how often do you switch jobs/ or how frequently are you dissatisfied?

[hildare]

is it just me?  i am wondering what the "normal" is out there. 

[lunarlady]

Up until my current career, I switched about every two years. As it is now, I have done the same job (teaching) for almost nine years but never longer than three and a half years in any one building. I am actually getting itchy feet and considering changing again, but this may pass. We will see. How often do you switch?

[Mosaic]

I've been in this job for almost 9.5 years. It's my first after grad. school, and I get enough variety and opportunities that I seldom get bored!

[34me]

I've been out of school for 22 years and I have had 3 "real" jobs and I waited tables for 2 years.

[hildare]

Originally Posted by lunarlady 

Up until my current career, I switched about every two years. As it is now, I have done the same job (teaching) for almost nine years but never longer than three and a half years in any one building. I am actually getting itchy feet and considering changing again, but this may pass. We will see. How often do you switch?

EXACTLY this... i have been doing what i do for about 10 years now, with kind of a concentration/service area switch right in the middle, but i tend to leave a place for another one after 3 years.. and even good situations start to feel constrictive after 2.  dh thinks i am crazy. 

[LilMomma83]

Hmm...I held the same job from age 17 (first job) to age 27 (a few months ago)...I did work various positions there, and some other side jobs along the way (actually I couldn't make myself completly leave - I am still employed there on an extremly occasional basis I work) I've been at my new job for around 3-4mos...the only reason I left my old job was that I felt I needed a little more room for growth and also my current job has tuition remission so I can get through grad school - honestly once I graduate I will probably leave my current job (due to pay) and I wouldn't be surprised if I go back to my old job, just a higher position....

I think I might be kind of minority for staying that steady and from such a young age lol...

[One_Girl]

I switched every year in college but hope to stay at my current job for a few years at least (so far I have been there almost a year and a half.)  I am not highly satisfied in my job but I enjoy my work and it isn't something I dread doing. 

[lunarlady]

My DH definitely thinks I'm crazy. He says as soon as I pay off one set of student loans I'm itching to go back to school and do something different. I guess I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. On the plus side changing things up prevents me from being bored.

[Imakcerka]

Uh... Ok, three companies in 4 months once.  I'm in contracting and we lost a contract got picked up by another company, but I had my resume out there and so got called for a different company... And my pay and position went up up up!  Before that I was military and before that I held a job for 3 years at the same place. 

[olliemi2005]

lunarlady, i can relate.  i get bored or frustrated or intolerant of management. In high school I worked the same job for 5 years part time. I worked a few different jobs during college and summers.  I worked my first job out of college for about 18 mos, then had a job for a year then a totally different job in another field for 3 years. then I was a SAHM and volunteer for 7 years plus I became a doula for about a year. my first part time job back in the work force was a private practice then I worked a job for less than a year.  right now I have pretty much dropped my private practice I have a new job which I WANT to QUIT which I have been doing for 9 months!!! I just started Nursing school and I want to quit that too...it has been 3 months.     I really want a job where I can do what I know and get paid and respected for my skills and experience.  but I can't get experience because I feel like crap at my jobs! 

[Ragana]

14 years, but 3 1/2 of those were in an office as a permanent employee and the past 10 or so have been as a freelancer, so there's actually quite a bit of variability in types of projects and clients even though I've essentially been doing the same job.

[cristeen]

My longest FT job was 23 mos.  Most of the time I'd last 6-12 mos before needing a change.  At 3-6 mos I'd have learned what I needed to for the job and boredom would start setting in.  I can only deal with boredom for so long before I need a change.  That and corporate politics give me hives. 

But that means that I have a very extensive eclectic resume, and that makes getting a job difficult (even before kids). 

[Kathi Mora]

I think for how much time you stick with a job really depends on an individual. I know people who are with their first company for over a decade. But then I have a friend who has already switched jobs 4 times in last 1.5 years. She gets bored easily.So, it really depends on a person, his/her career goals and the opportunities an employer provides to fulfill the goals.

[goldfishkate]

My last 4 jobs have been 5 years (laid off), 2 years (took a position closer to home- I was driving 50 miles a day), 7 years (jumped ship because of a lack of advancement opportunities & stability) and I've been at my current position for 8 months and I plan to stay there for at least 2 years if not longer.

[Imakcerka]

Ugh... now that I'm happy where I'm at, job opportunities are being blasted at me monthly!  A friend of mine just got asked to go to Germany from my company.  I want to go.  3 yr commitment and they'll pay for housing and his kids school.  SUCK!  I want to stay with this company as this is the norm.  And I love this job.  I think I can finish out the remainder of the 3 yr commitment I have here.  Fingers crossed!

[Qestia]

I've been in my field for over ten years. My first job in the field, I stayed at for 6.5 years (they paid for me to get a grad degree, so that helped keep me there. Then I left and took a job I stay at less than a year. Then was someplace 2.5 years. I've been at this job 1.5 years and am feeling a little itchy and trying to fight it! I think people show you their good side for the first year, now my boss's true colors are coming out and I'm not sure I like them. But I like my work and the organization as a whole, and the benefits and pay would be tough to match, so hopefully I can work it out. I have the chance to get another degree for free here, am thinking maybe that would motivate me to stay. But with two small kids and a traveling DH, how on earth would I find the time?