How long do you stay at a job?

MollyJ · Jul 22, 2001

I'm going to give a plug for resume building.

If you start to build a resume that shows that you come and work somewhere for 6 to 9 months _consistently_, employers might hire you to plug a hole, but they will never trust you (with larger tasks leading to your promotion in that agency), never prioritize your development etc. In this environment where nursing jobs are like apples on a tree in a great year for apples, that may not matter to you, but maybe some time it will.

My goal (as a MSN prepared nurse) is to stay for 2 years at the minimum. Before my MSN, I worked at two hospitals for 5 years each. But, in hospitals you are blessed and I worked in a couple different departments in those hospitals (ICU to ED settings and back). I worked public health about 6 or so years and wore several hats in those settings. After pub health and the MSN, I worked in case management and knew within 2 to 4 months that I wanted out, but stayed 2+ years. Have been in my present job almost 3 years and plan to stay a year or two more.

I think it is possible to hire on, know that the job you've gone to work at is a dog and bail out gracefully, with good notice and not harm a resume, but be careful to not make it a pattern.

There is something to be said for staying in jobs you have doubts about and working through the problems. In the long term, I've never regreted that though over the short term in can be damn hard.

Good luck.

allevi · Jul 22, 2001

Thanks for all your replies. I do have interview tommorrow, but if offered the job unsure of what I will do. Some family things going on now that may cause me to stay where i am. When I do think of leaving the job i have i get sad, because i do really care about those residents, they are like a second family. thanks again.