They Don’t Teach Corporate in College, Third Edition

Chapter 10Exit Stage Left

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently said that the average young American has more than seven different employers before she reaches age 26. This means that, in general, twenty-somethings are changing jobs every 16 months. No doubt about it, this is not your parents’ business world. Many people their age spent decades working their way up the ladder in the same company—a career path that is virtually unheard-of today. The job-jumping craze of the early 21st century may be over, but the market will continue to be fluid as company loyalty decreases and an upcoming labor shortage opens more opportunities for driven young workers.

Once you’ve been in your first position a year or two, it may be time to think about ...