Job hopping every 1-2 years?

Google xrfn74

Aug 11 299 Comments

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Everyone talks about switching companies for TC and coming back or switching again after 1-2 years. Does this look bad on your resume? Or is this the norm now? Is 2 years the norm or is it 1?

FWIW, I’m junior and I’ve already had short stints (6 mo, 1 year) in the past. Looking to leave after 1 year since G isnt the place for me).

Edit: I mentioned TC as common motivation on Blind, but I am personally looking for a startup with more learning and growth opportunities.

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TOP 299 Comments

Microsoft 🌲fiddy

When I see a candidate with many 1-2 year job stints it raises huge red flags for me. If you've never stayed at a job longer than 2 years, I would not be inclined to hire you unless you had a really good reason.

While it may help you in the short term with TC increases, it will hurt you in the long term since it makes you look undependable.

Aug 11 100 17
- Google Narpreet
  
  You’re just trying to justify to yourself that your decision to stay at a shit company for so long was in your best interest.
  
  Aug 12 2
- Illumio BroCodeGuy
  
  So can someone from G comment on do you really have to get all those coding questions right ? Or does G take experience into account too ...
  
  Aug 12 0
- Twitter mrobvious
  
  Illumio, 1. No 2. Not much
  
  Aug 12 0
- Uber / Eng Hotwheelz
  
  @Narpreet everyone experiences 1-2-3 shit teams / companies early in their career.
  
  But if you find yourself in a streak oh 4-6 "shit companies" might be worthwhile to look inside and see if you are the cause and not the companies.
  
  Aug 12 4
- New polygotbot
  
  I used to have this thinking that someone with 1 to 2 years on a company was a big red flag, but I think most of the times is not up to the employee, the company plays a big role on this too. I would say be very clear and specific, if a company is not providing what you want or where you want to go move on, relay through your projects and professionalism that you are worth and above all be clear an concise on what you want out of a company & team, it will save both entities time and money. Don't just take the job because the pay is 10k greater(since most of it goes to taxes...).
  
  Aug 18 3
Medallia qwertyca

Why g isn’t for you ? 2 yrs is pretty good for standards

Aug 11 48 17
- Amazon / Eng eichenwaldmore
  
  I'm 41. Google is pathetically bloated and slow for me.
  
  Aug 12 5
- Chase (╯°□°）╯
  
  Wait I thought Blind told me Google was the promised land and the best place to work ever?
  
  Aug 13 16
- Intel .tc
  
  Was
  
  Aug 13 3
- Intel fang🙂
  
  It's awesome if you wanna have work life balance, impactful work and equally enjoying life ... it's not for people who wanna just work and suck
  
  Aug 13 4
- Google Dwyijv
  
  Google is huge and varied. You can find both extremes on pretty much any dimension that's discussed in this thread in some team or another. This is a good thing, since people can choose what style of Google they want at any given point in life.
  
  Aug 13 6
Microsoft Dhc

If I am the manager, I won't hire the guy hops a lot every 1-2 years. Just my 2 cents 😀

Aug 12 22 9
- Wizards of the Coast aaaabaa
  
  You work at Microsoft where you can just fill gaps with shitty contractors. Managers have to fill heads at productive companies and won't stress about this at all. It's fine for a Junior and by the time you're a senior, they could easily spend longer looking for a candidate as good than you would have stayed if they'd hired you.
  
  Aug 12 1
- Microsoft Dhc
  
  If u r working on front end with some common technologies / platforms, you may contribute immediately: if the project is platform layer and/or infrastructure layer which is lower level and much more complicated, IMHO, I don't think industry hire could contribute too much in one year unless your project in previous employee exactly matches new employer's project.
  
  Aug 12 5
- Wizards of the Coast aaaabaa
  
  Have you noticed that the only people in this thread espousing that view are from insanely calcified companies?
  
  Aug 12 4
- Microsoft Dhc
  
  Lol. From message likes and private dms I have. All varieties I can tell.
  
  Aug 12 0
- New ❤️ 💗 😆
  
  That’s why this guy works at Microsoft and not at a startup. It’s normal for startup engineers to change jobs every 1/2 years. You never know at the time you join a startup
  
  Aug 12 1
Google / HR nedomore

I’m a recruiter and I can promise you this raises red flags at most companies.

Aug 12 33 18
- New / Strategy Porsche996more
  
  I think this recruiter is a baby boomer.
  
  Aug 12 2
- Facebook justmeh
  
  G recruiter reached out 5 months after I joined FB. Told them to call back in a year.
  
  Aug 12 2
- Google / HR nedomore
  
  @neco it may reduce the likelihood of recruiters wanting to work with you because it appears to be more of a risk on their end. At the end of the day, recruiters need to hit their numbers and don’t like taking chances on bad previous interview scores
  
  Aug 13 1
- Google / HR nedomore
  
  @porsche996 I’m a millennial. 26 years old.
  
  Aug 13 0
- Oracle Flatlinerz
  
  @nedo nevermind LinkedIn, I applied via referral for 3 roles 10 days ago and not even rejection emails! Last year I got rejection emails within 3 days
  
  Aug 20 1
LinkedIn / Eng ____I____

I have 10 hrs of exp and LinkedIn is my 7th company. My friend who works for VMware with same years of experience is into the 11th company. Both of our CTC have a huge gap and he still get Calls from the recruiter.
Until n unless you can explain your work and reason to come out, should be fine

Aug 11 7 5
- Google xrfn74
  OP
  
  What is CTC?
  
  Aug 12 2
- Facebook neco
  
  7 companies within 10hrs, that's impressive, especially in bay area traffic
  
  Aug 12 52
- Microsoft / IT gabrielite
  
  Haha neco what’s a genius^^😂
  
  Aug 12 0
- Amazon / Strategy dosranaam
  
  CTC is a term used in India which stands for Cost To Company. Includes base pay plus benefits which essentially is total cost to a company per employee.
  
  Aug 12 0
- Marvell Engeneer
  
  It's TC
  
  Aug 12 1
Google monrow

I don't get how people can make an impact to a large scale project at FAANG in 1 year atleast those with less than 10 years of total experience.

It takes nearly 6 months to understand the ins and outs of the project. I'm just an l4 but even the l5s with 6 to 8 yoe who join my team take time to get a grasp of the systems before starting to meaningfully contribute. They might have a thorough understanding of the tech stack but it takes times to understand what other engineers have built.

Aug 12 58 2
- Pinterest qITs08
  
  This. I see the largest contributions from people with 1+ years
  
  Aug 13 2
- Google / Eng revert_bak
  
  Maybe this explains TC hunters.
  
  Aug 13 0
Facebook QIXQ16

Hopping every 2 years for first 5, maybe up to 10 years is OK. Past that and you aren't picking up the ability to think and execute long-term/strategically and is a flag that you might just be difficult to work with/impossible to retain.

Aug 12 13 8
- Exabeam / Sales MeaU87more
  
  Yes from a perfect Silly Valley standpoint that makes sense. In other areas of the country M&A activity has destroyed wonderful opportunities and companies. They along with dozens of PE firms have sucked the blood out of many people and as a highly skilled person I’m supposed to stick around so that the appearance of prescience is on my resume?? Get a reality check. I’m with a great company now and refuse to go anywhere. I can count on one hand those opportunities in a 25 year career. Many of us need the right team with the right product at the right time.
  
  Aug 12 11
- Facebook QIXQ16
  
  Look, I didn't mean to attack you personally, but just conveying what the common perception is. Obviously there are all types of exceptions, and if you are one of them so long as you can cleanly tell your story you'll be fine.
  
  Aug 12 2
- Exabeam / Sales MeaU87more
  
  I didn’t take it that way at all, I bring it up to make a point not just to you but other hiring managers that may read this post. One thing I really appreciate about where I am now is that they wanted to understand the why and how of my career. I had great references and in some cases unique circumstances as to why my employment was what is was. I think hiring managers need to be more open minded and less rigid.
  
  Aug 12 3
- Amazon / Eng fahrenheitmore
  
  MeaU87 has the only things worth reading in this entire post right here.
  
  Aug 12 0
- MassMutual / Eng NkOS62more
  
  @MeaU87 hay, not all of us MBAs are jerks.
  
  But to that comment about M&A sucking the life out of tech...
  
  Agree.
  
  150% agree.
  
  Also agree on when you land a great company with great benefits & comp - it's foolish to leave unless you stagnate professionally.
  
  Aug 13 1
OpenDoor thCP30

Leaving before your cliff is a red flag. My talent team doesn't even look at people that leave so much total comp on the table anymore.

You're either crazy, in which case I don't want to work with you, or you can't take feedback or work well with others, in which case I definitely don't want to work with you.

In any case, if someone can't keep a job for a year, every time I've given them a shot I can see why pretty fast.

Aug 12 14 4
- Google / Eng zQgN83more
  
  What about people who want to leave due to bad managers, slow culture/projects, or issues like harassment?? You shouldn't automatically see red flags
  
  Aug 12 18
- OpenDoor thCP30
  
  Once or twice? Ok. A career full of it? Look at the common denominator.
  
  Aug 12 11
- Apple d37sk38
  
  There’s a reason to leave before your cliff. You can use your current comp as leverage to negotiate for the next role. If my current TC jumped $100k over what was expected because of the bull market we’ve had but a year from now is likely to see a drop because of the cliff. It’s better to milk a little bit of that growth but turn that 1 year of increased TC into 4 years by jumping ship and using that Increased TC as leverage.
  
  Aug 13 6
- Microsoft FeetVoter
  
  I’m considering leaving Microsoft for lower TC since my initial offer there was great but I see a massive cliff coming and I’d rather settle in longer term elsewhere when I realize they don’t want people to stay longer than 4 years (refreshers are tiny). Plus I got a new manager who sucks.
  
  Aug 13 1
Wayfair jmulls

2 years is good, 1 year or less you’ll have some explaining to do. You need to have a really good story about skills that you’re picking up at each company and continuing on that learning path

Aug 11 35 4
- Google xrfn74
  OP
  
  I feel like picking up skills and learning is orthogonal to time spent in one role. IMO learning quickly peaks unless you find new projects. We trade off learning new skills for having an impact using what you already know.
  
  I think the more important factors are (1) the amount of impact you’ll have had (and whether you completed complex projects), and (2) whether this signals that you will not stay long in the next role.
  
  (1) is not particularly important if you are a fast learner, or already ramped up. I see some engineers make a lot of impact on a team and move on. Neither factors are very important at a startup I’d guess. Recruiters similarly only care if you stay one year.
  
  Aug 11 14
- Wayfair jmulls
  
  Interesting perspective, thanks for sharing. Do you think that applies in engineering management roles as well? There I think it leans closer to 2 hear as minimum, since navigating the organization and create leverage tends to take a bit longer. High growth teams might have different success criteria through, even in a larger company context.
  
  Aug 11 0
- Google xrfn74
  OP
  
  No idea. Intuition would say senior roles are expected to stay longer, but there is churn all the time of even CEOs and that seems to be okay so 🤷🏻‍♂️
  
  Aug 12 0
- New / Product dowop
  
  Except your opinion doesnt matter when it comes to recruiting? You're objectively right but there is also perception. If a recruiter sees 5 positions in 5 years, you ll be less likely to be considered for senior roles.
  
  Aug 12 1
Emerson / Eng pyxA48

A rolling stone gathers no moss. Having said that , 1 year is very less. In one year you have only taken from that organization.
5 years is long enough. 3 years is good duration for first 10 years of your career.

Aug 12 1 7
- OceanX / Eng CyberDog
  
  What the rolling Stone doesn't have in mass, it compensates in momentum and kinetic energy
  
  Aug 12 8
- Emerson / Eng pyxA48
  
  In first year , we only take from an organization.
  Next 1 year to establish one self in organization. Next 1 year is the payback time.
  That's why, I said 3 years is the appropriate time. Fair for everyone.
  
  Aug 12 2
- GM Financial / IT Tallgeese
  
  I'm sure they'll be concerned about what is fair when the next RIF rolls around.
  
  Aug 12 4
- OceanX / Eng CyberDog
  
  First 1 year you take from the organization, why do you take so long to contribute?
  
  Aug 12 14
- GM Financial / IT Tallgeese
  
  SHOTS FIRED!
  
  Aug 12 1
Microsoft / Eng Pottatoomore

According to me and I might be wrong. People who shift jobs every 2-3 years are the skilled ones.

Who sit in same company for years and years in the same role are unskilled. If you’re growing and is proud about the work you are doing then is a exception.

Aug 12 33 5
- GM Financial / IT Tallgeese
  
  Underrated perspective.
  
  Aug 12 3
- Microsoft / Eng Pottatoomore
  
  Thank you...
  
  Are you one of them?
  Working in same company for years in same level.
  
  Just asking.
  
  Aug 12 0
- GM Financial / IT Tallgeese
  
  I'm one of those dirty hoppers some in this thread do not like.
  
  But hopping has allowed me to network enough to understand my place in the hierarchical structure, at least where my niche expertise is concerned.
  
  For my part, you're not likely to find anyone better unless they've been doing it way longer. In 5 years, I have attained strong credentials by designing and building really cool shit in the realm of Cisco Unified Communications.
  
  I'm not the best, but I'm at least in the upper-80s/low-90-something percentile.
  
  Aug 12 2
- Chase (╯°□°）╯
  
  Yeah people who don't frequently change jobs are unskilled. All of them. Always. 🙄
  
  Maybe the people who job hop all the time are unskilled at making lasting contributions to their teams such that they get promoted to higher levels.
  
  Aug 13 1
- GM Financial / IT Tallgeese
  
  Hopping gets you promoted, too, much of the time.
  
  IMO, staying in one role puts you at a high risk of being stuck in the same position at the same comp long-term.
  
  Please note that this is what I've observed in non-SWE IT. SWE is probably different.
  
  Aug 13 3
Pinterest whutevs

2 years is not job hopping.

Aug 12 39 1
- Chase (╯°□°）╯
  
  🙄
  
  Aug 13 1
Walmart / Eng QTFP86

I feel very sad for people who never been to startups but wanna work in startups. I had been there n done that, trust me that is not the only way to learn a lot and rapidly. What you asking is like “I am to bored living in first world country, I want to feel the life and hardship to get experience, I want to go Syria or Pakistan”

Aug 12 26 6
- Walmart / Eng QTFP86
  
  Right IGlb76, I agree... but you know how hard it is to pick the right one? And is it really worth to gamble when there are other ways to learn?
  
  Aug 12 2
- NVIDIA XhEW17
  
  Right one he means those Unicorns?
  
  Aug 13 1
- Google lGlb76
  
  Don’t just jump to just some random startup. Go bec you get a higher position in a later stage one, or if it’s earlier stage - get to know VCs and founders, and only join if you can do real due diligence beforehand.
  
  Aug 13 1
- Cision YoHl60
  
  There can be a lot of value in a startup experience. What I found after years of bouncing around, you have to know what questions to ask based on what stage the startup is in. IMO
  
  Aug 14 3
- Facebook gottapedmore
  
  Startups are the best
  
  Aug 20 0
Google / Eng Slw07gnvs

I was at my first employer for 3 years and the 2 jobs after that I left after about 14 months at each one.

While applying/interviewing for my fourth job, there was one company that claimed to have a problem with my job hopping (after having me go through 2 phone interviews and interviewing with 5 people on-site. 🙄)

I’m happy I did the job hopping though; it allowed me to more than double the salary that I was earning from my first job.

Aug 13 16 3
- Uber MrMephist0
  
  ^^^ this guy fucks. Seriously though this is the bi-product of capitalism don’t get fucked by believing your company gives two flying shits about employees. Do excellent work but don’t expect to retire there. I doubled my income in less than a year by jumping.
  
  Aug 13 14
- ICU Medical / Mktg user3.0more
  
  Job hopping is the only way to grow salary.
  
  Aug 13 3
- Google xrfn74
  OP
  
  Did that company eventually give an offer? Also did Google hiring committee care at all?
  
  Aug 14 2
Facebook s f y r w

The most competent people stay. The most incompetent people are let go. The less incompetent people stay. The less competent people jump ship.

Aug 12 3 3
- GM Financial / IT Tallgeese
  
  Nobody followed that meandering collection of generalizations.
  
  Aug 12 23
- SAP lDsd42more
  
  This is definitely not true at the lower tier companies.
  
  Aug 12 3
- Oracle Flatlinerz
  
  Did someone secretly do your Facebook onsite in your place?
  
  Aug 20 0
Microsoft / Eng egGC72

I would say change team ans stick to that place unless you have 5 years of exp and then make a move. If you're planning to get into startup make sure you have at least $1 million in your account. Once you join a startup it is commitment for 3 to 4 years and based on data 95% startup fail.You have got whole life in front of you to get into startup gain some experience not just coding . You need to learn soft skill, know how to write autorive email vs soft email. Learn about how market study is done what it takes to sell a piece of software. Writing code is just 20% of making product.

Aug 12 9 3
- Fitbit lba575
  
  Ok don’t want to be a dick but saying you have to have $1 million cash in the bank to join a startup as an employee is absurd lol
  
  Aug 12 10
- Bose bosebose10more
  
  Microsoft managers think like dinosaurs. Dont need to spend 3-5 years in every company
  
  Aug 12 5
- Google Jeremey
  
  Nobody listen to this risk averse micro soft. Go to a startup with $0 in the bank.
  
  Aug 13 0
Lyft 6fd5wxo5z

1 year is too soon. Beyond 5 years is too late. 2-4 years is perfect. Jump every 2 years, no problem.

Aug 12 16 1
- Tyler Technologies / Eng RGOd34
  
  Soo opinionated
  
  Aug 12 8
NVIDIA gametheroy

Based on first hand experience, only koolaid drinkers look at job hopping on a resume as negative. And you don't want to work with those weirdos anyways.

Everyone who is confident enough to negociate and make TC knows switching jobs when you have the opportunity to get much more and still like your work participates in the hopping system.

Companies these days reward you for that. Heck even IBM fires you if you don't (re: news story about them letting older employees go).

Aug 13 15 1
- Amazon / Eng AMZNBucks
  
  It's the old guard who is against job hopping. Because they never did it 😂
  
  Aug 13 8
Uber MrMephist0

2 Years...there’s really no incentive to stay even if you love your team since they’d drop you without a second thought during a lay-off and you’re generally capped at 3-5% growth. I mean I really love my career path and team but after the last few weeks at Uber I realized most public ally traded companies don’t give a shit about their employees so you shouldn’t give a shit about them if you are approached by a recruiter or otherwise apply and find something better. I’d love to be here for 3+ years but at the 2 year mark I’ll start actively entertaining offers

Aug 12 18 6
- Uber MrMephist0
  
  That’s exactly what happened to 400 of my marketing peers so yeah fuck that noise leave and get paid if you find something else that interests you. Note: your boss may love you but your company does not. I’m probably just bitter since I’ve seen it play out at Yahoo! Disney and now Uber.
  
  Aug 12 2
- Intuit t8n1xm
  
  Right before vesting? Fuck that noise man
  
  Aug 12 1
- GM Financial / IT Tallgeese
  
  Not all of us have RSUs or other comp-related reasons to stay. I finally started demanding a signing bonus and I think it'll be a good way for my employer to feel like they'll be able to keep me for a year or 2.
  
  Aug 12 0
- The Kraft Heinz Company nyc1540
  
  Ugh I had the worst experience with Uber s year ago. Recruiter told me their new pay scheme was based on the number of years out of school and not responsibility due to the controversy (this was a year ago). I dropped out when I asked for clarification that someone many levels higher than a peer who was out of school the same duration would make the same.
  
  Could have been a confused recruiter, but that's how she explained it and I bounced over it.
  
  Aug 13 0
- Facebook gottapedmore
  
  If you wanna be considered a legend, you gotta stay longer bro
  
  Aug 20 0
Symantec XlKF54

If you are an IC and not integral to a team, I guess a history of hopping under two is not too much of a concern. But as a Director and hiring manager, I would not hire a gypsy in a team role. Building effective cohesive teams is hard and takes time. I want folks willing to invest time and commitment in the team.

Aug 12 22 0

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