faster in my industry if you change companies, and get better money, rather than wait for promotion within the current organisation.

I'm 55 and have had 5 jobs during my career

I’m 61 and have had 10 jobs (one lasted 26 years) others between 2- 4 years (Nanny roles), my current is 8 years.

Oh god, millions: I've got a CV that reads like War and Peace.

I work in a niche area of IT where it pays to move on every couple of years. High risk, but high reward.

In saying that, I'm 47 now and hoping my next move might be either my penultimate or last one - hoping to retire (as an FTE, anyway) in about 10 years.

I'm 52 and I've had two jobs, plus a holiday job while I was at uni, plus a very part time job while I was a SAHM.

2 PT jobs while at college.

Then worked for 2 companies -

One for 25 years (6 IT roles, then 3 Supply Chain roles)

Current for 13 years (2 Supply Chain roles, then 2 IT roles)

I’m 60 and have had 8 jobs. Some were in the same career but I changed location, the later ones were a change of career post children.

I’m mid 40s

Just talking about “proper” career jobs post-uni and professional qualifications then 4

Job 1 lasted 7 years
Job 2 lasted 1.5 years (HATED it)
job 3 lasted a year but it was a temporary contract so that was the nature of it, I liked the job
Job 4 lasted 12 years and counting

I have my issues with current job but it’s flexible around my DC and well paid so I’m hanging in there…..

Not including Saturday/casual/side hustles, 14 different jobs across 11 different employers, I’m 57. Longest I’ve been in one post 6.5 years, shortest 2 years. Been in current job just under a year and hoping it will see me through to retirement.

43

Including part time bar/restaurant/call centre work as a teen I've worked at 7 places.

well I had one in a show shop for a few months, then a cake shop for a few months, then a supermarket for a few years. that was 16-18.
one all through uni.
short term one when I first left uni and then a "proper" job for a decade plus a part time job for about 5 years at the same time before I left both to have kids.
I did one volunteer job alongside work for over a decade, which overlapped with a volunteering job i still have, coming up to 20 years plus one I've started more recently which is coming io for 4 years.

so 7 paid from 16-33, plus 3 vol from 22-44.but some of those overlapped

I’m in my 40’s & had 6 jobs, walked out of 1 after 24 hours & another after 3 days.
Been in current job for 16 years along with quite a few colleagues but new owners are piling on the work load with no extra time or money so we’re all job searching again.

Ooh I look dead flighty compared to most of you! I didn’t think I was

I have a relative who just turned 65 and he’s retiring having only ever worked for one company. So it still happens. It has to be said that there have been so many buyouts and mergers that the company name has changed every ten years or so.

Im 57 and leaving Saturday and temp jobs out, I’ve worked really 12 jobs in 36 years. That’s just how it has worked. I can make my CV look a lot calmer than that sounds, because the last four or five jobs have been so closely related, and that covers a good 15 years, so frankly if you’re looking back further than that you’re a bit bonkers.

In unrelated news, my relative with one job has also only ever had one relationship. I’m about to marry for the third time. People differ.

I'm 46. Have worked for 3 companies but held 7 jobs in total. That seems pretty low, but like you, OP, I am constantly being told by (some) older relatives that I move around too much. They seem to think that this demonstrates some sort of poor work ethic, which will reflect badly on me. I've tried to explain that this is all completely normal these days. Have also pointed out that if some of these critics were to count up all the promotions they received over their lifetime career with one company it would probably be fairly similar, it's just that, at least in my sector, there is no automatic promotion - I need to apply for a new job in order to earn more.

I'm 47. Think I've worked for 10 companies full-time since going into the workforce 'proper'. My record is 5 jobs in 4 years (trying to find the right role/culture for me). Current role is coming up to 4 years. Once I hit a certain level it became less about chasing higher pay/career experience and more about finding a job that gave me a sense of fulfilment, satisfaction & purpose, whilst also allowing me that precious work/life balance so that I could enjoy all the things I want to do outside of the office.

I currently hold 3 jobs 😅 there were 4 three years ago… overall I have been working for 25 years roughly and I have worked in 6 places post university.

My Dad was like that - worked for two companies and didn't understand why I had so many jobs!

I'm late 50s and have had loads. Made redundant about 6 times so had no choice in that. Relocated so job change there. Worked for 5 different companies in the last 10 years alone.

ETA: No kids and worked since I was 16.

late 30's, on my 5th company, 7th job. I work in an industry where it is normal/encouraged to move every 2-4 years. OH's industry is much more niche, has been at the same company since he graduated.

55. Taught in two schools- one for 27 years

I've just remembered I have done a load of temp jobs over college/uni holidays and when I've been between jobs too so that bumps the number up even more. 🤣

I've had all those jobs but I've been with my husband 28years.

7 jobs ages 14-22, some of them 2 at a time. Since qualifying as a nurse I have had 5 jobs in 14 years with 3 promotions. Same Trust though

I'm 56 and my CV would read like "Yellow Pages" if I listed them all. Full Time Mon - Friday, Pt Weekends only, Nights I've done all different hours depending on the job role. I like variety and used to soak up information like a sponge so would move on to the next job that was always a step up and more money.

That changed slightly when I had children but only for a few years as I was the higher earner of the family so I have always need to work, sometimes 2 roles just to keep the wolves from the door.

I've worked in my current role for 11 years, but that is mainly because it's on my doorstep, I have my own office, and don't answer to anyone but the Director who can't do my job so leaves me to it 😁

For some companies I'm classed as a flight risk, but for others I'm a blessing as I know more than I should (if that makes sense)