civil servants will often work for the State for a lifetime. Even still, they will often be moved about from department to department. Manager to manager. Desk to desk.

If you work for Transport for London then lucky you.

And for the rest of us....
But especially for the private sector. It seems that nothing is permanent. Change is constant. And either you evolve or die. Some outfits i have worked for are constantly getting rid of the old guard to replace them with identical newcomers on smaller money.

How often do you change job ? what is the appropriate tenureship of a job ? how long to stay is too long ? how long is not enough ? For me, stay as long as you and your boss are both happy. Otherwise its over.

what are your experiences ?

Eze Peasy at Anfield....

n

Never less than 18 months. Generally 3 years is good. 7 years if you are constantly developing. Once past that point it becomes hard to leave and puts you in a tricky situation if you then have to find a new job.

Some research I did with Harvard Business School indicates if you are highly successful in your current role never go to an equivalent or lower branded organisation. Your success gets diluted. Try to climb the ladder to the pre-eminent organisation in your field.

I used to be in the civil service doing policy work in Westminster and that was interesting and the people were fun but the money and the career prospects were f***ing s***e. After struggling to the dizzy heights of HEO after ten years I jacked it in and went to do a master's in IT. Then did business analysis for ten years or so. Now I design databases.

Since then I've stayed in the same company about 5-7 years at a stretch, but two of them were consultancies which mean you move from client to client every so often.

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The Ferret
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When started work in 1960's jobs were pretty much 'two a penny.'
First 6-7 years changed jobs 3 or 4 times then got wed. Got new job and stayed 17 years (mortgage, kids etc.). Made redundant at 45. Took 10 months to land another suitable job and was there 7 years then they relocated to Manchester - took redundancy. Another -not so good firm - for 4 years -guess what - redundant again @ 58. Another several months unemployment then got a part time civil service job to see me through to 65.
Retirement. Reduced income but no fear of it being cut off. Most secure position I've had - 'job' for life!

Edited by rob1969 (11 Jan 2018 11.24am)

If you have a final salary pension, don't go anywhere!

Excellent point