What is the average time people spend at a job?
Posted by Remote_Bed284@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 158 comments
2 years, 3 years?…seems to be people moving very frequently these days!
rachaelg666@reddit
All my “proper” jobs have been 3-5 years. I find that I get a bit bored and need a new challenge then, although I think that reflects both my industry and the fact I’ve never had great career progression opportunities. I think these days nobody cares if you’ve not been somewhere long, particularly in industries like tech or startups. I certainly don’t care when I’m hiring.
syphonuk@reddit
I've been at the same company for 21 years (essentially my entire working life) but I've held around 12 different job titles across four different disciplines and three different industries/contexts/domains. Shortest time in any specific role was five months (long story) and the longest was three years. I am not particularly career minded and have taken opportunities as they have arisen which has kept things feeling fresh and interesting.
FreedomEagle76@reddit
Never stayed in a job more than a year. 2 months has been the shortest, 1 year and 1 month the longest.
That being said, I am autistic and I have been working in jobs that aren't the best fit for me like retail. What normally happens is by 3 months there is no challenge anymore and its just soul destroying or boring, and by 6 months I am ready to leave and have a notice letter on standby.
Also I have no tolerance for bullshit and won't let managers talk to me like crap. I'll call them out, they get shitty and give me warning, I submit my notice and leave.
Hoping to get into a job that will suit me better long term like driving lorries or ambulance service, which I wouldn't leave after a year lol
JL9285@reddit
10 years & still in that job today which i enjoy. Pay, holiday entitlement & pension are decent but could probably get more elsewhere but I've always been more wary that the grass isn't always greener. Plus if the worst should happen 10 years service will pay out a nice chuck of redundancy.
EntryCapital6728@reddit
I read somewhere once, you shouldnt spend more than 5 years at any job.
Complacency in your surroundings, familiarity breeding contempt between colleagues and skills dwindling doing the same job day in with no change.
I felt that way in my first few IT companies but now being in a larger one with more scope for rotating roles and good upper profit allowing for pay rises I'm happy where i am for 8 years now.
jonathing@reddit
My colleague has just retired after over 35 years in the same department of the same hospital. The nearest department that does what we do for the same group if patients is about 2 hours drive away.
PM-me-your-cuppa-tea@reddit
But did they do the same job? There's a difference between staying in the same organisation and staying in the same job.
I worked with two women who'd been in the company for 35 years. One had been in the same role for 25+ years and the other had moved teams, departments and roles every few years. Very different approaches to work.
jonathing@reddit
That's a good point, the role he did when he started no longer exists and the equipment we use now hasn't been invented
Mammoth_Rule2818@reddit
Due to quiet hiring, you'll end up doing 2 roles for the price of 1 Rather than that, leave after 2-4 years and use the experience to leverage a better wage. Honestly it sucks but it works
Equivalent_Tiger_7@reddit
My shortest is 25 mins, longest 16 years!
Awesomepwnag@reddit
Can you explain the 25 mins?
LovlehKebab@reddit
24 minutes was perfect, 25 was absolutely ridiculous.
-Xero@reddit
He left after 25 mins
Beautiful_One6276@reddit
This made me chuckle far more than it should have!
Ste-phen@reddit
More than 25 mins?
oPlayer2o@reddit
Hahaha same.
pureplay124@reddit
Me too. Haha
weregonnamakit@reddit
I would say fired after 25 minutes
Equivalent_Tiger_7@reddit
17 years old, given a road sweeping job from an agency. I can usually put up with a lot but couldn't hack that!
Awesomepwnag@reddit
I have no frame of reference; what was so tough?
jimmysavillespubes@reddit
They refused to get him a new broom. Just kept replacing the head and the handle.
badmother@reddit
Alright Dave, how's it going?
steeleyc@reddit
I feel disgusted upvoting this after seeing your user name haha
jimmysavillespubes@reddit
Its all good man hes gone, im just chilling in the shower drain 😌
purply_otter@reddit
He won an award for saving the council money never needing a new broom
BenHDR@reddit
He probably felt brushed aside by management
redmanshaun@reddit
Thats abit of a sweeping statement to make
Awesomepwnag@reddit
Booooo
Impressive_Algae4493@reddit
That 25 minutes is legendary Went in, scoped it out, and noped right out. Balance it with 16 years and you’ve basically seen it all!
SeveralSats@reddit
When I’m hiring candidates it’s less about the time spent at one company so much as the whole picture. If you’ve got a string on short stints then that’s a red flag for me. If you have 1 or 2 short positions among others it’s less of a concern, although I will be sure to ask why. Saying you wanted more money or didn’t like the company/people are perfectly valid answers and not necessarily a problem, as long as I don’t get the impression that you were the root cause. All that said, loyalty is definitely a desirable quality and can help improve your chances.
hasan1239@reddit
1st job: 3 years 9 months 2nd job: 6 months 3rd job: 1 year 4 months Current job: 2 years 3 months
Without moving around, I would still have been on very low pay to what I am on now. That's the main reason people move around so often. My current company looks after me so I hope to stay here for a long time!
PM-me-your-cuppa-tea@reddit
6 months
Left
6 months
Fired
8 months
Promoted
1 year
Left
2 years
Left
10 months
Left (possibly would have been fired)
1 year
Promoted
1 year
Left
So I average about a year per role, but my most frequent tenure in an organisation is two years, with a promotion after year one.
Teawillfixit@reddit
Personally about a year? Sometimes because it's fixed term, but also because I get bored and grouchy.
Current role I've been in for 3 years (well technically split between 2 roles as got promoted but same place and team). By far the longest I've ever stuck at one job.
AnonymousTimewaster@reddit
My friend once said you should never stay in the same job for more than two years without a significant pay bump or promotion and I try to live by that.
Sitsey01@reddit
About 3 months for me lately
HotelPuzzleheaded654@reddit
I think it’s a very hard question to answer, but I’d guess it’s shortening with the new generation as younger people have better access to the job market i.e browsing the internet vs physically handing in a CV.
Also, employers often can’t offer a payrise that matches the increase you’d get switching jobs in a lot of instances.
DreamsComeTrue1994@reddit
They can, it’s just they won’t. Then they will pay a recruiter to find a replacement and a higher salary to the next person.
HotelPuzzleheaded654@reddit
My last employer offered me 4.5% payrise whereas changing to my current job increased my salary by 50%.
AnonymousTimewaster@reddit
My last employer offered no payrise and no progression for 3 years, so I moved to my current job for a 50% pay increase with more responsibility, and the old company hired two people to replace me.
gerritforradlad@reddit
Sure but it’s a sum zero, your employer will therefore have to offer someone new a 50% increase to bring someone in.
Companies have the ability, they just cheap out on current employees hoping they’ll stick around out of loyalty or what’s easiest and comfiest.
Flat_Development6659@reddit
They often do to be fair, I've been counter offered tonnes of times. Think I handed my notice in 4 times before I actually left my last employer.
DreamsComeTrue1994@reddit
I never accept a counter after I’ve got a higher offer from elsewhere. It’s worth the same as the day before, and if they only saw it after someone else offered me more, then f*ck them.
postvolta@reddit
But at the same time, it's a business and it's a business transaction. In the same way that you owe them nothing more than the job you are being paid to do, they owe you nothing more than the remuneration that you agreed upon.
In an ideal world we'd live in a world where businesses were co-owned by their employees who had a vested interest in doing what's best for themselves but we don't, so businesses do what's best for shareholders. Sure it'd be nice if businesses did constant evaluations of what they're paying employees vs the market to ensure their salaries were constantly competitive but that's just not reflective of the world we live in. I don't necessarily think it makes them a shitty employer.
But I agree with you on the principle of never accepting a counter offer because I feel that unless you have been headhunted it shows your employer that you've got one foot out the door so they're going to be looking at you differently.
Flat_Development6659@reddit
I don't take that stuff personally, if I could underpay someone for a good job I'd do that too. It's business, nothing more.
XihuanNi-6784@reddit
Depends entirely on the field, seniority, skills. A lot of employers do not.
XihuanNi-6784@reddit
Please don't believe this spin. They are the ones who pushed to create a more 'flexible' labour market back in the 70s and 80s. They disliked being locked into things like defined benefit pensions etc. They wanted to be able to hire and fire more easily and with no unions. They got what they wanted. The inevitable result though is that employees adapt and lose loyalty and move at the drop of a hat. Overall employees as a class have lost, but for the few highly skilled workers on high pay it has benefited them as well as their employers. Their salaries are higher than back in the day when incomes were more equal, and they have the ease and ability to move jobs when they like. For employers, the benefit is profits profits profits.
Silver-Doughnut-9217@reddit
Current employer 9 years. Put my notice in an hour ago and no one has spoken to me yet
morris_man@reddit
I worked for the same employer for 40 years almost to the hour. 14 Sept 1970 to 14 Sept 2010. Different times
mrsdontknowwhoiam@reddit
Where i am now has been the longest I’ve stayed with the same employer (8 years) and before that i averaged on about 2/3 years before moving on.
Who I work for now though has lost the contract within my schools trust so we are in the process of switching and the new company I will work under sounds horrific.
Thankfully my contract is safe and won’t change under Tupe and I feel like I need to give them a chance and see how it pans out but seeing as the new company can’t answer the most basic of questions and their WiFi suddenly drops off whenever asked questions regarding finances via teams calls I will probably be spending a bit of time scouring indeed.
Separate-Ad-5255@reddit
Over 14 Years.
After been employed and working as a PA to the owner of a business, I can tell you from first hand experience businesses prefer to employ those who are in a job for long periods of time.
I can’t speak for every company but businesses don’t (or at least we) don’t want someone who is going to apply for a job and have a track record of leaving a year later after we’ve spent so much of training.
Imaginary-Entry-4896@reddit
Accountant - 2 years, got bored Estate agent - 6 months, pay was shit and they didn’t give me commission for houses I sold. Factory work Christmas temp - 2 months to tide me over to the job I wanted Foreign Exchange (Corporate Currency) Broker - 2 years, helped transition the small company to London then left once they were settled as the travel got too tough. Insurance Assistant Underwriter - 6 months and still going.
So for me not very long lol
nevermindaboutthaton@reddit
First job 24 years
Second job 25 years this year
Not going to be a 3rd job - retirement.
Shawn_The_Sheep777@reddit
I only ever had 1 job. 37 years.
Element77@reddit
First job was 2.5 years working service desk for a large IT Corporate company, moved to a different role within the company doing asset management and also did 2.5 years there.
Left that place to join a kitchen company doing data admin and was there for just shy of 3 years.
Then I got a software developer role in another large IT Corporate company right on my doorstep. Stayed in that role for 5 years because my commute was a blissful 20 minute walk and half day Fridays.
I'm now back at the kitchen company after my boss there reached out to me to return as a Software developer to help roll out their new ERP system. It'll be 2 years in August I'll be back there.
I had a manager in my second job tell me something that's always stuck with me, evaluate where you are after 2 years and see if you're getting what you want. I really enjoyed that job but had I stayed there I would be earning less than half of what I'm earning now.
I'm nearly 40 now, I'm done chasing the money and just want to work somewhere I enjoy and have a good work life balance. This place gives me both.
reddit_recluse@reddit
first job: 6 months
second job: 2 years
third job: 3 years
current job: 7 years
when in my 20s I was more ambitious and wanted to move around to progress. but there's something about getting a mortgage and going through 30s that made me just want to have something that's stress free, predictable, secure, cushy. I don't see me leaving my current job for a long time. aim is to semi-retire at 50.
Remote_Bed284@reddit (OP)
That’s totally fair enough! What industry if you don’t mind me asking?
reddit_recluse@reddit
IT within the university sector
doc1442@reddit
The most cushty job of all: stopping academics from installing stuff they need whilst forgetting to renew software licenses
night_begins_to_@reddit
You get it
doc1442@reddit
Tormented academic
Nyx_Necrodragon101@reddit
On average I'd say 3 years. Long enough to get my rights and see if they'll give me a raise.
badger906@reddit
21 years and counting, started at 15! Now running the gaff!
bonjajr@reddit
I think it depends on the sector to be honest. Lower paid jobs probably less and the higher paid slightly more.
Slothjitzu@reddit
It's more like a bell curve tbh.
C-suite employees and minimum wage roles are similar in that way, people hop around every couple of years to a similar job elsewhere.
It's the middle-management and senior technical roles that people stay in for ages.
Whodeytim@reddit
First job 9 years, Second job 2 years Third job 4 years Been in my current job a month now, there isn't a hard and tight rule, just depends on your enjoyment and progression
Vargrr@reddit
I tend to go long term if I like the culture. I'm at almost the 10 year mark with my current employer, though my record is 15 years.
I see many that job hop for the pay rises, which is fine. But of the last 3 or 4 I know that have all moved, they are all miserable. Sometimes, the culture is worth way more than the pay.
Legitimate_Spray_127@reddit
10 years currently…my first and only job. Started when I was 16 and haven’t stopped yet.
Poo_Poo_La_Foo@reddit
OP - impossible to answer without an idea of what industry you are talking about.
Cashier at ASDA might have a higher churn than consultant oncologist.
JesTer_841@reddit
I don’t know if it’s an anomaly, but I’ve been at my job for nearly 16 years. I have no desire to leave 🤷🏼♀️
walertheimpaler@reddit
I’m in the same job I’ve been in since I was 23, I’m 40 now. Bounced around from doing 3 years in a kitchen, to 2 years in an accountancy role (which I hated) to an apprentice electrician which I liked but the company went bust.
Now I work as a linesman for National Grid and it’s a good job. Also the skill set isn’t easily transferable, so I haven’t moved.
Polz34@reddit
For me I got into a 4 year thing for a while, which apparently is the average in the UK. I did job 1 for 4 years, 4 years for job 2, then job 3 for 4 years but I moved internally, so been working at the same company for 12 years but in 3 different roles.
WelshhTooky@reddit
I would assume it would depend on the job and the role itself.
•Was a mechanic for 6 years. •Warehouse supervisor for 4 years •Currently a QA technical going on 2 years.
Then I’ve worked in •A operator for 6 months •Retail for 8 months
Remote_Bed284@reddit (OP)
How did you find working as a mechanic out of interest? I studied it at college, but didn’t pursue due to poor working conditions and crap pay
WelshhTooky@reddit
if cars were still as simple as they used to be, like when fixing one just meant duct tape, a wrench, and yelling at it. I’d be all in again. But now? These things have more computers than NASA. I open the hood and it looks back at me like, ‘Did you try turning me off and on again?’ It just doesn’t hit the same anymore… I miss when a ‘check engine’ light meant check the engine, not call your IT department.
sonybacker@reddit
thank you for the hilarious explanation :D NASA :D
pureplay124@reddit
Now works at the big Tesco cleaning the bogs
WelshhTooky@reddit
No comments 😬 money is money right? 😂
Ant138@reddit
I'm 20yrs in the same career. Slightly different jobs over the years in the same department. I have a 20yr pension with them.
Before that I had lots of jobs that I stayed in for a year or so at a time.
Majestic_Brush_9075@reddit
Shortest 3 hours longest 9 years
MeasurementTall8677@reddit
I just read yesterday it's 18 months now
miscfiles@reddit
I've been with the same company since about six months after I graduated, which was 25 years ago. My role has grown rather significantly and thankfully so has my salary.
Financial-Couple-836@reddit
After a while you run out of companies in your sector in the same city so you either move cities, move sectors or you do the more sensible thing and start staying a bit longer in jobs lol
griffaliff@reddit
I have ADHD so I've job hopped a lot in my life, currently 37. Longest stint was working for my local authority, that was five years from 2016, I worked freelance after that until June last year when I took a job with my city council. I'll likely stay here for the very long term as it pays well for my sector (arboriculture), it's laid back and the pension offered is one of the best around.
Robtimus_prime89@reddit
I’m currently averaging 6.5 years per job.
First job: 6 years
Second Job: 8.5 years
Current job: 5 years
I’d still probably have stuck around at the second job if it were up to me.
FraggleGoddess@reddit
I don't like change, so usually years for me. Current job nearly 9 years, previous job was 10 years. Even as a teenager on to uni student, I had jobs for years (had some crossover between 2-3 jobs).
The shortest job I had (aside from temping) was about 9 months, it was something in pensions, which to me was so boring I just couldn't stand it any longer, even though the company was decent.
Cadbury2014@reddit
Shortest time was 3 days; longest was 7 years. Pretty much all my other jobs have been a year or 18 months.
Lukeautograff@reddit
Before I went self employed I was at my last job over 10 years and realised it was going nowhere. Never looked back.
Wooden_Scallion_6699@reddit
At my current job my soul was fully disintegrated by about the 3 year mark. My body has spent 5 years here though. Depends what you’re counting
Dizzy_Association315@reddit
I have no idea tbh
I've been in my current job for 12 years 😱 (which considering at one point was told I wouldn't be well enough to work again is nothing short of a fucking miracle 😳)
Worldly-Koala-9699@reddit
Same job since 16, not 37
heyitsed2@reddit
May I ask what you do? Do you enjoy it?
Worldly-Koala-9699@reddit
I look after a man with learning disabilities. I've known him my whole life. We grew up together. I'll probably look after him until I retire. It's a home from home. I dont even feel like I work. I live at his house thursday to sunday.
Internal-Dark-6438@reddit
This is just lovely!
waxfutures@reddit
Just counting permanent jobs, my average is about 2.5 years. Longest is my current job at nearly 5.5 years, shortest was just over a year.
If we count temp and seasonal jobs it'd drag the average way down because I'd have to include the various one-off things I did for just one or two days, and the really shit one that I quit after 3 hours.
AdhesivePineapples@reddit
Shortest was 2 hours in a warehouse when I was 17 years old. Crap employer, nobody spoke English and it was monotonous. I basically packed boxes in silence. Noped outta there sharpish.
Longest was 5 years in a coffee chain. But my job role changed every year through promotions and projects.
Currently nearing 2 years in commercial insurance and love it. Chill office, great people, had 5 small pay rises so far with scope to increase loads more without getting back into management. Should be on about 35% more than when I started by the time I hot year 2.
Smoothest-of-Gooches@reddit
My first 3 jobs were 5 years each. I hit 11 years with my current employer this month.
eriksprow07@reddit
Sortest 3 hours orentation, longest 8 years.
Cnta-@reddit
I am in mine 20 years this August
stvvrover@reddit
27 years on 1st July I will have been in my job. 01/07/1998 I started 🤣
To be fair - I am pretty much the only constant there, people come and go all the time, my knowledge means I am very important to them, I work bloody hard for not nearly enough pay. I won’t say I am indispensable because nobody is, but it’s easier to have me there than not.
redunculuspanda@reddit
My target is 2 about 2 years in a role upto 5 years in a company with promotions. Done me fairly well over the years from a promotion and pay rise perspective.
hotchy1@reddit
Currently job 17 years. Straight out of uni. Coming to an end in around 2 years time. Got enough expenses saved for 3 years so looking forward to it. Going to have a full year out being a teenager again 🤣 hopefully coincides with GTA6..
Emotional_Butterf1y@reddit
First job was one night as a dish washer.
Then 3 years.
Then 17 years
Now currently at 10 years.
3cc3ntr1c1ty@reddit
Too long,whatever the number.
AccidentAccomplished@reddit
my min has been 6y+ once id started working in earnest. 15 year my longest. I admit I am middle aged.
I may have done better to move more often but hey ho.
Adventurous-Seat6247@reddit
Turning 6 years this year and I think it is finally time to look for a new post in another area. Working in healthcare is too stressful.
mk6971@reddit
Nearly 30 years at my current job.
Cautious-Balance2408@reddit
I’ve been at the same company for coming up to 10’years, but stayed in various roles 2-3years before progressing
Dazz316@reddit
I was maybe 5 at my last job? No way up and barely any payrises the entire time I was there.
I get bonuses, training and could be chances of moving up in the future.
ukskater01@reddit
I’ve been at the same van & truck dealer as a mechanic for almost 10 years. Before that I worked at another dealer for almost 5 years. The one I work at now is a 10 minute drive from my house. Some of the mechanics have been there over 40 years! I’ve worked in worse places much further from home. As I don’t have to sit in traffic and work in a good team I can see myself staying for quite a long time still unless I move house.
Remote_Bed284@reddit (OP)
How do you find the working conditions and rates of pay as a mechanic?
ukskater01@reddit
The working conditions are good but it does take a toll on your body. Have to visit a chiropractor almost every month unfortunately. The pay is good as you progress with the manufacturer training, there’s also a productivity bonus which I hit most months and overtime is normally available if you want it.
Remote_Bed284@reddit (OP)
That isn’t bad then! As a 29 year old male, would it be impossible to have a career change and become a mechanic? I assume no firm will offer an apprenticeship at that age?!
ukskater01@reddit
I did an adult apprenticeship at 24 as university wasn’t for me, I’m not sure if this is still a thing but definitely something to look into. Some of the best mechanics/ mentors didn’t have any qualifications. You’ve just got to be good with your hands and have logical thinking for diagnostic work. It isn’t an easy industry to be in though, a lot of mechanics are leaving the trade tbh. Trains or aviation is where their going
Remote_Bed284@reddit (OP)
Is that due to pay?
ukskater01@reddit
I think it’s due to newer vehicles becoming more complex and harder to work on, there’s more pay in other industries with easily transferable skills
Extension_Dark9311@reddit
Most of my jobs I’ve stayed at for 2 years. Last job was an RVN at a vet practice for 3 years. Before that I was a bartender at a place I loved for 2 years. Prior to that job I was a bartender somewhere for a few weeks, prior to that a barista for 6 months. Before that I was a retail assistant for about 2 years.
Once I find a job that I quite like I stick around for about 2 years as long as I’m not let go.
MattyLePew@reddit
In my career, at the age of 34, I've not stayed in the job for longer than two years. If my employers aren't willing to give me a pay rise after 2 years, I'm not interested. I've got 3 kids and I'm the only earner in my family so I need to ensure my salary rises as my families demands increase.
Every time I've got a new job, I've got a pay rise. It's worked for me so far but it is a pain in the arse not ever being settled.
hammockinggirl@reddit
Been at mine 5 years. No plans to move yet
Bernardozila@reddit
I think about this a lot and it seems specific to field, seniority and circumstance.
I work in biotech and I’ve spent my whole career so far (only 6.5 years to be fair) at one company. However, I joined as a lab technician and did that for 2 years. When the pandemic hit, we shifted to developing covid PCR test products and a scientist job opened up in another department. Got that, did it for just under a year and the company created a spin-off R&D team, which I was offered a senior scientist position at and I still do today. I haven’t left because I’m learning a lot, I’ve gotten above inflation pay rises and, tbh, I’m not sure I could get much more money if I made a sideways move. However, if I was a technician, I’d probably be on my 3rd job.
kittykat30@reddit
Current company 8 years, 3 different roles. Previous company 12 years and about 5 different roles. I don’t think I could stay in the same role for too long before getting bored or wanting more responsibilities.
lloyddav@reddit
It’ll be 3 years next month at my current job. My longest though, was 17 years
Conscious_Cat_6204@reddit
I’m a couple of weeks away from being at my job 3 years. While my responsibilities have changed slightly in that time, I’m nearly at my limit as I feel stagnant and invisible now. I don’t think I’m built to be happy in jobs long term so I might start looking again soon. My parents are the opposite though - my once job hopper dad has been in his current job for 15years and my mum has been in hers even longer. My brother has been working for his employer for at least 6 years (albeit with a few promotions).
twopeasandapear@reddit
My shortest was 3 weeks. My longest was 8y, returned after 4 and now been here another 3. So 11 in total pretty much.
PERMANENTLYANNOYED35@reddit
Not counting the short stints in hospitality as teenager ( almost 10 jobs in 5 years)
From ages 21 to 35 - 7 jobs over 14 years. . One of them was 7 years (Boots opticians)
. Another one I did twice - worked for a year, left, came back and worked for another year.
Militant_Worm@reddit
Shortest I've done at one job is 5 years
SarNic88@reddit
My average is 6 years, I’ve been in my current job for 4. Same company for 13 years.
I love what I do and am well paid with a good home/work balance so would be tougher to leave now and retain that pay without a shed load more responsibilities which I am not sure I want or more travel etc which would cut into home time.
MojoMomma76@reddit
I’m 47. Longest stint in a job was about 5 years, on average 2-3. Work in social housing
Theres3ofMe@reddit
Id kill to be one of those people who were content and satisfied enough to stay somewhere for 10/20+ years..........
I work in construction, white collar, and its hard to stay anywhere more than 2 years, because either a) employee doesn't give a payrise 2) no projects are close to home , end up being over a 60/90 min commute, or c) you end up working with some absolute knobhead of a boss/colleague that makes it insufferable, or d) zero promotion opportunities means you resent being kept at your same grade, whilst you see everyone else get promoted.
Longest job I've had is 10 years when I was in my 20s- working for Central Government. That was a cushy flexi job, but then it all changed when we merged with Inland Revenue and we had to relocate to some absolute shithole area which was grim to be in....
Unfair-Ad-9479@reddit
I’ve been largely working in the EFL world, which is absolutely incredible for gaining connections and networking abroad and just living some awesome experiences but that back and forth visa life of every few months a new job does not make it easy applying to roles later (and also makes it harder to feel assured that you’ll be able to enjoy the role the more you get used to moving around!).
In fact, my longest job role to date has been when I was a paperboy for 4 years. My shortest job was probably pub quiz hosting, and I’m still not quite sure how that even happened.
Honest_Hamster_5730@reddit
First job was 3 years and second job is currently at 18 years so average is 10.5 years
Buddha-dan@reddit
Went to my third job, planned to stay for 3 years and move on for my career, that was almost 36 years ago. Realised quite early on it was a good employer and the grass was never greener for all those who moved on.
Saltysockies@reddit
The longest I've stayed in one place was 7 years. After about 5 everything just started to annoy me.
fionakitty21@reddit
Kids dad got a job at 16 then full time after college. Stayed until 22 as we moved. Had a SIA security job a few years. We moved again and he got a job back at old place (leisure centre) and is now a duty manager. To be fair,he now hates it but it is what it is. He's now looking into getting lorry certs now the kids are older. His job managers take the piss as he's literally 4 mins down the road.so 6 years, 2 years out, then back again. He's nearly 39. He passes the monthly swim.tests, just passed his 3 yearly swim cert with 100%. He knows his stuff. He's just unhappy with it.
Bose82@reddit
My shortest job was about three days. It was working with some horrible old bitches in the council offices. It was only a two week agency thing but I walked out.
Longest job I’ve ever had is my current one, just turned 8 years last week.
Virtual-Specialist17@reddit
My shortest role was just under 2 years, my longest is 2 years and 6 months (ish!) But each time I've moved, I have been promoted
DismalWeekend1664@reddit
Depends what doing within a sector also to a large degree. Last year I was 2nd shortest tenure at 16 years in a team of 10 ranging up to 31.
No_Application_8698@reddit
My husband joined his current company straight out of school at 16, and this summer will be ‘celebrating’ 31 years there.
My mum retired a couple of years ago after 36 (I think) years at the same place; plus a few years she was there before/during having two children.
I have had three full time jobs since I finished college (first job was 15 years), all office/admin.
My sister has had around seven jobs I think. BIL has moved around about 5 times.
I think it depends heavily on the person, their chosen work sector, and their particular role.
oPlayer2o@reddit
As a chef a year and a half tops, any other job as least 2 years.
dvi84@reddit
The average is about 3 years I think. It’ll vary between industries but in my experience working in business anyone who has an average stay of less than 2 years (ignoring things like redundancy) is a no-no when recruiting, especially if they’re moving ‘sideways’. I don’t want to waste my time and effort training somebody who is going to do one.
RebelOfWolfAndMan@reddit
I've had one job and I've been at it 19 years so far. I still enjoy it for the most parts and the pay has risen significantly since I started so I've been pretty lucky really.
HellPigeon1912@reddit
My longest is 3 years and only because I got stuck there during COVID.
I generally start looking after a year in one place but sometimes as short as 6 months. I just get so incredibly bored and unhappy doing the same thing day after day
Remote_Bed284@reddit (OP)
What do you do?
HellPigeon1912@reddit
Currently accounting, looking to get away from it though
CressEcstatic537@reddit
I've done 2 years, 2 years, 5 years, 2 years, 4 years, 6 months and now 8 months. Not intending to leave for a while.
steveakacrush@reddit
Been employed for 35 years, most of my jobs in that time have been between 2 and 3 years long. The outlier is my current gig which is now nearly 8 years. Tech sector.
Tuscan777@reddit
34 years and counting….
heyitsed2@reddit
Been at my current job 9 years, it pays the bills and it's pretty easy at this point and a chill place to work so fuck leaving if that doesn't change!
Thinking10Thinking@reddit
I’ve been at my job for 8 years now which is the longest ever for me.
heartthump@reddit
I loved my job when I started but 2 years has passed and i’m itching to leave I can’t lie
Numerous_Green4962@reddit
In proper jobs I have done 8 then 8 and I'm just coming up to 6 in my current one. Some of the others were seasonal around Uni so only a few months.
Chesh78@reddit
I'm just coming up for 15 years at my current company (in November).
Prior to that, two fixed term contracts were 18 months and 12 months respectively.
Prior to that, my first job after leaving college I was there 12 years.
Not sure if that's unusual these days.
BobBobBobBobBobDave@reddit
I am on my fifth job in 22 years in full time work.
One of those lasted 7.5 years.
I think of friends my age, there is one person who has always worked for the same employer. Most have had more or the same number of jobs as me.
Mountain-Ninja-3171@reddit
9 hours
hallerz87@reddit
In my current field, I've worked at two places across a span of 13 years, 4.5 years at my current employer.
Butterhopandscotch@reddit
5 years for my first, 2.5 for 2nd… currently 5 months in my 3rd
dejavusk@reddit
Healthcare - 5 years in my current job. Very happy and not planning to leave.
Top_Khat@reddit
My dad always taught me 18 months minimum before moving on. Unsure that answers your question however!
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