Staying in the same job for years has its own disadvantages. Despite there being fewer job opportunities in Kenya, that shouldn’t be your reason to stay stagnant at the same position for years. Change is always good. It gives you an opportunity to grow unlike doing similar routines over and over hence lacking creativity.
The following are some key reasons why you should not stay at the same job for more than 5 years;
1. Boredom
Staying in the same job without advancing can cause you to become bored with your job and, even worse, complacent in your career. As the saying goes, “Idle hands are the devil’s playground,” and this especially applies to workers.
If you’re bored at your job, then you’re probably filling your time with things that do keep your interest, like gossiping, taking long breaks, and surfing the internet on the clock, to name a few.
I would, however, like to mention boredom mostly results when you are doing something you are not passionate about. As the saying goes “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life!”
Passion will always create an urge to get more creative in whatever your tasks are.
Too often, professionals stay at their less-than-fulfilling jobs because they hope to advance up the ranks eventually, only to find out that they’ve wasted valuable time and energy on a dead-end job. The problem is that these professionals end up accepting their unfortunate fate and become jaded and complacent in their careers until retirement. That’s no way to live.
2. Stagnant Growth
Sticking around at one job for too long can also be detrimental to your chances of progressing in your career. If you’re the type of person who doesn’t mind working at the same exact job for your entire career, then this doesn’t apply to you. However, if you’re like the vast majority of professionals who have a desire to get promoted, then staying at the same employer for too long can stifle those plans and your potential.
Staying put also tells your employer that you’re just peachy keen where you’re at and don’t have intentions to move up anytime soon. This type of mentality and behavior can lead to your employer taking you for granted and overlooking you when it comes time for promotions, perpetuating your “stay put” situation again and again.
3.Technological Advancements
Currently, technology is evolving every single day and so does the face of entire industries. If you have a technical job, keep your finger on the pulse of what’s happening in your industry. While your current employer may not be adopting new platforms or technologies, its competitors might be. If you’ve been with your company for several years as a Windows systems administrator, for example, entire lines of software and hardware may be completely foreign to you. If you haven’t been keeping up with these changes, you may have a hard time taking the next step in your career. You don’t want to become a dinosaur in your industry by staying at a job for too long.
4. Perception
Imagine you’re on a date and discover that your companion has just come out of a 12-year relationship. Think about how you would perceive that person and how he or she may relate to you. Unfair or not, you will make assumptions based on the longevity of your date’s previous relationship. Your reaction would not be unlike that of a hiring manager when evaluating the resume of a candidate who spent the past 12 years working for another company. Will this person be easy to train? Will he adapt well to a new environment? What made this person leave after so many years? Are his skills current? Is he self-motivated? The questions are endless and can be enough to put the employer off the candidate entirely.
5. Career Advancement
While you can remain with the same company for many years, holding the same position for more than four years can be problematic. If you aspire to evolve within your company, you should be looking to do so within two years of joining. If you have been in the same job for four years, you may want to consider other options.
For example, if you’re happy with your employer but stuck in a no-growth position, try branching out to other departments. Additionally, ask whether funds are available for you to take some courses that can help develop your skills. As always, consult with your manager since he’ll be in a great position to advise you. The key factor here is to keep moving forward.
In Conclusion…
Always keep in mind that being a little too promiscuous with your career can also be damaging. Jumping from job to job can give a potential employer the impression that you’re not reliable or dependable. Frequent job-hopping can also affect your seniority and leave you feeling that you’re taking a step backward whenever you join a new team.
So before making any career decision, make sure you think it through carefully.
