Worried about being considered a job hopper? Not sure how long you should stay at your job, even if you don't like it, because it might impact your future employment options? You're right to be concerned.
擔心自己會變成別人眼中的跳槽專業選手?因為不喜歡、且害怕影響自己職業生涯道路而對現在的工作狀態搖擺不定?你該重視這個問題了。
A Bullhorn survey reports that 39 percent of recruiters believe that the single biggest obstacle for an unemployed candidate in regaining employment is having a history of job hopping or leaving a company before they have been at a company for a year.
Bullhorn的一份調查結果顯示，逾四成的招聘者堅信對於求職失敗的候選人來說，最大的坎兒就是有在公司做不到一年就跳槽的「黑歷史」。
In fact, hiring managers said that a 58 year old with a steady employment history is easier to place than a thirty year old job hopper.
講真，招聘經理說他們寧願招年過半百但工作記錄良好的忠心員工，也不會垂青而立之年、意氣風發的跳槽小能手。
Average Length of Time at a Job
看看一份工作大家會做多久
How long does a typical employee stay at a job? The median number of years that wage and salary workers had been with their current employer is currently 4.6 years, according to an Economic News Release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, that varies by age and occupation:
普通員工平均在職多長時間呢?勞動統計局的經濟新聞稿指出，工薪階層的員工在職平均時間是4.6年。但是在職年份在職位和年齡上的分布卻不盡相同：
•The median tenure for workers age 25 to 34 is 3.2 years
•25-34這一年齡段的工人在同一職位平均停留3.2年。
•The median tenure for employees age 65 and over is 10.3 years
•65歲以上的僱員在同一職位平均停留10.3年。
•Workers in management, professional, and related occupations had the highest median tenure (5.5 years)
•管理人員、各領域的專業人士以及從事相關工作的員工平均停留時間最長，達到5.5年。
•Workers in service occupations had the lowest median tenure (3.2 years)
•服務行業的員工工作最不穩定，平均下來停留時間只有3.2年。
A History of Job Hopping
跳槽的「黑歷史」
If you look at one year as a guideline for staying at a job, that can work for a job (or even two), but if you work at several jobs for only a year you are creating a job hopping work history and your resume isn't going to impress any hiring manager.
如果你把自己的職業年限標準設定為一年一個職業，那麼這一年裡你從事一到兩份職業是ok的，然而如果在短短一年內經歷了多次跳槽，那麼這一段「跳槽黑歷史」相信無法幫你贏的任何僱主的芳心。
Obviously, lay-offs can't be avoided, but if you are moving on by choice it's a good idea to consider what, if any, impact the move will have on your future prospects.
顯然，辭職是無法避免的事情，但是未經考慮就下決定未免太過武斷，至少要考慮一下你的這一舉動會不會對你的職業前景弊大於利。
Sometimes work becomes so negative and difficult that staying may not be an option. Or, you could have been recruited for your dream job. In those cases, you don't need to think too hard about what to do.
當工作變得如此不易，讓你做不到且行且珍惜時，留戀不如放手。或是當你發現自己當年因為一時腦抽而與理想工作失之交臂時，不用糾結，果斷脫身。
In other cases, it can be simply a question of being bored or not challenged and that's when it's time to think twice about leaving.
然而在其他情況下，如果僅僅是因為現在的工作太無聊或是太平淡，那麼辭職這件事，需要你三思而後行。
Questions to Ask
捫心自問
If you have short term jobs in your employment history, ask yourself some questions before you decide to start a job search or resign:
如果在你的簡歷上有曾經從事短期工作的經歷，那麼首先問問自己如下的問題，再出發求職：
•Are you leaving for the right reasons (better job, more money, more flexibility)?
•辭職的理由妥當嗎(更好的機會，更豐厚的薪水，更大的工作彈性)?
•Are you prepared to assure employers that you aren't a high risk hire?
•準備好怎樣向僱主澄清自己不是習慣性跳槽了嗎?
•Is changing jobs now going to help or hinder your career?
•換工作對你的職業生涯有幫助還是有坑?
•Is there anything you can do to improve the situation at your current job if the timing isn't right?
•如果真是時機不對，那麼你對自己現在的工作狀況提升真的束手無策嗎?
•Is this the right time to move on for both personal and professional reasons?
•現在跳槽，是天時地利人和的嗎?
•Will changing jobs now impact your chances of securing a new job later on?
•這次跳槽，會不會導致下回跳不進更好的槽兒?
Staying Too Long at a Job
坐吃山空
On the other hand, staying too long at a job can also hinder your employment prospects. A lengthy tenure with one company can give the impression that you aren't interested in growing your career. It can also lead employers to think that you may not have the flexibility for success in a new role.
過猶不及的是，在一個職位上待的時間過長也會影響你的職業發展。長期停留在同一崗位會給人留下不思進取的職業印象。也會讓僱主認為你無法變通和勝任新的職位。
When is the best time to change jobs? The bottom line is that it's a question of balance. There isn't really such a thing as a perfect resume, because there are so many reasons for leaving a job and for staying at a job.
那麼何時才是換工作的最佳時機呢? 底線就是當你做決定的時候原因講得通。其實完美的簡歷是不存在的，因為在一個人決定離職或是繼續工作時，可能考慮的因素有千千萬。
However, do be cognizant of the fact that your decisions matter on a long term basis as well as a short term one.
不過這裡我還是要提醒一句，做決定時，務必將長期發展與短期效益相結合來考慮。
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（編輯：何瑩瑩）