In a world of instant messaging, fast food, speed dating and spray-on sun tans, our generation has come to rely on and expect instant gratification. Yet when it comes to our careers, we often have to bide our time. No matter how hard we work, we cannot get five years of experience in one year. So we begin at the bottom, paying our dues in an entry-level position and waiting for the perfect opportunity to move up another rung on the career ladder.

Typically new grads should expect to stay in an entry-level job for two to three years before they can expect to move up to a significantly better position, says Randall Hansen, founder of Quintessential Careers and associate professor of marketing at Stetson University in Deland, Fla.

Time isn't the only factor, though. More importantly, consider job satisfaction. Are you adequately challenged -- are you bored or overly stressed? Are you ready for more responsibility? Are your skills being utilized? Is there any potential for growth in your current position or are you stuck in a dead-end job?

Deciding to move on from the only "real" job you've ever had can seem quite daunting. Young adults may be paralyzed by feelings of loyalty to a company that gave them their first break, or simply by fear of change. Once you get in a comfort zone, it's hard to break out of it. But overcoming these obstacles sooner rather than later is essential to the progress of your career. "The longer you stay, the longer you tend you stay because it gets harder to move along," says Marty Nemko, job coach and career columnist for Kiplinger's Personal Finance. According to the National Association of College Employers, 6% of new college hires leave their job in the first year, but by the fifth year, only 22% move on. If you settle into a comfortable position and fail to utilize your full potential, you run the risk of hobbling your future job growth, Nemko says.

Should I stay or should I go now?

Once you're ready to kick your career up a notch, you face an important decision: Do you approach your boss first and tell him or her you're interested in moving up in the company, or do you go job hunting behind his or her back and return with an ultimatum?

First of all, you need to decide whether you want to stay within the company or leave, says Hansen. Although it is possible to search on both fronts, pitting those options against each other can be risky, so it's best to know beforehand what you want and then go for it.

For example, say you think you'd prefer to stay with your current employer, yet you launch a search on the outside too. Approaching your boss with another offer in-hand can be a powerful tool to negotiate your way to a promotion, but it can easily backfire. Your employer may simply say goodbye and wish you well when you didn't really want to go. Or, your boss might agree to match your other offer and give you a promotion in title only -- but not responsibility. You also run the risk of negotiating a new position only to be fired a few months later because your boss bears ill-will toward your display of disloyalty.

If you're interested in sticking around, be clear with your intentions. "The best time to do this is after your boss has complimented your performance on a project or you've just done something well," advises Nemko. Approach your boss and say, "I'm excited about working here, and I've been willing to pay my dues. But there's so much more I can contribute. Is there a time we can sit down and have a chat about how I could take on more responsibility and discuss my future in the company?"

This non-threatening approach shows your commitment and could open the door to a promotion. "But if you're getting the cold shoulder after that, and if you feel it's a dead end job ... then it's time to start looking elsewhere," says Nemko.

If you decide to look outside the company, don't tell your boss, advises Hansen, until you have a new job lined up or you might find yourself prematurely unemployed. The company knows it has to replace you, and it could find your replacement before you're ready to go.

Once you've made a decision to take your career outside the office, it's usually best to stick with it. It's not uncommon for a boss to make you a counteroffer when you announce your intent to leave. "Most of the time, you shouldn't play that game," says Hansen. Usually, when job seekers give in to the counteroffer, they end up leaving their job anyway within a year, he says. "It's best to make a clean break. If you weren't serious about leaving, you never should have looked for an outside job in the first place."

The exception is if your boss's counteroffer is significantly better -- and your gut tells you it's a sincere offer, not just a slapdash attempt at keeping you from walking out the door. Use our job assessor tool to help you compare offers.

Job hunting on the job

The average job search lasts four months, according to outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas. And, as you already know, it can be a full-time job. The trick is to accomplish a timely search without falling behind on your current job or tipping off your boss.

The golden rule of on-the-job hunting: Don't do it while you're at work. You don't want to get caught polishing your resume or browsing classifieds on the company's computer. You can do a lot of your hunting at night and on weekends. Touch up your resume, send off e-mails and call employers to leave a voicemail. You can also use your time at home to research different companies and opportunities.

You also shouldn't use your work e-mail address, or a goofy-sounding personal e-mail account. Set up a more professional free account using your name or initials. Employers won't take you seriously if you have "pookiewookie@email.com" emblazoned on your résumé.

Give prospective employers your cell phone number and check your voicemail during breaks. Again, make sure your greeting has a professional tone -- clearly state your name and politely ask callers to leave a message.

You can squeeze in interviews during your lunch hour or early in the morning before work, if possible. You may need to take your lunch break earlier or later in the day to accommodate the interviewer's schedule. Or, you may have to take a personal day or use vacation time, but you should never call in sick, says Hansen. It's bad form.

If you're heading to an interview directly from the office, take stock of your attire. If you normally dress in business clothes at work, your wardrobe shouldn't be a problem. But if your office is more casual, you're going to tip a few people off if you show up one day in a suit and tie. "Keep your suit in your car and change clothes at a gas station," suggests Nemko. It's a little Clark Kent-ish, but even if you normally wear jeans to work, you should never wear them to an interview.

Leave on good terms

It may sound cliché, but you don't want to burn any bridges. So whether you plan to leave your job for a new position in the company or a brand-new opportunity on the outside, you'll want to leave your boss and co-workers with a good impression.

The first way to do that is to make sure you give plenty of notice before you quit, and inform your boss in writing. Two-weeks is the standard, but some industries may require more or less time. And if you know your absence will create a significant hole that could take more time to fill, you can build a little more time into your notice, if possible. Your boss will appreciate your consideration. But you are under no obligation to stay longer. Your new employer will be expecting you to start on schedule.

You can offer to help make the transition easier by training your replacement before you go, and bringing co-workers up to speed on your projects to ensure nothing falls through the cracks. And if you'll still be working within the same company, let your boss know you're available via e-mail or phone to answer any little questions that may come up during the transition.

Some jobs have a formal exit interview process in which they'll ask you about your experience working for the company and if you have any feedback. Even if you hated the place, it's best to bite your tongue and maintain the relationship. "Say you were pleased with your experience, and then give one gentle suggestion," says Nemko.

Then before you go, make sure you give your contact information to your key relationships at the company and gather theirs. And once you're gone, stay in touch and keep everyone up to date of your continued successes. This will help you maintain a network of career contacts that could come in handy on future job searches.

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