Why I've stayed at my job so long

With my vast skillset and excellent communication abilities, I’ve never had a problem finding jobs — just finding jobs I liked.

Last week, I celebrated EIGHT years at the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, and it’s the longest I’ve ever stayed at one employer. They do a great job retaining talent.

Here’s why:

The people. It is mind-blowing to work somewhere where people care about producing meaningful work, where teamwork flourishes and where work-life balance is not just lip service. Working with creatives is always exciting, but working with other teams who take your suggestions seriously even though you have a totally different role is next level. I know if I have an innovative idea, I can meet with leadership and pitch it, and they will take the time to provide serious feedback. On numerous occasions, I’ve come into my office to find notes, gifts, candies, etc. on my desk “just because.” I open Slack and see kind words and custom memes. And my colleagues are super supportive about my outside endeavors, like starting a podcast or teaching a course. Work becomes a delight in a place where people go out of their way to make you feel special.

The culture. We have a philosophy where I work: “Business is personal.” And it’s more than just a tagline. The way you treat your customers and stakeholders? That’s how organizations should be treating their employees as well. I could talk about lunchtime hikes, holiday karaoke, and ice cream socials, but some business leaders would co-opt that to mean creating an environment of forced fun. When people truly enjoy spending time with their colleagues, it’s a totally different experience. That means hiring the right people, first and foremost. I’ve met the coolest people and made some wonderful friends at ASU. And it also means employers need to invest in the professional development of their talent. But, my favorite part of the culture here? Knowing my team has my back. It's a huge stress relief knowing that you can take time to recover from an illness or a rough patch without worrying about losing your job or your work going undone. It’s incredible to see the sense of community that has been fostered here over the years. That’s what real corporate culture should be about.

You notice what I didn't mention? The salary. Higher ed does not typically pay as well as the corporate world, but I'm fortunate to have enough to pay my bills, and the perks of working on campus are nice. Would I enjoy a larger salary? Of course, who wouldn't?! But it's going to take a lot more than just numbers to entice me to leave. No where have I worked where the people are this caring and the culture is this phenomenal.

Is it perfect? No, of course not. Every organization has room for improvement. I’ve had 37 jobs in my short life (everything from seasonal agriculture work to Fortune 500 tech positions) and this has been one of my favorite jobs. This year, Forbes listed Arizona State University as one of America’s Best Employers . They are doing something right at ASU (and W. P. Carey ) and I hope more organizations follow their lead.