How Long To Stay At a Job in Your 20s

he American job market is, to put it bluntly, in a tough place right now. It’s harder than ever to get a job for young adults, the group of people who need the money as the economy also threatens to wane. And despite all of the hot debate about wages and economic safety happening in politics, everyone still needs to work and everyone is doing their best to work as best as they can. Getting one job may or may not be simple enough, but when it comes to a career then there is much more for people in their 20s to consider: namely, how long to stay at a job. Change can suck (Believe me, I get it) but for people just starting out in their career, it is generally a good idea to switch jobs from time to time. But how long should you stay at a job in your 20s? When should you stay, and how to change jobs correctly so that you don’t get turned down for being a job hopper? 

It is important to note, first of all, that consistency in one company can be good– it shows loyalty. And, more time in a company probably comes with increased benefits, titles, and pay. Staying for five or more years, with ten being a solid number, is a good amount of time to well and truly solidify yourself at a company and reap all the benefits available. That’s the amount of time most experts agree is good to stay at one job. This is a good move in general for people who are older and already settled into their career. But for people in their 20s, staying at one job is probably going to be less economically fruitful than switching every 1-2 years. Job switching will net you an increased salary most of the time, and more money compared to getting raises at a consistent job. So, all the evidence points to job hopping during your 20s to be the ideal way to make a lot of money and advance your career. But, unfortunately that is not quite the whole story.

How to know the length of time to stay at a job

There is still an argument in some circles about whether or not the ‘Great Resignation’ actually happened. The name refers to a period during pandemic lockdowns during which American companies faced record high resignations due to stagnant wages and low job security during the time of the pandemic. During the time, somewhere to the tune of 95% of Americans were thinking about quitting their jobs. The point is that quitting your job has become, dare I say, glamorized a little bit, despite the fact that leaving yourself without a constant source of income is usually bad. But it speaks to the culture at the time and the staying power of those ideas in the current job market. Along with the ‘quiet quitting’ trend, leaving your job straight up can be helpful in toxic environments. But, generally, you should not just up and leave your job without a good reason. Plus, employers are less likely to hire you if you think they’ll only have you for a couple months until you choose to hop again.

But on the other hand, you don’t want to stay too long. So where’s the line? How do you stay at a job long enough to get credibility but short enough to make more money?

Unfortunately, such a number is not mathematically solvable. The situation is very variable and your professional life is mostly in your hands. Most experts will say at the very least a year or about one to two years, but all of these are generalizations. For your specific situations and jobs, your mileage may vary. Just do what’s best for you by your own judgement. Don’t do anything that will get your name blacklisted, and– to transition to our next topic– leave jobs responsibly.

How to leave a job professionally

If you find yourself ready to leave a job and move on to the next chapter in your career, you should probably take your time. If you’re in no rush, then try to have another job lined up before you leave your current one. This ensures that you still will have a positive income without too much of a gap, keeping you afloat easier. As an additional financial note, you should try to have at least a year of living expenses saved up, if possible. This is good money if you can’t find a job and allows plenty of time for you to get something. 

And if you’re working in the field you intend to stay in, it’s good practice to put in a two weeks notice. It’s respectful and gives your employers time to prepare for your absence. In addition, try not to quit for no good reason. Leave your job when you have something better lined up or if you have any other good reason to. All of this can help you keep things as stable as possible when you change things up in your life.

But of course, as we have discussed, you need to do what is best for you. If you’re at a job that sets you up for life, or something that puts you in a solid executive position then obviously you should stay. It’s not a good look for you or the company if the president leaves after a year or two. On resumes, lengthy work experience can look good but four years as a chief financial officer looks better than six years working the register in a chain restaurant. Everything depends, and that may be frustrating but it can be worked to your advantage. Between jobs, your resume can be shaped to make you look as good as you need to. It’s not exactly breaking news that resumes tend to exaggerate information. Just don’t outright lie and say you have qualifications you don’t– that is a good way to get fired.

In a job, the best thing you can do is build relationships for networking and stay ready to move when you find a better opportunity. And as the years go by, eventually you’ll probably find a job that you can stay in. After all, if the money stops going up and you are (hopefully) satisfied with the work you do, you can relax. It’s still good to change things up every decade or so, but after your 20s it will feel like much less work. If you’re freelancing, you may end up visiting the same clients multiple times. Many of these rules won’t apply, but being self employed still follows under the same general expectations. Be respectful, vary your work, and get yourself out there so that the money comes to you.

But while you’re still young, keep your eyes open and stay light on your feet. With reasonable effort, you will be fine. Even with the job market the way it is there is still a breadth of options available to you to keep your head above water. 

But that is not all, of course. You cannot simply rely on yourself and a loose network of colleagues on LinkedIn. Don’t be afraid to lean on other people in your life and do not hesitate to take opportunities that are available to you. This life isn’t a competition, and the best way to win is to take as much as is offered to you. 

If you liked this article and you want to know more about what it takes to be an adult in this day and age, you can check out this article about how to handle your first professional job. Or, maybe you’ll like this one about self care tips to fight burnout while self employed.