I don’t want to speak for all millennials, but I think we view careers a little differently than the older generations.
When I first got out of college, all I knew is that I needed to get a job. I took what I could get but it was really entry-level and I knew I could do more. That’s when I got my first taste of ambition and felt confident that I could do better.
So I moved on after 6 months, with fears that I’d look like a job hopper. And when I took my next job I was kind of under the impression that it might be like my former job. That it would take a lot of stepping stones until I found the company I’d want to commit myself to for a long time.
When I started with the company I’m with now, there were people telling me that they have been working there longer than I had been alive. I could not fathom that kind of long term commitment, I didn’t know if I’d be there a year let alone 26 years.
I stayed in my position for two and half years. And then I got a promotion which I’ve been working in for 1 and a half years. So I’ve just found myself working with a company for four years when I didn’t even think I’d make it 6 months.
If you’re one or two years out of college, you may be also facing those fears. I think it’s good to take those stepping stones if you don’t feel a place is right for you. If it’s right for you, you’ll value your job as much as the company values you. If it’s right for you, you’ll just naturally grow there.
Rosie Culture 
When I was hired for the position I’m in now, my first task was to plan the retirement party for my predecessor who had worked the position for 42 years! I hope to not reach that milestone, but I’m still satisfied with my job 4 years in myself.
But I did have some job-hopping on my resume right after graduation, but that was mostly due to the employment atmosphere; no one was hiring full time when I graduated because they didn’t want to pay for insurance. As a result I worked 2, sometimes 3 part-time jobs to make ends meat!
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Wow!! You’re right though, the atmosphere is different. My first job was originally part time but it was the only one I could get in my field
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I retired from a job after 30 years. During my era and my predecessors, the social climate for job opportunities was different than now. Your generation have more options. In my day, so to speak, if you had a “good job” you kept it in hopes to retire or receive a pension. At least in my case. I worked for State government. Although you would not get rich, you could retire comfortably. However, I told newcomers on the job when they asked for advice, in my opinion, give yourself an one to five year trial period, if it does not work, find something that does. Don’t go beyond that because you will be caught between trying to make the years to apply towards retirement, then if you see yourself 10 or 15 year later moving towards a 30 years retirement, you are too close to quit at that point when you are no longer happy on the job, you feel stuck, so to speak. So, I am a proponent for leaving early if not happy than waiting later. May you have much success on your future endeavors!
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That’s great advice! Thank you so much
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When you get a good job, with promotions ,regular wage increases
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It doesn’t make sense to move and start at the bottom again, that is why people stay at jobs
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I’m glad you got a promotion there, that’s fab! I’m not sure – with the amount of redundancies that have been happening the past ten years – that employers much as much stock in ‘job hopping’ as they used to as they understand it’s all quite tenuous. I went and did my A-levels and then every employer asked why I’d bothered doing those if I weren’t going to Uni! But at least I was getting employed in very simple Admin jobs that I wouldn’t have otherwise got. Temping was also a lifesaver and that’s nothing but job hopping sadly. It’s sooo different than in my parents day, where my Dad worked for the council most of his life and then lef5 with a huge early retirement package. I wish! Are you settled in your job?
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Thank you! I’m still settling into this promotion! I feel like I have a better grasp, but still a lot to learn.
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Good luck, I bet you’ll rock it!
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I stayed at a bookkeeper job for 16 years. But my reason was entirely different. I had no benefits since it was only 29 hrs per week. I was able to work the same hours as my children’s school hours. This allowed me to drive them to school, pick them up, enjoy the rest of the afternoon with them and during school breaks, I took them to work with me and never had to worry about babysitters. After they graduated high school and were off to college, I went to college, became an accountant, and began taking on my own clients. I still do their books and am so grateful for the opportunity I was given.
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I started my current job straight out of my PhD. It’s been 13 years and a month exactly, 4 promotions and loads of new skills, but still essentially the same job. I love 90% of the work and the people. When you find a good fit, you stay and they want to keep you. Glad you’re enjoying your role. X
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wow 13 years is impressive! Thank you 🙂
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I knew my first job out of college wasn’t my forever home; I did get a lot of experience there, though, which helped me get the job I have now (plus the fact I had my master’s). I’d like to stay where I am now for a while, and that was my goal when I was looking for a new job two years ago; I wanted a place where I could grow and learn more.
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Congrats on your milestone. People are a lot more transient these days and will have multiple jobs over a lifetime. I hope millennials will do things their own way like other generations did.
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I agree. I was job hopping my first 2 jobs, but on my 3rd one it felt natural to be there. You just don’t notice the years if you are comfortable with where you are 🙂
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This bring back memories. Do your best. Make sure you are happy with your working environment and try not to take your job home.
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I held on to my first job out of college for 2 years and then quit. My company, I’ve had that for 13 years.
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