How long should you stay in a job?

[Keke94LND]

Hi all, so for a bit of background, I am 27 years old, living and working in London, I graduated from uni 6 years ago, I worked in my first job out of uni for 2.3 years and have been in my current job for 3.6 years.

My job is fine, it's not what I want to do my whole life but truth be told I have no idea what I want to do.. I thought I'd know by now lol. I do get a bit bored sometimes but I think it's because I do like change. But I don't feel like I want to move until I really have an idea of what my next step is... the thing is, where I work is very very small, there are no other departments to try and get into, and there is no where for me to be promoted, so... at my age especially, how long should I stay somewhere where I can't be promoted? Is 3 and a half years verging on too long?

I think it depends on your industry, but in your position I would be looking for something else. I used to work in publishing and it seemed to be expected that you would move every few years, particularly to get a salary uplift.

I don't think there's a right or wrong answer to this. It sounds like you need to find something new though.

It depends on you. If you're not happy in a job then seek out another. I don't think time in a job means much these days unless you're flitting from one thing to the next every 3 months, for example, as that just speaks volumes to potential employers about your likelihood to stay.
Life's too short to do a job you don't enjoy/bores you...

I think it's not good to move too often as it can look flaky. But 2 years is a reasonable time. I think by over 3 years in and with no chance of promotion that you have surely learned all there is to know in your current role. So it is time to look for something else. It does make it tricky not knowing what you want to do. And I wouldn't worry about having stayed too long.

3.6 years is a good period. In my industry under 18 months is too short in a role (looks suspicious if you have a few short contracts, but that’s just my industry, in others changing jobs every 6 months is more normal) and over 5 years can look like you are stuck. So I’d look to move on in the next year but not rush out, given what you’ve said about your situation

If you stay in a job / company for years, your salary won't go up that much. If you're chasing higher pay, definitely move around every few years.

At 27 I would be looking to move.

I've always aimed to move on before I reach the top of the salary scale.

Maybe look to move to a bigger company even in the same type of role. There should hopefully be more opportunity for promotion or secondment in a larger company.

so... at my age especially, how long should I stay somewhere where I can't be promoted? Is 3 and a half years verging on too long?

Yes it is, especially as you don’t really know what career path you want to pursue. You need to move to increase your options and exposure to a wider range of experience. Sticking around too long in a role which limits you looks like you aren’t serious, but it’s more than how it looks, why aren’t you keen to seek new horizons? Are you the type who settles for the easy option rather than pushing yourself outside your comfort zone? People your age are progressing, but you say you thought you’d know by now. It sounds like you’re waiting for something to happen rather than making it happen.

I've found 2-3 years is right for me. Not necessarily moving to a different employer, but at least a promotion or sideways move to a different role or department. By the time I'd spent 2 years doing the same job, I rapidly lost interest and was chomping at the bit for something new.

My shortest was a year (horrendous bullying boss and I was starting to look for a new job within the first month). Most were 2 or 3 years. The longest was 5 years with the same employer but within that firm, I worked in 3 different depts and was promoted twice.