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Find Your Number: How Long Is Too Long to Work at a Company?

There's no such thing as a long tenure in a company unless you're lucky to find a job you truly love to do and a boss (and workmates) who share your passion and enthusiasm. A test comes now and then, though. How long is too long to work at a company?

It's not uncommon for young professionals to change jobs every few years. If a particular occupation doesn't offer any challenges, then it's right to look at other career options. It won't be taken against them. On the other hand, leaving a company after working for ten years or less does have some advantages. You value loyalty, which is a virtue in a professional world. You must have learned many skills. And you've been promoted. But there's a downside. Why have you stayed in that company for too long?

It's not a gray issue, as your chances of finding a new job depend on how you customize your resume and how you respond to the questions being asked during the interview. You won't be reading this post if you have connections, who can help you connect with the right people. (You've done your homework if it happens to be the head of another company, which you've been watching from afar. You wish to be a part of it, but you have a long way to go. You must prove your worth.) It comes down to a set of golden numbers.

These numbers correspond to the length of period that you have been connected to a company. It can tell you how to write your resume, and how to prepare for your next interview.

The Numbers That You Must Remember

8 or 12 months. Both figures won't make you look good for several reasons. You didn't make a good impression during the contractual period, so your boss let you go before you're regularized for the job. You struggle during your first year in the job, and you feel like you won't pass the first performance cycle. You submit your letter of resignation before the company terminates you (or so you think). Don't include it in your resume, and it won't be a capital sin. If you're thinking of calling this period of employment as a project-specific contract role, then think twice about it. This kind of fibbing might be your Waterloo during the interview. You might want to add another section to your resume, which details your freelance jobs. Do it if it matches the requirements in the ads. On the other hand, don't be ashamed to tell it if there's a layoff in your company (and it ends up as headline news).

24 months. A period of two years is the accepted minimum. It means you've passed your first performance cycle evaluation, and you have no intention of staying with the company for another year. The perfect alibi (for submitting your letter of resignation) has something to do with the family. In this regard, female employees don't have to think long and hard about it. It will be a tricky situation for their male counterparts, as cynical members of the HR Department will suspect that the employees may have a problem. You have three options: A corporate action, such as upper-management change, affected your performance, the switch-and-bait scenarios or the lack of challenge in your job. You must prepare to tell the next batch of recruiters about a particular task, which should persuade them that you be better off somewhere else.

48 months. This is the ideal period for most employees. They have to know everything there is to know about the job, but they start to stagnate in their position. They might have been promoted once, and they want more. The company may not have anything to offer anymore. If you've been in the same position, then it will be fine. You still have some time to make your next move.

What You Must Do if You've Been Staying in the Company for Five Years or More

Some recruiters will see your sense of loyalty, your perseverance, and how you manage to achieve a work-life balance. HR cynics will suspect a mediocre employee lacking ambition. Why have it taken you so long to make your move?

You must not compare yourself with other employees, but learning about their cases should give you a clue on how to deal with this situation. It's a delicate line, where you must prove that you still have that motivation to work along with younger professionals. In other words, you have lots to prove before you get the recruiter's nod. There's a way.

You must be specific about the history of your performance, where you must show how you've been promoted from one position to the next. Make sure that you include a specific task or two, where you can cite a number that can impress the recruiter. And you must be sincere when you cite your reason for looking for another job. It will be a leap of faith, which can give you trepidation. (You can get cozy with your job, which can be taken against you.) If you think that this is the only way to grow as a professional, then don't hesitate anymore.

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