I’m below average—when it comes to job tenure, that is. According to a January 2022 employee tenure report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median tenure in a role was 3.8 years for women and 4.3 years for men. For workers ages 25 to 34, the medium tenure dropped to 2.8 years.
In my almost ten years in the workforce, my average tenure at a company is two years. I’ve stayed at a company as short as six months and as long as three and a half years in my current role. My tenure is shorter than average because, throughout the first ten years of my career, I’ve transitioned from a role in public accounting, where I aspired to be a Certified Public Accountant to a career in communications. This career transition has occurred through various roles at different companies by leveraging transferable skills. All of this to say, I’m a proponent of switching careers, as long as you have a compelling story to tell.
The average American will hold around 12 jobs during their lifetime. Assuming most people will work around 40 years, that comes down to holding a new job every three to three and a half years. While changing jobs has been historically seen as a taboo topic, it’s starting to be seen as common and beneficial when it’s done right, which leads me back to storytelling. We all have stories to tell. As human beings, our interests change as we progress through our careers. We desire to learn new skills and develop as professionals, thus leading to switching jobs, changing companies, and sometimes even changing our entire career path. But what is the “right” amount of time to stay at a job without raising red flags and damaging your career, we’re about to dig in.
Changing jobs can advance your career and increase your earnings potential, But switching roles too frequently can also be detrimental, So what’s the ideal job change cadence? Let’s explore expert advice on balancing progression with stability
The Benefits of Changing Jobs
First, why do job switches tend to boost salaries and accelerate professional growth? Benefits include:
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Higher compensation – Changing companies is the fastest way to increase pay, averaging a 10-20% bump. Internal promotions yield smaller raises around 5%.
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Expanded capabilities – New positions expose you to different skills, perspectives and challenges. This builds resilience and adaptability.
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Broadened networks – Each role connects you to new cohorts of colleagues to exchange ideas with and learn from.
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Increased responsibility – Transitioning to a higher-level role yields greater leadership experience.
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Change of scenery – A new job re-energizes you and keeps you engaged in your work.
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Prospects for advancement – Changing companies provides faster pathways to advance into management.
Tactical job changes focused on skill and career development can pay long-term dividends.
Downsides of Switching Jobs Too Frequently
However, there are risks associated with changing jobs too often. Consider:
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Perception of unreliability – Frequent job hopping can signal instability and raise questions about your commitment.
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Disrupted career progress – Switching before reaching advanced proficiency may limit your marketability.
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Reduced retirement benefits – Changing companies frequently can lower accrued returns from 401(k) matches, stock options, etc.
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Burned bridges – Developing a reputation for short stints may limit future opportunities.
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Higher stress and uncertainty – Adapting to new cultures and expectations every 1-2 years is fatiguing.
While some movement is beneficial, excessive volatility on your resume can undermine your career over time.
How Frequently Should You Change Jobs?
Given the trade-offs, what is the optimal frequency for changing roles? Here are recommendations from experts:
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1-2 years for early career – Gain experience across different functions and industries when starting out.
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2-3 years for mid-career – Balance skill building with establishing yourself professionally during this phase.
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3-5 years for later career – Remain with companies longer at this stage while pursuing vertical moves.
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5+ years for executive roles – Stability and delivery of long-term results becomes critical at the leadership level.
While these are general guidelines, you should consider both your career stage and personal reasons for making a change.
Questions to Ask Yourself Before Changing Jobs
Thinking through the following questions will help determine if it’s the right time to make a move:
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Why are you considering leaving your current role? Are you running away from a bad situation or moving towards a strategic opportunity?
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How does this align with your long-term career goals and desired skills development?
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Is your resume aligned with the requirements of the roles you want next?
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What trade-offs (i.e. commute, benefits, work-life balance) are you willing to make?
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Do you have enough financial stability to comfortably make a change?
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Have you reflected on gaps in your capabilities and prepared to address those?
Analyze both your professional motivations and personal situation before taking action.
Tips for Job Changes That Maximize Career Progression
Follow these best practices to ensure your job transitions are productive:
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Target roles requiring skills just beyond your current level to expand your capabilities.
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Time moves based on organizational needs (i.e. end of major project milestones).
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Discuss how prospective positions align with your development goals during interviews.
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Maintain strong professional relationships and communicate your reasons for leaving respectfully.
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Request documentation of your achievements and training from managers.
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If possible, take 1-2 weeks off between jobs to recharge.
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Seek opportunities at companies with upward mobility and clear growth frameworks.
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Obtain references who can validate your impact and potential.
Thoughtfully choreographed transitions will keep your career moving in the right direction.
Developing Self-Awareness Around Job Changes
Finally, you need strong self-awareness to make the most of your career changes:
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Know your work style – Do you thrive with stability or become restless with routine?
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Recognize your motivators – Are you driven by mastery, variety, service, creativity?
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Identify strengths and passions – Seek roles leveraging your innate talents.
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Assess risk appetite – Determine your comfort with uncertainty and experimentation.
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Reflect on past transitions – Review lessons learned from previous job changes.
Your personal attributes should guide the frequency and pacing of job changes.
Changing jobs – in moderation – can expand your capabilities, networks, and earnings potential. But balance progression with establishing yourself. While there are general recommendations based on career stage, conduct self-reflection to make strategic job changes tailored to your needs. With self-awareness and purpose, you can maximize the value from each transition.
How Often Should You Change Jobs
The amount of time a person should stay at a job can be debated, but the general consensus is to aim to stay at a job for the absolute minimum of a year. Switching jobs too soon too often can get you labeled a job hopper. It usually takes at least one year to really get your bearings at a new job. So if you’re focused on just understanding your role for the first year, it doesn’t give you as much opportunity for creating success stories around overcoming challenges or honing new skills. Think about it from a hiring manager’s perspective: would you rather hire someone who’s been at five companies in five years and can be seen as a flight risk, or would you rather hire someone who’s been at one or two jobs in five years? In most situations (but not always!), the person with more longevity at companies seems like a more attractive candidate.
Ideally, if you can hold out at a new job for at least two to three years, that would be the preference. By getting a couple of years under your belt, you can gain more tangible results to measure and stories to tell about your accomplishments in the role that you can leverage in your next interview or cover letter. It’s also enough time to determine if you see a future at the company and opportunities for advancement. If you’ve knocked your responsibilities out of the park and are now you’re bored after only three years, that could be a sign that it’s time to make a move.
Staying longer than three years is gravy because it shows longevity and loyalty and can build a fulfilling career if you’ve found a role and a company you love working for. The most important thing, no matter how long you stay at a company, is crafting a compelling story to tell. If you have a few short stints on your resume, but during a networking event or interview, you can eloquently walk someone through your experience and highlight the skills you’ve learned and why you’ve made those changes, it’s likely that any red flags start to become less concerning.
For example, I’ve been at five companies in about ten years of my professional career, which in theory looks like two years, six months, three years, six months, and three and a half years at different roles. Weaved throughout are also side hustles that were crucial to developing my skills. The reason for the shorter roles? I was making a career change. It may not seem as obvious to the outside eye, but when I walk someone through my resume, I can see the dots start to connect for them. Without knowing my story, I may seem like an indecisive job hopper, but once I highlight my experience and skill set compellingly, I become a professional with diverse expertise whose skills can be leveraged in a variety of unique ways.
For some, switching jobs every few years can sound exhausting and like a lot of work, but for others, it sounds like an exciting opportunity to grow and meet their career goals. No matter which camp you fall into, there are a lot of benefits to switching jobs. So if you find yourself looking for a change, there are many positives to consider before you write off rewriting your resume.
Benefits Of Switching Jobs
The reasons for making a career move are personal to each individual. At the end of the day, only you know what’s the best thing for you. Trust your gut to know when it’s time to find a new job or if staying put is the better option. While you’re trying to decide if you’re ready to reenter the job market, here are a few of the benefits to consider of switching jobs.
- Better compensation package: Your potential employer can offer you more money, better benefits, an opportunity for a bonus, or other perks when you step into a new role at a new company.
- Opportunity to learn: If you’re feeling stagnated in your role, a new job can help provide learning opportunities and challenge you in exciting new ways.
- Improved working conditions: If you’re in a toxic work environment or if you don’t see eye to eye with your manager, a benefit of a new job could be a better working experience and a better company culture.
- A new career path: Once you’ve tried a few jobs in your field, you may realize you want to try a new career path or a new industry. Switching roles will allow you to gain the skills you need to transition careers and step into a new career entirely.
- Potential for advancement: If there’s limited upward mobility in your current job, a new job may allow you the opportunity to get promoted and progress upward in your career.
- Diversify your experience: Sometimes, the value of switching jobs is the benefit of gaining new experience and encountering new challenges, both of which will help you diversify your career experience in the long run.
- Alignment with values: It’s important to find a company that aligns with your personal values so you feel proud calling them your employer. Finding a new job that aligns with your values and beliefs can benefit you both in the short term, but also for long-term job satisfaction.
- Better well-being: If your current role is negatively impacting your mental health, your happiness, or overall well-being, switching jobs, regardless of how long you’ve been working there, is often the best thing to do for you. Life is too short to be unhappy at work.
Suzy Welch: Here’s When To Change Your Job
How often should you change jobs?
The number of times you should change jobs typically depends on your needs and preferences for your role. You should change careers when you feel you’re ready to work in a different position that feels more challenging or fulfilling. Sometimes, changing jobs every one to three years is acceptable to employers.
When should you change careers?
You should change careers when you feel you’re ready to work in a different position that feels more challenging or fulfilling. Sometimes, changing jobs every one to three years is acceptable to employers. There are other employers who believe it’s typically best to change careers after at least three years in your role.
Why should you change jobs every 3-4 years?
Besides earning more money, there are plenty of other benefits gained from changing jobs every 3-4 years. With constant change in positions and environment, your skills set will continue to expand and evolve, compared to staying at the same position. We tend to get complacent in our jobs if we stick around for too long.
What happens if you change jobs more than once a year?
Comparatively, when people change jobs, they may be switching companies or working in a different but still relevant role. Changing jobs more than once every two years, called job-hopping, can give potential employers the impression that a long-term position might not be a good fit for you.
