How soon is too soon to leave a job (post-college)?

[Illiniwek]

In the 6 months I've been in my first post-law school job I've seen 4 people start after me and they are already gone. Now, they had it a bit tougher than I do, but it still just seems like not a good look to leave a job after just a month. I'm happy with the work that I do now. So although I feel like I could probably be doing a little bit better, I feel some obligation to stick this position out for some time.

So I ask: What is the minimum length of time that one should stay at his/her job before moving along for a better offer?

[dead0man]

For a legit better offer? 2 weeks after letting them know you're leaving


You can feel bad for the people you're leaving behind with a higher work load because you're gone, I would.  You have to measure the tiny amount of inner peace that brings you vs the amount of extra money you'd make at the better gig.  (and also all the other pros and cons of the change, the devil you know, etc)

[President Johnson]

If you got a better offer, always. In 2014/15, I left my old job after eight months for me current one, because it is much better. Never regretted that decision.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

The average tenure for us is just north of two years. I would like to say you should give it at least a year. Many have left in less than that though - two really talented ones come to mind so I won't blame them for following their passions at least. But if you are at a serious company, give it a year given the resources spent to attract and train you...

A month is a joke even for some random start-up. Even that should be 4-6 months.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

As on the new cyber age, its best that the Y2K generation go beyond college and get a skilled trade: masters in education, law or medicine. Too many people got bachelor degrees.  That do little to get you into the door of a professional job.

When you go to graduate school, school is designed to get a job, post graduation. As internships, aren't a luxury, they are required to get the certificate.

As I am gonna enter graduate school this Fall

[Mr. Illini]

I left my first job out of college after a year. If you have another opportunity secured, there is nothing wrong with that. However, after leaving a job after a year, I think it is important to stay with the next company for at least two years to demonstrate that you aren't a job-hopper.

[whale]

If there is a good reason, even putting in a resignation letter the day after you start could make sense

[Badger]

If you got a better offer, grab it. 99% of future potential employers don't care that you were at your first place relatively shortly if you explain succinctly that you got a better offer. And 1% remaining you don't want to work for.

On a related note, if you say that in six months you seen 4 other people who started after you already leave, you need to get the hell out of there. Unless this is some mega mega firm employing literally hundreds upon hundreds of lawyers, that is a downright scary, bordering on disastrous turn over rate. You may not have the professional experience yet to tell, but that place sounds like at best a sh**ty place to practice, or at worst a downright sinking ship.

[Illiniwek]

On a related note, if you say that in six months you seen 4 other people who started after you already leave, you need to get the hell out of there. Unless this is some mega mega firm employing literally hundreds upon hundreds of lawyers, that is a downright scary, bordering on disastrous turn over rate. You may not have the professional experience yet to tell, but that place sounds like at best a sh**ty place to practice, or at worst a downright sinking ship.

The thing is that there are multiple practice groups. All of these people have cycled through underneath this one partner who apparently is terrible to work for. The rest of us who work under a number of other partners are very content with the work environment. I do appreciate that it is something I have to really look out for, but what I and a number of others deal with is quite different then the group with the high turnover rate deals with.