Ask HN: Job Hopping?

Posted by mpg33 on Wednesday October 05, 2011 @06:20PM
from the ask-hn dept.

I am a recent graduate that has been in development job for the last 4 months. During school i had some internships at a company that involved software QA which i enjoyed. I now may have an opportunity to return to that company full time.

How bad would it look to future employers if i left my first job real full time job after 4 months?

( 6 comments | 4 points | on HN )

Re:Ask HN: Job Hopping? by bartonfink on Wednesday October 05, 2011 @11:47PM (#3078940)

Is this new opportunity for QA or for development? It's not clear from your post, and that's a point worth considering.

If you want to do software development, a QA role will make things more difficult down the road when you're looking for a development job. It's very easy to get typecast in this industry, and the leap from QA to development is a difficult one.

Assuming the new job would be for a role you're interested in, I don't see the harm in switching at all. The rule of thumb I've heard is that you should try to stick at each job for roughly 2 years, but that rule's easier to break when you're young and just out of school than it is later on. This could be very easy to explain to future employers, so I wouldn't worry about them at all.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Job Hopping? by kellco on Wednesday October 05, 2011 @07:43PM (#3078145)

I think you should do something you enjoy and love. Life is too short, but then again, I'm not one to ask regarding traditional "jobs" and job longevity. Ha!

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Job Hopping? by djb_hackernews on Wednesday October 05, 2011 @09:36PM (#3078617)

Probably after a year at the other company I'd stop even putting that 4 month gig on my resume.

This is sort of a no brainer.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Job Hopping? by djloche on Wednesday October 05, 2011 @06:25PM (#3077897)

Interview and see what they offer. There is no shame in moving up to a higher paying job when opportunity strikes.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Job Hopping? by rorrr on Wednesday October 05, 2011 @06:23PM (#3077892)

Nobody gives a shit, it's completely normal in IT. I spent more than 5 years at my first job, and I now regret it. Every job after that lasted a year to two years, and your salary grows so much quicker when you switch.

If somebody asks you why you left the job, just tell them the truth.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Job Hopping? by mpg33 on Wednesday October 05, 2011 @06:46PM (#3077966)

but do you think the fact that you spent 5 years at your first job helped you get others?

[ Parent | on HN ]