How long is too long to stay in the same job?
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This week, the Wall Street Journal reported that the average tenure of a legal job is about 5.4 years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employers are starting use data to predict when someone will leave their job, and what factors make it most likely for someone to be a “flight risk”.
Obviously, the choice to leave one job and seek another can lead to a more prestigious position. But it can be hard to decide whether to take the leap, especially if it could involve a lot of personal upheaval. Some people regret staying in the same job for many years, but others relish the security and sense of loyalty.
So this week, we’d like to ask you: How long is too long to stay at one job? Is there such a thing? Do you have any sort of ironclad rule about when you start looking for a different position? Or does it depend on circumstances?
Answer in the comments.
Read the answers to last week’s question: What are your go-to grammar guides?
Featured answer:
Posted by Doug H: “Roy Copperud, American Usage and Style: The Consensus. Copperud surveys seven leading grammarians and dictionaries (Fowler, Strunk & White, etc.) and reports their opinions on grammatical and usage issues (e.g., ‘irregardless’). As a young associate in a big DC law firm, I used Copperud as my guide to deciding when to quibble with someone else’s writing when editing. Another associate: If four of seven agree, I changed it. Junior partner, five of seven. Senior partner, six of seven. Client, seven of seven. It’s a fun read too. I still pick it up often and just flip around in it.”
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