As with every journey in life, a person's career is comprised of peaks and valleys, highs and lows, ebbs and flows, etc. I'm blessed to have never experienced a layoff or termination, but at the moment I really do feel like I'm in a rut professionally. I've been patient, played my roll, took initiative and shown creativity, leadership, drive, made my wishes known, etc. And other than receiving stelar performance reviews, and being seen as a go to guy or highly capable, I just haven't seen any progress toward the growth or fulfillment that I'm after. I'm still relatively young, 30, and I know that it's up to me to go out and make things happen for myself. And that's my next step. But I'm admittedly feeling salty and demoralized about my current situation. I'm not even sure that I'm still in love with my current career path. More than anything, I'm hoping that some of you can share some stories of your success and failures throughout your careers... And just how you went out and made IT happen.
Promotion / Opportunity, when your young really comes by switching companies. Believe it or not, your company has your own personal career development low on its list of priorities. Get on Linked In, get in touch with recruiters and find something new.
I am guessing you run an HR department? Find out what it would take for you to advance in your career - for example if you are a lawyer and you land a big client with good billings for your firm that definitely gets you leverage to get yourself promoted to a partner.
This. It is bad to be at a company more than 2-3 years before you are 30. It looks better the more places you work as you have learned different things from different groups of people. Network and always take interviews.
^Good point A good rule of thumb for me is once you stop learning new things in your current role, its time to change.
Then why do some potential employers always seem hesitating to hire the person who switches jobs often (after a little over a year to year and a half)?
My current "problem" is that I already work at a place that's desirable to work at (excellent benefits and convenient location) but I don't much care for my current role. Come May 1 I'll have been in this role for 2 years and will be able to apply elsewhere in the company (where I've been for 5 years total) so I'm just chilling and waiting. Another "problem" I have is I don't even really know what I'd like to do after my 2 years are up in this role. But, obviously, I have some time to figure it out.
at least you have a decent resume. i think i'm a little behind for my age. at what point do you stop jumping around companies? 30? 35? 40? i mean like actively applying, rather than being headhunted.
Only thing I can say is that I was in a similar position. Twice. Once when I started in public accounting. Knew I hated it. I got promoted to manager, but ultimately left to go to industry. At the time, I didn't know what I wanted (I honestly still don't), but just knew I needed a change, and didn't think more public accounting was what I wanted. I ended up at a TERRIBLE company. I mean, I woke up everyday and my first thought was "d*mn it, got to go to work today." My wife could tell I was upset about. She'd ask me how work was, and I would respond with "Well, I work at TMK (name of the company), so yeah." I started looking to leave after about 6 months, but ended up not finding something until 2.5 years in. So I was down in the dumps for a while. New company I landed at is a lot better. Work is more interesting (although it is still accounting, so still dry) and the people are better (some people my age, and a much better boss). So those things help. I think I will stay here awhile for a couple of reasons. 1. People are good, so unless others get let go or jump ship, I at least enjoy talking to everyone. 2. The previous person in my role changed jobs to a position I'd like to be in one day, so I feel like there are opportunities to move around (it is O&G, so I'll be waiting awhile for the rebound). 3. Benefits are great. Aside from the good pay and insurance, they also provide a stock plan and a "pension" (not a pension in the true sense, but they put aside 6% of my salary annually into an account and it vests after 3 years). So they've also given me some golden handcuffs. Ultimately though, I'm just happy I don't wake up every day and say "d*mn it!". I think my point is, you may have to just keep searching until you check more of the boxes (role, people, pay, benefits, location, etc.) until you feel fully satisfied (or at least satisfied enough where you don't wake up and think "d*mn it.")
I'm in a similar situation. I get paid fairly well to sit and browse the Interwebz while working may be 4 hours a day. I plan to gamble and go all in one of the big time MBA's as that will open up several more doors (hopefully)
Actually I won't hire people who jump around every 2 years before they are 30. It doesn't look better...it looks like you will give me 2 years and then quit for a competitor. No thank you
It depends on the job market. It is the norm in the tech sector where employers have almost zero leverage unless you are one of the big unicorn tech companies lol.
Old school mentality. The days of paying dues and climbing corporate ladders are over, because they no longer exist. Don't be the house wife who gets beat but never leaves. Move on.
Consistent Job hoppers are a red flag for me, its one thing to leave one company over a bad experience or maybe two but if you have done it 5 times over a 10 year span then I have an issue with that......maybe its not the job, its you. I do have an old school mentality but I would like to see you stick it out somewhere for longer stretch of time, my company encourages job growth for the people who want it and show initiative and I am lucky enough to want to come to work everyday. I have been in a position where I got up everyday and hated it so I can feel your pain, have you gone to your Manager and explained how you feel? I know if someone on my team did that I would work hard to find something that peaked your interest and keep you motivated.
Can't be afraid to take a chance - if you are good people will want you at their company. As an entrepreneur I have experienced the highs and lows, but I am addicted to the building process. Love setting up companies, small teams, getting things going, and selling it off to someone else. It is a roller coaster for sure - but I made a commitment years ago to not be afraid to take chances, and to now worry what others thought, most people are stuck in their middle management roles because they are afraid. Most people that succeed do so because they are not afraid of failing. Failing is just a lesson learned - get out there, have fun, take risks, it is the only life you get. DD
Problem is at the old investment bank I used to work, my bosses would be really impressed by a resume when they saw the guy worked at Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and Credit Suisse over a 10 year period versus a guy that worked at JP Morgan for those same exact 10 years. Especially in a client facing role with technical skills. You gain a larger network, more prestige, learn from more people (I have learned so many new things when I switched to my new job), and have different perspectives on things.
Depends on the company, I'm sure. I work for a $6 billion company who takes personal career development very seriously.
I think in an industry where there is a pretty well defined career ladder, taking better positions every 2-3 years at reputable firms would be highly regarded. Those places are so huge that I would guess that they aren't too affected by high turnover among young employees. But in other industries, and I would guess HR to be one of them, I think there is a fine line between job hoppers being a plus or a red flag. If you're moving to your 4th company in 6-8 years, that does not seem like it would be a positive to me. Sounds like @HR Dept has been with his current place for a while though so jumping might be the best choice. I'm 32 and only on my 2nd true full time gig after being at my first for 6 years where I was in a pretty stale position. 3-5 years is a good number for lower level employees IMO.
