To ask how long you should spend in a job?

[whatareyoudoinghere]

I’ve had a lot of changes in my working life and currently am doing my longest stint, which is three and a half years. Before that I only managed a maximum of two years.

I am wondering whether to apply for another role but on balance wondering if it’s better to stay longer. Or if it really doesn’t matter. I am a teacher.

With any role that's enjoyable and successful for me, I'd only be doing less than 5 years unless promotion, redundancy, necessary geographical move, children or elder concerns, illness. Just wouldn't look otherwise. Under 5 years is often not moving for career purposes and will look like that on a cv

As an employer, your history of moving so often would be a massive red flag to me as it suggests you can’t hold down a job (even if that’s not the reason). It will damage your prospects.

I'm in a similar stress level and pay level job - social worker. Longest I've stayed in a role in 14 years is 3 years. I've found it hard to juggle work and childcare and have hopped around looking for more money and more flexibility.
I really want to find a job I could stay 20 years in but I just can't in reality see myself staying put, I get bored easily.

I'm a teacher in Scotland. 25 years service with one employer...

I move jobs every 2-3 years due to boredom but cover it up on my CV by saying I've been working in fixed term contracts.

23 years in one job. The pay & pension are too good to leave. Public sector transport. I can't find an equivalent job with similar benefits anywhere else.

If I could take a pay cut, I'd leave tomorrow.

7 years, 13 years, 3 years. Current job 1 year.

Of you are moving for promotions, or are young, every 2 years is fine. But maybe once you find something you like, longer, say 5 years, to show a future recruiter you also have stick ability.

I think moving around jobs is largely dependent on the sort of job you have & or, industry. I work in transportation for instance.. not sure where wise I’d rather move to.

What is it you think you could improve by moving? Easier commute, different responsibilities, more money would all be valid reasons. However if you are just finding the current school difficult could you proactively make some changes? On the other hand, if you decide to apply for other things, perhaps be ready with a convincing reply to the questions about frequent moves and about what you are looking for now. For instance, if you have been a head of department in the past, and apply for that kind of role, say how you miss the overall shaping of the department or something like that.

The impression I had was there is such a shortage of teachers that schools didn’t have the luxury of worrying about things like this.

I think the issue is you really need a long tenure on your cv- 6 years or similar. Staying for 3 rather than 2 doesn’t reallly change the story your cv tells

I would have thought that tech was somewhere where you needed to move on quite frequently - either for a promotion or because a lot of jobs are for projects and so end after a comparatively short time.

As someone who has moved on more than once due to personality clashes and face not fitting, and my maximum time in one job was 5.5 years, I am not judgmental of those who move frequently - two years seems fine to me - six months less so. But in teaching people might expect you to stick around for a bit longer.

Those of you who say alarm bells ring need to revisit your diversity training - neurodiverse people tend to move on more quickly.

And some people DO relocate every two years (or so)! For example the Government Legal Service Civil service moves people very three years.

There is a lot of uninformed prejudice on here.

Someone I work with has been at our company for 44 years.

I will be there until I retire (final salary pension, which I will not be giving up) which means I will be there for 26 years (god willing, unless I win the lottery)

Around every 2-3 years normally, I’ve found it’s best for best for pay jumps and promotions and isn’t uncommon in my industry.

Those of us with experience in teacher recruitment are not uninformed...quote the opposite. And given that is the industry the OP os in and has asked advice on, we are the people who actually have the most relevant opinions for her.

Unfortunately as with most AIBU the op has got pissy when people have given their view based on the information she has provided.

My rule is until I am no longer happy.

I've been in my current job 7.5 years. All previous jobs I was there 4 years each. I'm 47.

Think poster was suggesting you may have the knowledge and experience but that the sector is old fashioned and slow to embrace diversity which is fair. Education is easily 20 years behind other sectors in these respects

As long as the job serves you.

I currently work from home 5 days a week and the pay is great, so I will try to hold on to that job as long as possible.

Other jobs I have left after a year

I've been a teacher for 30 years. Longest I've stayed in a school is 10 years. There's no 'should' about it. If you're happy, stay. If you're not (or if you're looking for something different out of a school or a different role), leave.

The OP hasn’t got pissy at all!

I mean, from my point of view I have had quite a few posters be quite - not exactly rude, but have taken a certain amount of enjoyment or schadenfreude I’d say in telling me they’d never employ me, that as a governor (lol) they would put my application in the bin … but this is the opposite of my experience in real life where I’ve never had any trouble being shortlisted or appointed.

I genuinely didn’t and don’t mind at all ‘if I were you I’d stay put for a while’ - it’s the pleasure that some have taken in telling me I’m doomed that’s a bit annoying. I really don’t think I’ve been ‘pissy’ though, just tried to keep people on track so to speak.