It took just six months at her first job after graduation before Deanna Stephan, 24, realized it wasn't for her.

But it took another year and a half before she made it out, ditching the nonprofit scene to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher.

At least she did it. A lot of young workers hesitate to make such big changes, afraid of how parents, friends and potential employers will judge them.

That judgment isn't always fair. Career and life coach Patricia McDonald calls job hopping normal among young workers.

While job hopping may be normal, said Abby Wilner, co-author of "The Quarterlifer's Companion," you should make sure you're moving on for the right reasons, so your next situation will be an improvement.

It's important to understand the source of your unhappiness with your job, she said. "Is it external, from the tasks you are assigned or the people you work with, or is your unhappiness internal? Because if you are depressed or experiencing difficulties transitioning to life in the 'real world,' those feelings of isolation and instability can make everything seem worse, including your work situation."

Career coach Barry Zweibel suggested that recent grads who find themselves changing jobs a lot spend an afternoon with their resumes, evaluating what they liked — and didn't like — about each position. Consider job content, opportunities, how well your personalities fit, what the bosses were like, company size, supportive technologies and compensation. If you notice patterns, he said, use that realization to evaluate what to do next.

Even when you think you know what you want, it can be tricky to decide when to quit.

If you're merely bored and unfulfilled in your current job, stick it out for a year, Wilner said. Use that time to research other possibilities and weigh your options.

If a new job doesn't work out either, keep on looking. Zweibel likened the search for one's ideal career to the surprise in a box of Cracker Jack. "Sometimes it's at the top of the box, sometimes it's at the bottom."

You never know how long it will take you to find it.