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Is there an optimal number of years per job as an engineer? [closed]
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Some (software) engineers keep their job for very short periods of time, as if they have commitment issues.
Some keep their job for too long, as if they're afraid to leave their safety zone.
Is there a "right" number of years per job for a (software) engineer, or does it matter?
career-development new-job careers
edited Jan 28 '13 at 20:18
Elysian Fields♦
96.9k46292449
asked Apr 10 '12 at 20:47
nurxyz
481512
closed as not a real question by yoozer8, HLGEM, jcmeloni Aug 23 '12 at 1:29
It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, visit the help center. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
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up vote
10
down vote
favorite
Some (software) engineers keep their job for very short periods of time, as if they have commitment issues.
Some keep their job for too long, as if they're afraid to leave their safety zone.
Is there a "right" number of years per job for a (software) engineer, or does it matter?
career-development new-job careers
edited Jan 28 '13 at 20:18
Elysian Fields♦
96.9k46292449
asked Apr 10 '12 at 20:47
nurxyz
481512
closed as not a real question by yoozer8, HLGEM, jcmeloni Aug 23 '12 at 1:29
It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, visit the help center. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
3
Voting to close as their is no "right" answer, it depends on a huge number of factors, will varying by all those factor i.e. "You should only ask practical, answerable questions based on actual problems that you face. Chatty, open-ended questions diminish the usefulness of our site and push other questions off the front page."
– Michael Durrant
Jun 7 '12 at 13:50
1
This is way to vague for any sort of useful general answer.
– Jim In Texas
Jun 27 '12 at 18:02
add a comment |Â
up vote
10
down vote
favorite
up vote
10
down vote
favorite
Some (software) engineers keep their job for very short periods of time, as if they have commitment issues.
Some keep their job for too long, as if they're afraid to leave their safety zone.
Is there a "right" number of years per job for a (software) engineer, or does it matter?
career-development new-job careers
edited Jan 28 '13 at 20:18
Elysian Fields♦
96.9k46292449
asked Apr 10 '12 at 20:47
nurxyz
481512
Some (software) engineers keep their job for very short periods of time, as if they have commitment issues.
Some keep their job for too long, as if they're afraid to leave their safety zone.
Is there a "right" number of years per job for a (software) engineer, or does it matter?
career-development new-job careers
edited Jan 28 '13 at 20:18
Elysian Fields♦
96.9k46292449
asked Apr 10 '12 at 20:47
nurxyz
481512
edited Jan 28 '13 at 20:18
Elysian Fields♦
96.9k46292449
edited Jan 28 '13 at 20:18
Elysian Fields♦
96.9k46292449
edited Jan 28 '13 at 20:18
Elysian Fields♦
96.9k46292449
96.9k46292449
asked Apr 10 '12 at 20:47
nurxyz
481512
asked Apr 10 '12 at 20:47
nurxyz
481512
asked Apr 10 '12 at 20:47
nurxyz
481512
481512
closed as not a real question by yoozer8, HLGEM, jcmeloni Aug 23 '12 at 1:29
It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, visit the help center. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
closed as not a real question by yoozer8, HLGEM, jcmeloni Aug 23 '12 at 1:29
It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, visit the help center. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
3
Voting to close as their is no "right" answer, it depends on a huge number of factors, will varying by all those factor i.e. "You should only ask practical, answerable questions based on actual problems that you face. Chatty, open-ended questions diminish the usefulness of our site and push other questions off the front page."
– Michael Durrant
Jun 7 '12 at 13:50
1
This is way to vague for any sort of useful general answer.
– Jim In Texas
Jun 27 '12 at 18:02
add a comment |Â
3
Voting to close as their is no "right" answer, it depends on a huge number of factors, will varying by all those factor i.e. "You should only ask practical, answerable questions based on actual problems that you face. Chatty, open-ended questions diminish the usefulness of our site and push other questions off the front page."
– Michael Durrant
Jun 7 '12 at 13:50
1
This is way to vague for any sort of useful general answer.
– Jim In Texas
Jun 27 '12 at 18:02
3
3
Voting to close as their is no "right" answer, it depends on a huge number of factors, will varying by all those factor i.e. "You should only ask practical, answerable questions based on actual problems that you face. Chatty, open-ended questions diminish the usefulness of our site and push other questions off the front page."
– Michael Durrant
Jun 7 '12 at 13:50
Voting to close as their is no "right" answer, it depends on a huge number of factors, will varying by all those factor i.e. "You should only ask practical, answerable questions based on actual problems that you face. Chatty, open-ended questions diminish the usefulness of our site and push other questions off the front page."
– Michael Durrant
Jun 7 '12 at 13:50
1
1
This is way to vague for any sort of useful general answer.
– Jim In Texas
Jun 27 '12 at 18:02
This is way to vague for any sort of useful general answer.
– Jim In Texas
Jun 27 '12 at 18:02
add a comment |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
up vote
12
down vote
Keep your job as long as you're learning, growing and improving every year. If you start to stagnate, that's a signal that it's time to move on.
If you're being interviewed, be prepared to answer questions on both ends of the spectrum:
- Why did you leave so soon?
- Why did you stay there so long? What did you do to keep growing in the same place?
answered Apr 10 '12 at 21:10
Scott C Wilson
3,7872028
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
It depends on what you want to get out of your career.
If you want to have a lot of experience in different areas of expertise, then you could move around every few years. The reason being you want to grow and you want to enhance your skills.
However, if you feel you are growing in your career (and getting promoted) and you are working for your dream company (Microsoft/Apple for example), you could stay there for 20 years if you wanted.
answered Apr 10 '12 at 20:57
Atif
3,53431619
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
Totally depends on the industry/job you are in, and want to have, as well as many factors outside your control. Just like in writing software itself, "optimal" in the real world is a combination of factors, applied to the problem you're trying to solve.
I don't think there's a canonical answer to something like this. The combination of factors that will, or will not, get you a particular role are complicated and unique depending on the exact moment in time when you apply, the experience you have at that time, what a potential job might require, and lots of other factors in the larger world that you have no control over: i.e. the market for such jobs.
answered Apr 10 '12 at 21:05
jefflunt
4,9832129
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up vote
0
down vote
The rule of thumb I have always heard is that you should generally stay for at least two years - otherwise it might raise a red flag when people read your CV. Of course, if you have a good reason, <2 yrs may still be OK.
Apart from that, there are no general rules. I depends on both what you want (do you prefer stability, or frequent new challenges), on what your job offers, and on industry practices. Some employers consider anyone who stays less than a decade a job hopper, and in some consulting companies, the majority of people is expected to leave after a few years.
Also note that there are alternatives to changing jobs, such as moving to a different department, doing consulting work as part of your job, getting a side job (with employer's permission of course), etc.
answered Apr 15 '12 at 12:21
sleske
9,79633655
add a comment |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
12
down vote
Keep your job as long as you're learning, growing and improving every year. If you start to stagnate, that's a signal that it's time to move on.
If you're being interviewed, be prepared to answer questions on both ends of the spectrum:
- Why did you leave so soon?
- Why did you stay there so long? What did you do to keep growing in the same place?
answered Apr 10 '12 at 21:10
Scott C Wilson
3,7872028
add a comment |Â
up vote
12
down vote
Keep your job as long as you're learning, growing and improving every year. If you start to stagnate, that's a signal that it's time to move on.
If you're being interviewed, be prepared to answer questions on both ends of the spectrum:
- Why did you leave so soon?
- Why did you stay there so long? What did you do to keep growing in the same place?
answered Apr 10 '12 at 21:10
Scott C Wilson
3,7872028
add a comment |Â
up vote
12
down vote
up vote
12
down vote
Keep your job as long as you're learning, growing and improving every year. If you start to stagnate, that's a signal that it's time to move on.
If you're being interviewed, be prepared to answer questions on both ends of the spectrum:
- Why did you leave so soon?
- Why did you stay there so long? What did you do to keep growing in the same place?
answered Apr 10 '12 at 21:10
Scott C Wilson
3,7872028
Keep your job as long as you're learning, growing and improving every year. If you start to stagnate, that's a signal that it's time to move on.
If you're being interviewed, be prepared to answer questions on both ends of the spectrum:
- Why did you leave so soon?
- Why did you stay there so long? What did you do to keep growing in the same place?
answered Apr 10 '12 at 21:10
Scott C Wilson
3,7872028
edited Apr 15 '12 at 13:12
answered Apr 10 '12 at 21:10
Scott C Wilson
3,7872028
answered Apr 10 '12 at 21:10
Scott C Wilson
3,7872028
answered Apr 10 '12 at 21:10
Scott C Wilson
3,7872028
3,7872028
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
It depends on what you want to get out of your career.
If you want to have a lot of experience in different areas of expertise, then you could move around every few years. The reason being you want to grow and you want to enhance your skills.
However, if you feel you are growing in your career (and getting promoted) and you are working for your dream company (Microsoft/Apple for example), you could stay there for 20 years if you wanted.
answered Apr 10 '12 at 20:57
Atif
3,53431619
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
It depends on what you want to get out of your career.
If you want to have a lot of experience in different areas of expertise, then you could move around every few years. The reason being you want to grow and you want to enhance your skills.
However, if you feel you are growing in your career (and getting promoted) and you are working for your dream company (Microsoft/Apple for example), you could stay there for 20 years if you wanted.
answered Apr 10 '12 at 20:57
Atif
3,53431619
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
up vote
6
down vote
It depends on what you want to get out of your career.
If you want to have a lot of experience in different areas of expertise, then you could move around every few years. The reason being you want to grow and you want to enhance your skills.
However, if you feel you are growing in your career (and getting promoted) and you are working for your dream company (Microsoft/Apple for example), you could stay there for 20 years if you wanted.
answered Apr 10 '12 at 20:57
Atif
3,53431619
It depends on what you want to get out of your career.
If you want to have a lot of experience in different areas of expertise, then you could move around every few years. The reason being you want to grow and you want to enhance your skills.
However, if you feel you are growing in your career (and getting promoted) and you are working for your dream company (Microsoft/Apple for example), you could stay there for 20 years if you wanted.
answered Apr 10 '12 at 20:57
Atif
3,53431619
answered Apr 10 '12 at 20:57
Atif
3,53431619
answered Apr 10 '12 at 20:57
Atif
3,53431619
answered Apr 10 '12 at 20:57
Atif
3,53431619
3,53431619
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
Totally depends on the industry/job you are in, and want to have, as well as many factors outside your control. Just like in writing software itself, "optimal" in the real world is a combination of factors, applied to the problem you're trying to solve.
I don't think there's a canonical answer to something like this. The combination of factors that will, or will not, get you a particular role are complicated and unique depending on the exact moment in time when you apply, the experience you have at that time, what a potential job might require, and lots of other factors in the larger world that you have no control over: i.e. the market for such jobs.
answered Apr 10 '12 at 21:05
jefflunt
4,9832129
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
Totally depends on the industry/job you are in, and want to have, as well as many factors outside your control. Just like in writing software itself, "optimal" in the real world is a combination of factors, applied to the problem you're trying to solve.
I don't think there's a canonical answer to something like this. The combination of factors that will, or will not, get you a particular role are complicated and unique depending on the exact moment in time when you apply, the experience you have at that time, what a potential job might require, and lots of other factors in the larger world that you have no control over: i.e. the market for such jobs.
answered Apr 10 '12 at 21:05
jefflunt
4,9832129
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
up vote
5
down vote
Totally depends on the industry/job you are in, and want to have, as well as many factors outside your control. Just like in writing software itself, "optimal" in the real world is a combination of factors, applied to the problem you're trying to solve.
I don't think there's a canonical answer to something like this. The combination of factors that will, or will not, get you a particular role are complicated and unique depending on the exact moment in time when you apply, the experience you have at that time, what a potential job might require, and lots of other factors in the larger world that you have no control over: i.e. the market for such jobs.
answered Apr 10 '12 at 21:05
jefflunt
4,9832129
Totally depends on the industry/job you are in, and want to have, as well as many factors outside your control. Just like in writing software itself, "optimal" in the real world is a combination of factors, applied to the problem you're trying to solve.
I don't think there's a canonical answer to something like this. The combination of factors that will, or will not, get you a particular role are complicated and unique depending on the exact moment in time when you apply, the experience you have at that time, what a potential job might require, and lots of other factors in the larger world that you have no control over: i.e. the market for such jobs.
answered Apr 10 '12 at 21:05
jefflunt
4,9832129
answered Apr 10 '12 at 21:05
jefflunt
4,9832129
answered Apr 10 '12 at 21:05
jefflunt
4,9832129
answered Apr 10 '12 at 21:05
jefflunt
4,9832129
4,9832129
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
The rule of thumb I have always heard is that you should generally stay for at least two years - otherwise it might raise a red flag when people read your CV. Of course, if you have a good reason, <2 yrs may still be OK.
Apart from that, there are no general rules. I depends on both what you want (do you prefer stability, or frequent new challenges), on what your job offers, and on industry practices. Some employers consider anyone who stays less than a decade a job hopper, and in some consulting companies, the majority of people is expected to leave after a few years.
Also note that there are alternatives to changing jobs, such as moving to a different department, doing consulting work as part of your job, getting a side job (with employer's permission of course), etc.
answered Apr 15 '12 at 12:21
sleske
9,79633655
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
The rule of thumb I have always heard is that you should generally stay for at least two years - otherwise it might raise a red flag when people read your CV. Of course, if you have a good reason, <2 yrs may still be OK.
Apart from that, there are no general rules. I depends on both what you want (do you prefer stability, or frequent new challenges), on what your job offers, and on industry practices. Some employers consider anyone who stays less than a decade a job hopper, and in some consulting companies, the majority of people is expected to leave after a few years.
Also note that there are alternatives to changing jobs, such as moving to a different department, doing consulting work as part of your job, getting a side job (with employer's permission of course), etc.
answered Apr 15 '12 at 12:21
sleske
9,79633655
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
The rule of thumb I have always heard is that you should generally stay for at least two years - otherwise it might raise a red flag when people read your CV. Of course, if you have a good reason, <2 yrs may still be OK.
Apart from that, there are no general rules. I depends on both what you want (do you prefer stability, or frequent new challenges), on what your job offers, and on industry practices. Some employers consider anyone who stays less than a decade a job hopper, and in some consulting companies, the majority of people is expected to leave after a few years.
Also note that there are alternatives to changing jobs, such as moving to a different department, doing consulting work as part of your job, getting a side job (with employer's permission of course), etc.
answered Apr 15 '12 at 12:21
sleske
9,79633655
The rule of thumb I have always heard is that you should generally stay for at least two years - otherwise it might raise a red flag when people read your CV. Of course, if you have a good reason, <2 yrs may still be OK.
Apart from that, there are no general rules. I depends on both what you want (do you prefer stability, or frequent new challenges), on what your job offers, and on industry practices. Some employers consider anyone who stays less than a decade a job hopper, and in some consulting companies, the majority of people is expected to leave after a few years.
Also note that there are alternatives to changing jobs, such as moving to a different department, doing consulting work as part of your job, getting a side job (with employer's permission of course), etc.
answered Apr 15 '12 at 12:21
sleske
9,79633655
answered Apr 15 '12 at 12:21
sleske
9,79633655
answered Apr 15 '12 at 12:21
sleske
9,79633655
answered Apr 15 '12 at 12:21
sleske
9,79633655
9,79633655
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
3
Voting to close as their is no "right" answer, it depends on a huge number of factors, will varying by all those factor i.e. "You should only ask practical, answerable questions based on actual problems that you face. Chatty, open-ended questions diminish the usefulness of our site and push other questions off the front page."
– Michael Durrant
Jun 7 '12 at 13:50
1
This is way to vague for any sort of useful general answer.
– Jim In Texas
Jun 27 '12 at 18:02