PICK TIME TO MAKE A MOVE

WORKERS early in their career should avoid changing job too often, but they should also not stay too long.

Career advisers agree there is a sweet spot between workers being seen as flighty and being seen as stagnating in their development.

SEEK research reveals the average worker landed their first “career job” at age 22 and more than a third (39 per cent) stuck it out for more than five years. Career Development Association of Australia vice president Carolyn Alchin says people in the beginning of their career should focus on asking for feedback and developing relationships, rather than jumping between roles.

“You should spend a year to two in your first graduate role to stabilise your skill set,” she says. “If the perfect job comes up, go for it, but you don’t want to be too flighty.”

On the flip side, Alchin says staying too long can limit a worker’s professional development. If a worker has been in their first job for five years, they need to be growing.

“If they are doing the same thing they were doing when they started, they are probably stagnating,” she says.

Emma Yee (pictured) is chief executive at catering company Peter Rowland Group.

“My dream was always a senior management role, such as general manager of a hotel,” she says.

“I got my first real job in a bar at 18.

“After I finished my business degree, I went to the UK and worked in a pub as one of its managers for two and a half years.

“When I came home to Melbourne, I got a job at the MCG working in staffing and human resources, which honed my skills in people management.

“I had a child and stayed at home ... then was offered a job with Spotless in a corporate portfolio.

“This led to me being headhunted for a senior management role at Peter Rowland seven years ago.”