You might think advice from me about staying longer in any job is a joke or at least a great oxymoron. Within my 11 years of full-time professional experience, I have held six different positions and lived in five cities and four states. Young, eager, and fresh out of graduate school, my motto was “I will go anywhere” and I always asked, “What’s next?”
As I dashed in and out of organizations and across the country chasing my goals, I have been baffled by the people I’ve met who have been in the same position and organizations for upwards of 10 to 30 years. My young, carefree, new-aged mentality often failed to comprehend why people would stay in a role for that long. After all, gone were the days of staying with a company from high school or college through retirement, then riding off into the sunset with a fat pension.
Although I am not against the shuffle of my previous work years, I’ve come to see that there’s also value in staying with an organization for some length of time. Through a keener lens, I can see the value that these individuals have gained and added. There’s something to be said about being a part of a company and seeing changes take place. You also build up trust and equity that can be used during critical times in your life. Furthermore, you are able to serve as a guide and mentor, helping newcomers to navigate the organization. There’s also the proverbial ‘happiness’ that we are all looking for. As one colleague puts it, if you find a place where you are challenged, growing, making an impact, and genuinely happy, change for the sake of changing is unnecessary.
I’m not saying that you need to stay in a situation that will negatively impact your life and career. However, if you are at that crossroad where you are thinking it’s time to jump ship, consider your pros and cons, because there might be more value in sticking it out a little longer that you just aren’t able to see at first glance.
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About Our Author
Dianne Campbell inspires, mentors, and supports others, often by sharing personal stories of her own journey. She is passionate about giving back and intentionally having a positive influence. Dianne enjoys reading, working out, being outdoors, traveling, being involved in her church, and spending time with her family.
