How Long Should You Stay In One Job?

By Elizabeth Benu

“I have been working at the same company for more than two years. I started as an intern and as the company grew I was promoted to Accounts Assistant. I already feel that I should move on to another company for a challenging opportunity but I do not want to seem like a job hopper. When is the best time to stay in one job?” asks Simon Kanyotu in an email.

“For you to settle in job and understand it like the back of your hand, it takes three years. However, there’s nothing wrong with someone staying in a job for 10 years but it would be good to move to a more challenging position whether it is within the company or with another company,” says Lynette Sikulu a Human Resource Officer at Veterinairs sans Frontiers Germany

“The longer an employee stays, the more the new employer sees stability in a candidate.\ Employers do not want someone who will go away after an year of investing in them.”

As revealed by Alison Doyle a Job search expert, staying too long has its disadvantages. If you stay too long your chances of getting promoted become less.

How to evaluate if you can stay longer in a job

List your professional or career goals. Does the job you are in help you achieve them? Do not stay too long only to be fired and realize the job never gave you fulfillment. If you want a better career future do not neglect it in the name of loyalty to your employer.

Focus on keeping your skills updated while you have an eye on ant other opportunities.

The dangers of staying in one job for too long

Remember that if you have been in the same position for more than three years, the employer is most likely to have seen all tricks in your bag. With each year you risk being irrelevant because Kenyan employers are always looking for new talent with greater energy and different perception about things.

“Stay in a job longer. The first three years count as time to settle in and get you more confident in the position,” concludes Ms. Abishagi.