Rate of Job Change 1

[TexasPwrEng]

Hello everyone,

I'm curious what your thoughts are on job changes. I like the idea of changing companies and locations, but don't want to be seen as a job hopper. What rate (1 job per 2 years, 3 years, etc) would you first begin to question hiring me? Now I don't mean a change in industry... I would be performing similar tasks and job functions, just with different companies.

I ask because my longtime girlfriend is soon going to graduate school. I myself have been out of school and working with the same company for 2 years. So potentially, I will be moving jobs after 2 years of my first job and (depending on whether we decide to move after she graduates), 3-4 years of my second job.

Any advice you could give would be very helpful. Thanks!

 

[TexasPwrEng]

So, worst case scenario, I will be searching fir my 3rd job in 5 years, at which point I will stay for a longer time. I'd this harmful to me, considering my age and circumstance? (or will an employer care about my age and circumstance?)

 

[TheTick]

I try to keep the hire-to-quit ratio at or above 1:1.

 

[KENAT]

It's maybe slightly negative, but there are so many other factors that may make it barely relevant.

It's certainly not as bad as 1/2 dozen 18 month jobs in a row or similar.

Also, if it's an obvious relocation then it may be less negatively viewed.

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[dgowans]

To me, 3 jobs in a 5 year period isn't incredibly off-putting if the 5 year period is the first 5 years of someone's career. Early on, most people are trying to figure out their career path and not many hit the lottery with a career job as their first.

Three jobs in a 5 year period later in one's career, while often explainable and justified, is a bit more of a concern. This is just one person's opinion and potential employers may feel differently. That said, if I were you I wouldn't sweat it.

 

[Ashereng]

It really depends on your industry and location.

I have held short term contracts for as short as 2 weeks, and as long as 4 years. It depends on the project, your role, the industry, the market.

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
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[macmet]

I think that the situation has to be considered. We just got through (getting through?) a large recession where a lot of people were laid off. Including myself.

After 5-6 months being unemployed I accepted a job that I normally would not have taken had I been employed already. Since then I've moved on to another job, but again the job is not perfect, although it is better.

I needed a job so I took the first one, what choice did I have? I like to consider myself a good engineer, and I think anyone who passes over people simply b/c they were at a job or two for a short time, is potentially overlooking a great hire.

I'd look more at whether they were consecutive jobs or if they were being fired from their positions. I.e. did they leave one and have a gap before the next one, etc.

 

[moltenmetal]

A job or two or three in a short period is NOT the issue, macmet. In the early part of an engineer's career, it's not at all unusual.

The absence of any job lasting more than a few years in a 20 year career IS an issue to prospective employers, for good reason.

If you want a career as a contractor, apply for contract positions and nobody will fault you for it.

 

[davidinindy]

My career started in 1993
10 years, 8 months, 1 year, 5 years, 1 year, and I'm currently looking for something else. (There were a couple gaps in there also, since work is hard to find when you won't relocate, which were easily explained)
Every interview I've had a chance to explain the situations.
Bankruptsies, Downsizing, re-organizing, etc. have all contributed to my work history. I'm not willing to relocate my family, so have taken a couple jobs just to be working while looking for something better.
I encourage potential employers to call my previous supervisors for reassurance that nothing was because of my work performance.

David

 

[TexasPwrEng]

davidinindy,

You have employers call your previous supervisors? What if you are still employed while you are searching for a job? Would you still have them call employers?

I've never searched for another job, so I could be wrong... but it seems that may cause some ill feelings while you are still employed

 

[KENAT]

He said PREVIOUS supervisor not current.

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[TexasPwrEng]

Ah yes, my mistake. I must pay more attention to my tense

 

[zuccus]

Texaspwreng,

I list my current company on my resume as confidential so that doesn't happen. I am also very careful about my online profile so they can't discover where I am working.

I don't look down on anybody's resume if they have minimum of 2 year stints at places. The guys I worry about are the one's that have new jobs every 6 months to a year. You know something is wrong there.

I have been averaging 5 years at my companies. Pushing 6 now at my current. It is about that time where the learning curve has leveled out and my growth has been stunted. My experience has shown about 4-5 years is when you stop learning.

This may not be a big deal for some, but it is a big deal for me.

Zuccus

 

[csd72]

There have been similar threads before.

I have had ten jobs in 14 years and never had a problem getting as new one!

 

[RDK]

This will vary with industry and discipline.

If you are in a project orientated discipline ( civil construction) then changing jobs at the end of a project will not be seen as a necessarily bad thing, especially if you can show that you have returned to the same company for a subsequent project.

If you are in a process industry, i.e. manufacturing engineering then job change should be showing some progressive advancement and more professional and or managerial responsibility.

As a rule of thumb a series of changes early is not necessarily a bad thing but should be balanced by longer stints with a company later in the career.


Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng

Construction Project Management
From conception to completion

http://www.kitsonengineering.com

 

[Waidesworld]

A lot of it can be economy related. I mean, if you are taking a job for job's sake in a down economy the hiring manager should understand why you are looking for work six months later.

Back in college we were told to expect to be in 10-12 companies throughout our career, that's ~40 years indication of the 3-4 year year change. My jobs have been

1 year, half year, 3/4 year, 1.5 years, 7 years, 5 years. At the start I was emigrating to the US and trying to find something that I liked. Now I am in sales and looking to at least 5 years before sniffing the weather again.

high speed image capture, that's me..

 

[Vicbowling]

I've always questioned the same thing but I think 2 years is a pretty good standard for a minimum. It should your ability to keep a job and be loyal.



rubber molding

http://www.meererubbermolding.com

 

[TexasPwrEng]

Thank you all for your replies.

Earlier, I misinterpreted davidinindy to say that he had prospective employers call current employers. In my case, this is my first job, so I have no previous employers. There are a few people at the office however who I would trust to provide me a reference without gossiping. How do I indicate to potential employers NOT to call the office, but to call only cell phones of associates?

Or, should I not even bother suggesting a reference unless asked?

 

[KENAT]

"How do I indicate to potential employers NOT to call the office, but to call only cell phones of associates? "

Maybe only provide cell #?

(Doesn't entirely stop them looking up the company website etc. but hints it.)

I've been led to believe it's best to wait to be asked for references but could be wrong.

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