How long on the job?

I find that the older generation has been a the same company for AGES while our generation stays at a job for 2 - 3 years and then move on.

My dad has been with his same company for 35 years as of this month Some of my coworkers have been with the company for 15 to 20+ years.

Why do you think Generation X (and Y I guess) don't stay at the same job for years as our parents/grandparents tend to do?

Re: How long on the job?

LAYOFFS!!!!

Re: How long on the job?

I think older people got better raises so it paid to stay put. Now we get our measely 3% raises so it pays to move on to jobs that start with higher pay or have a higher likliehood of advancing.

Re: How long on the job?

I'm not sure of the reason...

I'm at my current job for 3 years now, but I was at my last company for just about 10 when I was downsized. I had no intention on leaving, and I have no intention on leaving here either.

Re: How long on the job?

Its hard to stay at a job these days that long b/c to make any money you have to move around.. Back then things weren't as exspensive as now.. I remember my dad telling me he made like $45 dollars a week when he and my mom first got married.. thats crazy.. teenagers cant live off that now a days.

Message edited 9/11/2007 4:02:57 PM.

Re: How long on the job?

Re: How long on the job?

I'm at my present company almost 15 years. The job before this one 10 years.
Definately got better pay and raises.

Re: How long on the job?

I think saalry, like Nicole said, is a big part of it.

Also, I don't think long term benefits are as common ( like pensions) , so there is less incentive to stay.

However, I've been here for 9+ years, and other than good vacation, I have no idea why!

Re: How long on the job?

Re: How long on the job?

The main difference is loyalty.

Employees had it for their employers because it was returned to them. Now, an employer thinks nothing about their employees and they will very willingly screw them over if it will benefit their bottom line-- so, people don't feel tied to their organizations anymore. Of course, there are always exceptions to this.

The corporate game has changed-- and like most things, it just ain't what it used to be.

Re: How long on the job?

Re: How long on the job?

As someone had previously mentioned, I definitely think that the lack of pensions contributes to this.

A pension is a huge incentive for someone to stay with a company. Employer contributions (if there even are any!) to 401K are no where near the amount that pensions pay.

Re: How long on the job?

Re: How long on the job?

I was on a final interview for a job I really wanted today and was told I had. The dealbreaker I guess was the fact that I have moved around. Most of the jobs I have had I stayed about 2 years. I did it b/c either there was no more room for advancement where I was or for financial gain. I was basically told they did not want to invest their money in someone like me b/c I leave jobs so often.

Re: How long on the job?

I'm not sure I yet have a theory as to WHY it happens, but I remember reading that our parents' generation was likely to have 2-3 jobs in a lifetime, compared to our generation having 2-3 CAREERS in a lifetime and multiple jobs.

Re: How long on the job?

I believe in the beginning of your career you shouldn't stay put forever. You need to move around to get more money and advancement and experience. Every company has something else to offer. There are more companies now and our population has grown. Colleges now offer more programs as new industries pop up offering people a chance to start in one career and go to another. More people now are going for additional degrees and looking for more out of their careers. More financing options are available too for college.

We have grown as a society and always want more. We are a society of having to have more, better and the biggest.

That's a double edged sword.

My firm offers a pension at 20 years of service. I may stay for another 16 to find out how good it really is.

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Re: How long on the job?

i think b/c people get bored easily and they start to think they are better then the job they are in. people start to look for new jobs almost immediatley after landing a new job.

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i have been at my current job for a little over 2 years, I like it there, but am finding it impossible to get a real raise or to advance. I am giving it until Jan, and if nothing changes I am going to start looking for something else.

Before this I didn't stay at jobs for very long because I didn't like them.

Re: How long on the job?

Posted by MrsT

Posted by ChickPea

I was on a final interview for a job I really wanted today and was told I had. The dealbreaker I guess was the fact that I have moved around. Most of the jobs I have had I stayed about 2 years. I did it b/c either there was no more room for advancement where I was or for financial gain. I was basically told they did not want to invest their money in someone like me b/c I leave jobs so often.

That does not mean you would leave this job

Re: How long on the job?

I've been at my job 3 years + now. I want to stay and get tenure in a few years. It has moments of up and down, but what job doesn't? Plus they are the most flexible!

ETA: Our generation has more opportunities than generations before us - competing industries, higher salaries elsewhere, ability for movement, etc.

Message edited 9/11/2007 7:36:23 PM.

Re: How long on the job?

considering I am on my 4th job in 5 years

I can tell you why I have bounced around- $$$$$$$$$$$

I have more then doubled my salary in the last 5 years- if I stayed were I was- I wouldn't be making as much

Job 1- 2.5 years
Job 2- 2 years
Job 3- 11 months
Job 4- I hope 2 plus year or get promoted

if I don't get to the next level- I am out

Re: How long on the job?

I've been at my job for a grand total of 9 years this December. I started as a seasonal employee and worked my way up, now I'm full-time and in a better position then where I started. But there's no where else for me to go here and I'm making crappola!! I've been in this spot for 4 years now and it's time to move on.

I'd LIKE to find a job where I can also advance and stay there for a while.

Re: How long on the job?

Ive been at my current job for 4 years. Its my first job out of college and have no intention of leaving anytime soon. I have way too much flexibility and the benefits are too good, not to mention I generally like what I do.

I think people move around to get the financial gain/ boredom.

Re: How long on the job?

Corporate greed!!!!! our parents and their parents were given a generous pension and other beneifts for staying put. they knew that they would be taken care of in retirement. now, many people leave or go from job to job because they're not getting good benefits or a pension so why not try different things out.

Also, i think our generation is more educated and so we're less likely to "settle" in a job... we want to be "happy" and will continually look for our dream job as opposed to staying put for security.