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How much job moving is too much for a graduate

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How much job moving is too much

Many graduates have about 2-4 jobs for a year or 2 before settling down on a job? But how much is too much that it will affect future job prospects.
And what if some of them are fixed term contract jobs?
(edited 6 years ago)
Many. It's fine to try different things. A lack of clear career trajectory will negatively impact you in some respects, but as long as you can explain why you made the choices you did you'll be okay up to a point. You want to avoid it seeming like you have no longevity as an employee; you will not do well if they think you are likely to leave after X time and it gets harder to persuade them otherwise with each short-term job.

A lot of this is sector/level dependent, but the tl;dr is that a few different jobs of 1+ years duration will be fine.
Reply 2
Original post by ByronicHero
Many. It's fine to try different things. A lack of clear career trajectory will negatively impact you in some respects, but as long as you can explain why you made the choices you did you'll be okay up to a point. You want to avoid it seeming like you have no longevity as an employee; you will not do well if they think you are likely to leave after X time and it gets harder to persuade them otherwise with each short-term job.

A lot of this is sector/level dependent, but the tl;dr is that a few different jobs of 1+ years duration will be fine.


What about 2 or 3 fixed term contract jobs in different industries but same profession?
Original post by Ybsy75
What about 2 or 3 fixed term contract jobs in different industries but same profession?


That's fine. The beginning of your career is the best time to try different things and almost everyone successful I've ever met had a few jobs completely outside of their intended career when they were young. As long as you are learning new skills and can explain your decisions in interview you'll be fine. Ultimately, if all of the roles are somewhat related it is very easy to sell that to potential employers as you making sure you want to do X and now, having tried Y and Z as well, being completely sure that you do.
I think it is normal to have a few different jobs during the space of a few years. You have just graduated so you need to find out what path you want to take. I would say you should stay 6 - 12 months at a job, enough time to make a good impression and to take what you want from it.
Reply 5
And can you easily go back to an industry you've worked at before?
Original post by Ybsy75
And can you easily go back to an industry you've worked at before?


If you have worked in that industry for at least a year or 2 then it is possible.

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