Safety and security represent key career goals. It’s a great feeling to know for sure that you have a solid position, with a regular paycheck you can count on. As such, you’ve been happily employed at the same company for more than a decade. Why would you ever give that up for the uncertainty of a new job?
There are reasons to give up your comfortable role. Focusing too much on avoiding risk can limit your potential. Get too cozy in a position and you don’t leave yourself open to the possible upside that comes with a more aggressive approach to your professional development.
As you proceed through your career, you need to pick your spots. Sometimes, you want to create the strongest safety net possible. Other times, you want to embrace reasonable risk and look to boost your career upside.
Here are some reasons you might consider a new job even if you’ve been happily employed for 10 years or more with the same employer:
Maximize Your Career Experience
The average person will hold nearly 13 jobs over the course of their career, according to government statistics. Other figures suggest that employees typically jump ship every four years or so.
These tendencies don’t remain constant throughout a career. On average, older workers tend to stick to one employer, while much of the moving around happens among younger workers jockeying to get their careers going. Still, even if you’ve become established, it’s important to keep these trends in mind.
Your career offers more than a chance to grab a paycheck. It also occupies most of your waking hours. A job gives you a chance at life experience – meeting people, traveling, trying new adventures. Seeking out a new position will expose you to fresh challenges and potential advancement opportunities. Overall, it offers a way to make the most out of your life.
Your Life Conditions Change
Sometimes, life outside work can influence your decision to move on. Tragedy sometimes inspires a desire for new horizons, like divorce or a death in the family. Other times, you become motivated by different milestones — like your kids finally leaving the house.
Meanwhile, distinctly positive developments can push you to explore your options as well. Say you’ve saved enough that you can consider lower-paying positions that better suit your ideal of a dream job. Now you can afford to prioritize other aspects of your career rather than money.
Meet New Coworkers
Same job, same people. Some of your current coworkers might seem like family to you. You’ve known them for years, gotten used to all their quirks and foibles.
In some ways, this represents a selling point for your current position. However, you might also want a change. Jumping to a fresh situation means engaging with a new cast of characters. This opens up the possibility for new friendships and novel experiences.
This dynamic could also add fuel to your career progression. New people mean new connections in your professional network. You’ll broaden your chances for long-term career success by forming new bonds and taking advantage of updated contacts.
Move to Higher-Growth Industries
You can’t survive long in a dying industry. An extended tenure at a single company represents an amazing accomplishment. Just make sure the market hasn’t moved on during that time.
To keep your career moving forward, it might be necessary to shift your skills to a more dynamic industry. Swapping jobs means more than a new employer. You also reset your overall place in the market, potentially positioning yourself for bigger growth opportunities.
Contact PrideStaff Bend Today
Ready to shake up your career? A top recruiter, like PrideStaff, offers a subtle way to test the market. You’ll get the guidance you need to make the optimal decision about your next job. Contact us today to reach your career potential.
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