After a year or 2, you can feel confident leaving your job to try something new.
Since 4. 1 years is the median, half of all workers will stay at their job longer than 4. 1 years, and the other half will stay at their job for less time.
It’s better to leave a job that’s draining you and take something where you’ll really shine. Your achievements in your new position will make up for leaving your old job quickly. If your job is making you miserable, it’s probably best to move on to a new one. [4] X Research source
What’s the next step I want to take in my career? Am I still growing in my current position? Do I feel challenged at work? What experience do I want to gain?
If you learn about a job that interests you, save the information so you can apply for it.
If you’re inexperienced in some areas, take classes so you can build new career skills. Bootcamps and certification programs are a great option for building your resume.
Finding things within your job that are meaningful to you. Taking or initiating projects that interest you. Volunteering for teams you want to join or asking for reassignment. Making connections with your coworkers.
A new position might not be the best fit for you if you don’t like working for your employer. In that case, you might still prefer to explore other options.
Talk to your coworkers about how long they’ve stayed at each job.
Job hopping won’t look as bad if you don’t have gaps in your employment history. In that case, it shows that you’re jumping at opportunities and your skills are in high demand. [10] X Research source
What are the right reasons to leave your job? In general, you should leave for things like a better position, more money, a better commute, or more flexibility. Similarly, you shouldn’t have to work in a hostile environment or with toxic coworkers.
Your current employer might get upset about your decision to leave if you’re overly critical of the organization or if you leave them in the lurch.
Change can be exciting! Sometimes you need a big jolt to feel excited about life.
“While I was only there for 3 months, I learned a new programming language during my tenure. ” “During my 6 months in the position, I launched an entirely new youth advocacy program and developed the design skills necessary to create the launch campaign. ” “I took the job because the project excited me, but the company’s workday structure stifled innovation. I realized that I need flexibility to be creative. ” “Helping people is my most important value. Unfortunately, my last job didn’t allow me to help anyone, so I decided to find a position that will. ”
“During my short tenure, I increased stakeholder engagement by 60% and conducted a survey to help choose the next project the department will take on. I believe my experience will help me connect to your client base quickly and make it easier for me to spot their needs. ”
“I took my last position because I love the company values. However, I felt like some people’s ideas were being ignored. I want to work for an organization that encourages people to speak up. ” “I love the collaborative environment at my prior job, but projects seemed to progress too slowly. I thrive in a fast-paced environment, so I wasn’t feeling challenged. ”
“Every job on my resume has led me to this position. This is my dream job, and I know I’ll be an asset to your company. ” “Even though that job wasn’t the right fit for me, I’m glad I took it because it taught me lessons I can use here. I’m excited to start the next chapter of my career, and I hope it’ll be with your organization. ”
