How Long is too Long at one Company?
Having just celebrated my 13th anniversary at the same company, I have been inundated with congratulations messages saying "wow" and "good for you". So why do I sometimes feel slightly embarrassed for having stayed put for so long? How long is too long at one company?
I think some people see a downside if candidates stay at a company for too long. They ask: Did they just get too comfortable? Were they not ambitious enough?
In the last 10 years the concept of job hopping has become more commonplace and is widely considered (rightly or wrongly) to speed career advancement.
GenZ and Millenials are most commonly branded as job hoppers, but is it right to label an entire generation? Just scraping into the Millenial bracket, I feel I can say with some (maybe limited) authority that this just isn't the case anymore. I have felt a significant shift in the last 5 years, no more so than in recruitment. 13 years ago, cold calling was king, aggressive sales tactics pushed and leap frogging to the next ladder was the only goal and marker of ambition.
Today's young workers are more concerned with finding happiness and fulfillment in their work lives. I have found that many employees today (yes, even Millennials) aspire to build a long-lasting career. They want to find a place where they feel they fit in, belong, and can make a difference. They want to find a place with a social purpose, shared values, and a shared mission. They want to find a place where they can be awesome and become part of something bigger than themselves.
It's time to stop pointing the finger at young employees for their so-called lack of commitment. People primarily leave jobs for one simple reason; a lack of appreciation. Ultimately staff retention saves companies big money (fewer recruitment fees!) According to Forbes it costs between 30 and 50% of their annual salary to replace entry-level employees, so invest in your employees, and they’ll invest in you and your business.
I have been appreciated in my job, by my employers sure, but mostly by the candidates & clients I help.
Thanks for the 13 happy years.
I see it as less of a generational phenomenon and more of a cross between experience and personal preference.? Gen X used to be the same way, so let's not think that it's a new game that Gen Z or the Millenials invented.? A lot of people that I know saw job hopping and consulting as a means to quickly rise and get more money.? Eventually people start learning that more money and a better job title doesn't always mean more happiness.? When you find the right company that you can believe in and a team of people that will have your back (especially on the worst days), you learn to stick around. Putting in more time with companies can also give you new opportunities that you don't always have when you are job hopping.? When you take the time to build trust and respect of those around you, they see beyond the resume and the job you are currently assigned to do and see the possibilities of what you can become.??
Senior Finance Systems Analyst at Nationwide Building Society
5 年Nicely put! I have been at the same company for 7 years now, and before that I was at a company for 6 years, through college and university. I have no interest in company hopping, I have no issues so why would I leave.
Senior Project Manager | PRINCE2 Practitioner, Base SAS Certified @ Adelphi Values PCO
5 年As a job hopping millennial I agree with your post. I have always been looking for a place I can stay put at, and gives me all the things you describe. I am hopeful I have found it at Base 3! When I was a recruiting manager I always enjoyed dealing with you and your colleagues, so I am not surprised to hear that Eurostaff is a great place to work.
Process digitalization and transformation - bridging people and systems.
5 年Great stuff Leah. Thanks for sharing!
Wir beenden Personalprobleme.
5 年It's an amazing article and I thik absolutely the same!