How long have you been at your current company?
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I am curious how long the average developer stays at a company. I have been developing for 13 years and can say I've been at a handful of different companies. Mainly because they either went out of business or cut staff. The longest stint I have had with a company is 2 1/2 years, wish it could of been more. I have 7 years left before I've been doing this 20 years, would like to save for retirement, or at least have the ability to retire from a company. Just can't seem to stay at a place long enough to feel comfortable and start investing. Anyone really stay at one place for 32 years and retire? What plans have you made, or thoughts you have on your retirement?
24.5 years and counting. Not all of it as a dev. Started as a designer in mechanical engineering moving department from pencil/paper to CAD. Several years in IT networking and DB development. Last 10+ back in engineering dealing with machine controls and logic. As for retirement... due to the economy my investments haven't grown too much lately but they're doing OK. I'm operating under the assumption that all US government programs (ie. Social Security & MediCare) will be broke before I reach retirement age (15-20 years).
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I am curious how long the average developer stays at a company. I have been developing for 13 years and can say I've been at a handful of different companies. Mainly because they either went out of business or cut staff. The longest stint I have had with a company is 2 1/2 years, wish it could of been more. I have 7 years left before I've been doing this 20 years, would like to save for retirement, or at least have the ability to retire from a company. Just can't seem to stay at a place long enough to feel comfortable and start investing. Anyone really stay at one place for 32 years and retire? What plans have you made, or thoughts you have on your retirement?
3 Years 3 months at job 1 10 months at job 2 Whenever I get to a decent bank balance which will help me live my life easily with basic amenities, I would quit. I would then like to travel to dense forests around the World and click photographs of wild animals. :) Before I die, I want to see a living adult Giant Squid, a volcano explosion (from safe distance but not on TV), penguins in their natural habitat, learn a martial art in some South East Asian country and many many more things. After retirement, at 58, I would like to go to a small village probably free from all those super technologies then and spent rest of my life there.
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I am curious how long the average developer stays at a company. I have been developing for 13 years and can say I've been at a handful of different companies. Mainly because they either went out of business or cut staff. The longest stint I have had with a company is 2 1/2 years, wish it could of been more. I have 7 years left before I've been doing this 20 years, would like to save for retirement, or at least have the ability to retire from a company. Just can't seem to stay at a place long enough to feel comfortable and start investing. Anyone really stay at one place for 32 years and retire? What plans have you made, or thoughts you have on your retirement?
22 years professional experience. 6 years when I owned my own company, but I average about 2 1/2 at other companies for the reasons you list. However, I've been at my current job 3 years 8 months. I put at least 10% of my income in a 401k and diversify my holdings. I max out my yearly contributes to an IRA, also in very diversified stock--I have no more than one stock in a market segment (except for one mutual fund and an ETF--that stinks now, but I'm going really long on it.) I also try to put another 5% - 10% a month into an online savings account, though the kids manage to get in the way of that all too often (like with my daughter's recent wedding.) The key is saving over the long term and taking advantage of compound interest. Running your own company will more likely than not negatively impact contribution to retirement funds. Despite the debt I got from that, I'm now debt free; it's a nice feeling.
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I am curious how long the average developer stays at a company. I have been developing for 13 years and can say I've been at a handful of different companies. Mainly because they either went out of business or cut staff. The longest stint I have had with a company is 2 1/2 years, wish it could of been more. I have 7 years left before I've been doing this 20 years, would like to save for retirement, or at least have the ability to retire from a company. Just can't seem to stay at a place long enough to feel comfortable and start investing. Anyone really stay at one place for 32 years and retire? What plans have you made, or thoughts you have on your retirement?
I graduated 14 years ago, have been at the same company for 13 years. I almost left about a month ago, but ended up staying. This is an abnormally long time to stay at a company in my generation, for better or worse. But I'm curious about this:
Swelborn wrote:
Just can't seem to stay at a place long enough to feel comfortable and start investing.
Why do you feel you need to be at a place for a long time before you start investing? It is absolutely never too early to save for retirement. Just treat it like a bill, put it away, invest in mutual funds, whatever. I've found that never having car payments makes it really easy to save.
He said, "Boy I'm just old and lonely, But thank you for your concern, Here's wishing you a Happy New Year." I wished him one back in return.
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I am curious how long the average developer stays at a company. I have been developing for 13 years and can say I've been at a handful of different companies. Mainly because they either went out of business or cut staff. The longest stint I have had with a company is 2 1/2 years, wish it could of been more. I have 7 years left before I've been doing this 20 years, would like to save for retirement, or at least have the ability to retire from a company. Just can't seem to stay at a place long enough to feel comfortable and start investing. Anyone really stay at one place for 32 years and retire? What plans have you made, or thoughts you have on your retirement?
37 years and counting. The company has changed names and owners twice in that period (bigger fish ate the small fish it was when I began). I started investing (401K) when I began, and am able to retire somewhat comfortably any time I wish, possibly will do so next year. Never put off investing for your retirement. It's never too early and your savings should be portable and follow you if you have to change jobs.
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I am curious how long the average developer stays at a company. I have been developing for 13 years and can say I've been at a handful of different companies. Mainly because they either went out of business or cut staff. The longest stint I have had with a company is 2 1/2 years, wish it could of been more. I have 7 years left before I've been doing this 20 years, would like to save for retirement, or at least have the ability to retire from a company. Just can't seem to stay at a place long enough to feel comfortable and start investing. Anyone really stay at one place for 32 years and retire? What plans have you made, or thoughts you have on your retirement?
this job: 4 months never done one more than 3 years (not by choice - i just keep getting outsourced or laid-off when the product dies) been doing this for 17 years.
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I am curious how long the average developer stays at a company. I have been developing for 13 years and can say I've been at a handful of different companies. Mainly because they either went out of business or cut staff. The longest stint I have had with a company is 2 1/2 years, wish it could of been more. I have 7 years left before I've been doing this 20 years, would like to save for retirement, or at least have the ability to retire from a company. Just can't seem to stay at a place long enough to feel comfortable and start investing. Anyone really stay at one place for 32 years and retire? What plans have you made, or thoughts you have on your retirement?
My last job lasted four years, my longest job was about five years, I start a new job next week.
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I am curious how long the average developer stays at a company. I have been developing for 13 years and can say I've been at a handful of different companies. Mainly because they either went out of business or cut staff. The longest stint I have had with a company is 2 1/2 years, wish it could of been more. I have 7 years left before I've been doing this 20 years, would like to save for retirement, or at least have the ability to retire from a company. Just can't seem to stay at a place long enough to feel comfortable and start investing. Anyone really stay at one place for 32 years and retire? What plans have you made, or thoughts you have on your retirement?
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I am curious how long the average developer stays at a company. I have been developing for 13 years and can say I've been at a handful of different companies. Mainly because they either went out of business or cut staff. The longest stint I have had with a company is 2 1/2 years, wish it could of been more. I have 7 years left before I've been doing this 20 years, would like to save for retirement, or at least have the ability to retire from a company. Just can't seem to stay at a place long enough to feel comfortable and start investing. Anyone really stay at one place for 32 years and retire? What plans have you made, or thoughts you have on your retirement?
Thanks for the replies so far. I do appreciate it. To answer some of the questions: I haven't started investing for a number of reasons. Number 1 would be having too many kids a wife and lots of bills. What is left is used for other things. I am starting to look into investing now and would like to put back 10% a check into it. But might just be a dream for a bit. My current situation is almost like most of mine in the past. The company I work for now is trying to phase out our .Net team in favor of their Java team. They knew this prior to bringing me on board I assume as a Contract to Hire. But they have only been extending me, and not hiring me, for the last 3 months until this project is done. They love the work and I'm giving them everything and the pot that they ask for. This is a prime example as to why I shied away from contract to hires in the past. So I don't feel comfortable yet investing when I don't know what is going to happen from month to month. The contract company I work is useless as far as helping me with this situation. As long as they get paid they could care less about whether the company hires me or not. They still get paid when I'm extended. It is great to see some that have been with same company (or desk) for so many years. The pattern I am seeing is those that stayed so long do not do development the whole time but rather move up the latter (possibly) or lateral over to some form of management..does that sound right? I would love to work for myself but my biggest concern would be getting the work to pay the bills. One project every six months wouldnt cut it. I am not sure I could handle more than one account at a time like I do now. Being the pm, qa and developer on everything would cause me to drink more I think..hehe
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I am curious how long the average developer stays at a company. I have been developing for 13 years and can say I've been at a handful of different companies. Mainly because they either went out of business or cut staff. The longest stint I have had with a company is 2 1/2 years, wish it could of been more. I have 7 years left before I've been doing this 20 years, would like to save for retirement, or at least have the ability to retire from a company. Just can't seem to stay at a place long enough to feel comfortable and start investing. Anyone really stay at one place for 32 years and retire? What plans have you made, or thoughts you have on your retirement?
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I am curious how long the average developer stays at a company. I have been developing for 13 years and can say I've been at a handful of different companies. Mainly because they either went out of business or cut staff. The longest stint I have had with a company is 2 1/2 years, wish it could of been more. I have 7 years left before I've been doing this 20 years, would like to save for retirement, or at least have the ability to retire from a company. Just can't seem to stay at a place long enough to feel comfortable and start investing. Anyone really stay at one place for 32 years and retire? What plans have you made, or thoughts you have on your retirement?
GE-Honeywell-NEC-Bull '65 to '74, then came back '76 to '02. '74 to '76 UMKC School of Medicine. Dave.
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Thanks for the replies so far. I do appreciate it. To answer some of the questions: I haven't started investing for a number of reasons. Number 1 would be having too many kids a wife and lots of bills. What is left is used for other things. I am starting to look into investing now and would like to put back 10% a check into it. But might just be a dream for a bit. My current situation is almost like most of mine in the past. The company I work for now is trying to phase out our .Net team in favor of their Java team. They knew this prior to bringing me on board I assume as a Contract to Hire. But they have only been extending me, and not hiring me, for the last 3 months until this project is done. They love the work and I'm giving them everything and the pot that they ask for. This is a prime example as to why I shied away from contract to hires in the past. So I don't feel comfortable yet investing when I don't know what is going to happen from month to month. The contract company I work is useless as far as helping me with this situation. As long as they get paid they could care less about whether the company hires me or not. They still get paid when I'm extended. It is great to see some that have been with same company (or desk) for so many years. The pattern I am seeing is those that stayed so long do not do development the whole time but rather move up the latter (possibly) or lateral over to some form of management..does that sound right? I would love to work for myself but my biggest concern would be getting the work to pay the bills. One project every six months wouldnt cut it. I am not sure I could handle more than one account at a time like I do now. Being the pm, qa and developer on everything would cause me to drink more I think..hehe
If you don't have 6-12 months expenses in cash/CDs/etc you should be putting your money there instead; once you've got a disaster fund in place short term market fluctuations aren't as scary since you don't have to start liquidating assets immediately in an emergency.
3x12=36 2x12=24 1x12=12 0x12=18
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If you don't have 6-12 months expenses in cash/CDs/etc you should be putting your money there instead; once you've got a disaster fund in place short term market fluctuations aren't as scary since you don't have to start liquidating assets immediately in an emergency.
3x12=36 2x12=24 1x12=12 0x12=18
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I am curious how long the average developer stays at a company. I have been developing for 13 years and can say I've been at a handful of different companies. Mainly because they either went out of business or cut staff. The longest stint I have had with a company is 2 1/2 years, wish it could of been more. I have 7 years left before I've been doing this 20 years, would like to save for retirement, or at least have the ability to retire from a company. Just can't seem to stay at a place long enough to feel comfortable and start investing. Anyone really stay at one place for 32 years and retire? What plans have you made, or thoughts you have on your retirement?
My current job - 6 weeks. My last job - 21 years. I'm 39 BTW. Only had two jobs (not counting my Saturday job in Currys when I was at college.)
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Thanks for the replies so far. I do appreciate it. To answer some of the questions: I haven't started investing for a number of reasons. Number 1 would be having too many kids a wife and lots of bills. What is left is used for other things. I am starting to look into investing now and would like to put back 10% a check into it. But might just be a dream for a bit. My current situation is almost like most of mine in the past. The company I work for now is trying to phase out our .Net team in favor of their Java team. They knew this prior to bringing me on board I assume as a Contract to Hire. But they have only been extending me, and not hiring me, for the last 3 months until this project is done. They love the work and I'm giving them everything and the pot that they ask for. This is a prime example as to why I shied away from contract to hires in the past. So I don't feel comfortable yet investing when I don't know what is going to happen from month to month. The contract company I work is useless as far as helping me with this situation. As long as they get paid they could care less about whether the company hires me or not. They still get paid when I'm extended. It is great to see some that have been with same company (or desk) for so many years. The pattern I am seeing is those that stayed so long do not do development the whole time but rather move up the latter (possibly) or lateral over to some form of management..does that sound right? I would love to work for myself but my biggest concern would be getting the work to pay the bills. One project every six months wouldnt cut it. I am not sure I could handle more than one account at a time like I do now. Being the pm, qa and developer on everything would cause me to drink more I think..hehe
You don't have to start with 10%. Start with $50 a paycheck. If you have direct deposit, put in an eTrade savings account and then into an IRA once you get enough to by a chunk of stock. (I actually use an ING savings account since it has a really good yield and then once a year move a chunk over to my IRA on eTrade.) Trust me, I've been there. Have finally gotten 2 out of the house with 2 left (though my dear oldest still uses more money than the rest of her siblings combined--weddings are expensive buggers.)