My time with my first employer lasted 25 years, but I progressed through a number of positions of increasing responsibility and breadth during that time, spending no more than about 3 years in any specific position (or on any specific project). With the time and growth, I became highly knowledgeable about the organization and could function in virtually any role--and there was high loyalty and commitment in both directions, as well as mutual respect. Some key management changes had a tremendous negative impact on the culture of the organization that resulted in a loss of management loyalty to its employees, so a number of us left. Looking back on it, leaving was a good thing for me as I had changed positions to negate the impact of the management issues, but as a result I was no longer being challenged (and I thrive on being challenged). But it is also clear to me now that the driving reason for leaving is that I no longer respected management and I could not bear to work for an organization that I no longer trusted.
There are many articles available on the internet as to why people stay in a job and why they leave. Take a look at these articles and see which reasons apply to you. Some work for the paycheck as a means to do other things in their life that interest them. Some work to be with great people. Some work to be challenged or to learn, some work because they enjoy a supportive environment and a good boss, and some work to meaningfully contribute to something larger than themselves. Figure out what really speaks to you. The fact that you are asking this question may indicate that one or more of your critical needs is not being met.
All that being said, one of my duties is making hiring decisions. When I see a resume where a person changes employers a lot, staying only 1 or 2 years with each, I'm generally not interested in them. My goal is to hire someone that will strengthen my organization. This is achieved by the new hire staying and growing in the advertised position at least 2 or 3 years and, as the individual develops, to be able to fill higher level positions within my organization. When I review resumes, I'm looking to find people that show a progressive increase in responsibility and not having an excess of employer changes. In short, I'm trying to distinguish between those that are truly growing their skills and those that are simply job hopping to chase pay. If I can find the ones that are interested in growing skills and responsibilities, those are the ones that offer the best possibility of strengthening my organization because they will love the work and the challenge and the quality of their work will reflect this. They will also be more likely to strive for positions of greater responsibility within my organization--gaining a vast knowledge of the organization, its customers, and its mission along the way--and this vast knowledge exponentially benefits the organization and its ability to succeed.
Shari J. Brandt, P.E., M.ASCE
Tucson, AZ
Original Message------
First job as a profession lasted 24 years. during the 24 year after 14 years the company was bought out and I remain on with the new company until I was 55 and retired. I have since returned to work at a different related company and i am in my 15th year.
my first 14 years with the first company was very rewarding because of the company loyalty. Today Loyalty has changed in some areas, but I believe loyalty is alive. Today we are more mobile and have continuous communications. Opportunities are constantly being made available to "in demand" professionals, which was not the case 40 or 50 years ago. The environment has changed and companies have become better structured to manage change.
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James Bryant P.E., M.ASCE
project manager
Keppel Amfels
Brownsville TX
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