Job Tenure:

Yes…and no. But before we dig into the truth about job tenure, let’s discuss what it is. Tenure is the length of time someone has worked for one company. Many identify tenure as long or short.

And while there are several factors to consider when looking at job tenure, you should know that overall, as long as you are progressing in a way that is helping you to achieve long-term career goals, tenure isn’t likely to impact your job search negatively.

That said, team members who exhibit a pattern of staying at a job for less than two years may be seen as job-hoppers. And with a job-hopper label, hiring managers may be concerned that you lack career goals. Hiring teams may also be concerned you are difficult to work with, don’t stick around when things get tough, or will not be loyal to the team long-term.

Alternatively, employees who stay in one specific position for more than 10 years may be questioned about why they weren’t promoted.

So, how important is job tenure? How does a team member stay in a position long enough to exhibit loyalty without staying so long as to prohibit career growth?

In today’s team roundtable, we dig into what would be considered ‘short’ tenure in our industry. We also discuss when it can negatively impact your candidacy, when it doesn’t, and how you can positively explain your tenure.