How long is too long?
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How long is too long in a position? I've been in mine for 2 years. While there is still plenty for me to do here, I want to make sure that it is not turning out to be a career at one company. I would like to see different environments and different challenges, and maybe even across different industries.
I would, someday, like to become an IT Manager, but am enjoying tinkering with the servers still.
So back to the question, how long does one typically stay in one position in order to advance their career without becoming stale? 4 years?
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That's a hard question to answer. But a lot of times, to advance your career, you have to switch jobs. I was at my last job for 10 years, and the job before that for 3.
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Average IT jobs these days are 3-4 years. Resume wise, at least stick it out for 3.
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@dafyre said in How long is too long?:
That's a hard question to answer. But a lot of times, to advance your career, you have to switch jobs. I was at my last job for 10 years, and the job before that for 3.
There's definitely not a set rule it's really going to depend on the environment and what you're learning and how you're still advancing in expanding your self.
I've been in my current job since 2009 full-time. My duties of changed over that time, but I'm not looking to change companies because of what we do as a consultancy. I get to see everything I have no need to change in order to grow.
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@JaredBusch said in How long is too long?:
There's definitely not a set rule it's really going to depend on the environment and what you're learning and how you're still advancing in expanding your self.
And that is definitely a good point. Very soon, we are going to do a hardware refresh. Later on this year, we are going to be upgrading Server OS and domain/forest level to 2016.
I can still learn PS and AD for another year or 2. On top of that, looking at possibly WDS for both servers and clients, pushing out software via script instead of touching each computer, and just really working hard at changing the workforce environment to submit tickets instead of pounding on the door/stopping us in the hallway.
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My rule of thumb is: If you have plenty of (varying) things to do at your job or you don't feel a need to change jobs, then stay where you are. When the desire for a better job begins to creep in, it is time to start the hunting.
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No cut and dry. It's about when the position isn't helping you grow (or retire).
Twenty years is too short if the job is right. But the wrong job you should leave after the first day.
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For an average job, three years is a decent guide. But certainly "it depends".
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I've been on the average of 3 years for most of my positions. Some a bit longer, but 3 years seems to be where it is for my record.
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Companies that move you around internally get a lot more years than those that keep you in one role.
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I'm leaving here after 2. My last job was 6 years. Like everyone says...it depends.
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I left one job after 9 months. Next job said "that's good, we like to see people who are strong enough to hold out for a year there, but won't hire anyone so foolish as to stay for two."
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Man.... Not a single "that's what she said" joke on this thread. I am disappoint.
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@RojoLoco said in How long is too long?:
Man.... Not a single "that's what she said" joke on this thread. I am disappoint.
we can, very occasionally, be actually serious for an entire thread.
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@JaredBusch said in How long is too long?:
@RojoLoco said in How long is too long?:
Man.... Not a single "that's what she said" joke on this thread. I am disappoint.
we can, very occasionally, be actually serious for an entire thread.
Now that I've seen it, I believe you.
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@JaredBusch said in How long is too long?:
@RojoLoco said in How long is too long?:
Man.... Not a single "that's what she said" joke on this thread. I am disappoint.
we can, very occasionally, be actually serious for an entire thread.
It's early yet on this one though
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@NerdyDad said in How long is too long?:
I would, someday, like to become an IT Manager, but am enjoying tinkering with the servers still.
So let's start with three things....
- How do you define "IT Manager" because that could mean any of several pretty standard things from "lone IT guy in charge of an SMB" to "Mid level personnel manager in an enterprise with zero technical responsibilities" with several things in between.
- How far are you from your goal now?
- How is your current job pushing you towards that goal.
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Then once we define those things, we can start figuring out if and when the current job starts to Peter out and what the next job might hopefully look like as a reason next "hop" along the path.
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An advantage to an MSP like Bundy or NTG is that we tend to see a wide variety of tasks (vertical experience) and technologies (horizontal experience) either day to day or year to year and tend to have some degree or either mentor or peer support internally. So in an environment like that, you can shift up the career ladder differently than say in an SMB where there is one or two roles to fill and no matter how good you are, you are just really killing that one role.
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@scottalanmiller said in How long is too long?:
Companies that move you around internally get a lot more years than those that keep you in one role.
Yeah, I've never had this happen personally, but would be complete fine with it.
But when things become stagnant, and there is no opportunity to either grow or learn something else its time to search.
