Unable to stick to a job more than 5 years

[Busymindfull]

I have been working for 30 years and have changed jobs around 3 to 4.5 years.

Current job I said I would stay until retirement ad it is a big company( but now getting a bit bored. What is wrong with me? I look at people that have stayed in same job or at least company for a long time and admire them.

I don’t regret leaving any of my previous roles though, each one has been an improvement to the previous one.

I’m the same. Change jobs every few years. I get bored at the same place.

I'm the same. I change every 5 yrs. I'd be bored otherwise. Every next job I bring a better version of myself as I've gained more skills

Why does there have to be anything “wrong” with you? People are different. You appear the get itchy feet quicker than some (!) people but you said yourself, you don’t regret leaving any of your previous jobs and each been an improvement on the last.

I’d perhaps worry about encountering ageism in your job search when you’re past a certain point, but presumably you’re not going to leave your current role until you’ve secured a new one?

What's the issue there? Seems perfectly normal to me

It’s not a bad thing, especially if you’re in a job which comes with its own glass ceiling or there is no promotion opportunities on the horizon. A careers advisor told me that if I were making sideways moves that I should be moving at least every six years. My six is up in August and I’m already looking.

Personally I think we should move on every 4 years or so. It doesn't do anyone any good when staff are "part of the furniture".

I have a friend who works executive level jobs for FTSE companies and she says she needs to move after 4 years or she'll be considered lacking ambition.

I guess the issue is that perhaps I really need to stick to this one due to my age and current market. Make myself happy

Thanks. Yes, I think is itchy feet, desire for variety; however with age It becomes harder changing jobs.

Totally agree, 2-3 years I start getting itchy feet and bored. But I also have a history of contracting so am used to getting there, getting stuck in and moving on. I am 3 years at my current job and going for promotion at the moment, if I don't get it I will see the year out for bonus and an exciting event we have coming, then start making efforts to move on.

Well I guess this shows you are
good at interviews! Maybe you just get bored easily.

Nothing is wrong with you. The working world has changed and it's increasingly rare to stay in a job for long stretches- many would already count five years as long. Switching every 2-3 years is common in many private sector industries. Besides anything else, it's generally the only way to get an above-inflation pay rise.

There's nothing wrong with you. 5 years is plenty.

I'm the same, I just get bored! It's also good to change so you learn new skills each time. I couldn't imagine being in the same job fo 20 years. Ugh.

This is a non issue.

Yeah sure our grandparents always banged on about how it looked better on our “personal file” to be somewhere for 10,000 years+ - but not anymore.

In my industry people would probably question someone in the same role for 6 years or more. By all means move around the same business in different roles but don’t sit there and stagnate in the exact same role for years and years ☺️

I personally benefit from changing role every 3 years.

I think I do get bored easily and thrive on variety, like I don’t like to visit the same place more than one or twice.

YABU What's wrong with that? Is that not not completely normal/ average?

Try feeling like that after 6 months! (Thanks adhd)

Really you're fine

Completely normal!

The longest I have been in a job is 4.5 years.

Usually I leave a job to get a promotion/a better salary. Or when the atmosphere is toxic.

I am 2.5 years in my current job and I will be looking for something else after the summer because this is not a job I could see myself doing into retirement. I don't trust the company or my manager to have my best interest at heart...

Employers show little loyalty to staff these days so ultimately you have to put. your own interest first.

Thanks. I think this is an en encouragement to move on; hopefully I find something good. It is a tricky one as I am in a large company with good perks; but not sure about opportunity for progression.

Same. I think my limit is 3 years

I’d don’t think staying somewhere for 30 years is very impressive.

I’m a bit like that. Did stay at my last place for about ten years because it was quite flexible whilst my daughter was little. Done four years at my current place and it’s time to go. Late 50s now though, so not sure who’ll want me!!

Maybe we work for same Company. Big 4 by any chance?

Like others, I feel like that's a very normal length of time, especially if we're talking about staying in exactly the same job and not just the same organisation. I've been with my employer for nearly 6 years, my current job for about 3 and I'm definitely starting to feel that I need something new.

What's your AIBU? Isn't this normal, it's not like you're moving every 5 months. A lot of young people would think 5 years is ages to be in the same job

I’m with you, longest I managed was six years but the rest were all less than four. As it’s a large company is there any scope to move internally to keep the continuous service and any pension / share bonuses if there are any? I managed a pretty sharp internal move in my last place which kept me at the same company for almost eight years