Job hopping is a favourite pastime
How long have you been in your current position? One year, two years, three years? Even more?
If so, it may be time to move on. A global survey of 6,000 financial services and other staff by Robert Walters, the recruitment agency, found that nearly 30% of respondents considered three years too long to spend in one job.
Nearly 10% thought that two years in the same job was excessive.
The survey highlighted interesting national variations. Somewhat surprisingly, Americans proved most tolerant of long periods of job tenure. A mere 58% of US nationals considered five years too long, compared to a 70% global average.
The world's most restless employees are in the UK, South Africa, Singapore and the Netherlands. Three quarters of them would feel jaded if they were in the same place for more than five years.
Current economic conditions may be having a contradictory influence on job tenure. Sarah Williams, a consultant in Robert Walters financial services division, says the downturn is encouraging some people to cling to existing positions, while others are proving unusually footloose.
'Investment banks are offering fewer opportunities for promotion and people are having to leave and find new jobs if they want to improve their remuneration', she said.
