The First Job: Do Recent Graduates Stay or Go?

A recent survey from Express Employment Professionals revealed that more than two-thirds of recent college graduates stay in their first career jobs for one year or less.

The Results Are In
Of those who gradated within the last 18 months, 58% said they stayed in their first job for “seven months to a year.” The full results include:

• Less than three months – 3%
• Three to six months – 10%
• Seven months to one year – 58%
• More than one year – 29%

According to Bob Funk, the CEO of Express, “Younger workers would be advised to stay in their first job longer in order to gain experience. In addition, employers are looking for loyal people. If a business owner or manager spends months training a person, it’s only right for that employee to put their new skills to work for that organization.”

Longevity in the Workplace
These results suggest that longevity isn’t as important to recent graduates as networking, gaining experience, or enhancing their skills. If you want to stand out from the job search competition, consider learning more about the importance of longevity and avoiding gaps in your resume.

How long did you stay in your first job after graduation? Or, how long do you plan to stay in your first job? Let us know in the comments section below!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.