How long do you tend to stay in a job for?

[Rainydays55]

People seem to change job more often nowadays, it’s no longer that you stay in a job for years, how often do you tend to stay in a job? Do you think it’s good to change/ keep it fresh?

2-2.5 years max.
I'd never have had the great pay increases i've had (or the experience!) if i had stayed in one workplace, or in fact in just one sector.

Still a mystery to me how people find jobs they really like.

It's not helpful I'm ND and struggle with various aspects of some jobs. But if I was young now I'd do something in the emergency services.

Just to add, staying in those roles longer wouldn't have given me anything. i like to go in, fix things, future proof the dept and move on with that extra experience under my belt.
Being a long timer at a workplace fills me with dread - i'd be so bored doing that in my job role!

It's interesting that a lot of the longer stay roles coincide with having younger children. It makes sense of course. Can't work out if I think it's negative IE career stagnating or a positive to employers as experience is valued and getting new people every couple of years means a lot of repeat training.

@Weepingwillows12 it certainly makes nonsense of the prejudice some employers have against employing women they think are likely to get pregnant. From this thread it seems that they're the most loyal employees.

Four roles over ten years in one job (I looked for a new job every time the role got boring, but got promoted regularly).

Then 15 months (awful place). Now on an 18m contract.

Planning to join my sister contract hopping post mat-leave. Lots of lucrative short term contracts in my line of work, and can fill in with freelancing.

I've been in the same organisation for 24 years but had lots of different roles. I was in 1 grade for 16 years and did 7 roles in that time (2 of which were 6 years each, and most of the changes happened during Covid to cover emergency needs).

Generally you expect to do 3-4 years in a role and then move to something else if you are still in the same grade, sometimes it's slightly longer if particularly technical or specialised, sometimes shorter if business needs demand resources somewhere else. And there are good progression opportunities and family-friendly options as well.

I like the organisation but I think the regular moving to different roles is good to learn new things and build your own expertise, as well as a chance to pass on your knowledge around the organisation to others.

This one is almost matching my longest of six years. But I don't see any reason to move at the moment. Most jobs are more stressful and less well-paid, in my experience.

I hate change so rarely move before 5 years is up. My last job was 9 years but that was about 4 years too long tbh. It was a toxic culture and I let it sap my self esteem.

Been in my current job 2 years. Quite happy at the moment. Think I could probably last a few more years before I get itchy feet.