I really enjoy my job at a small sales promotion company and have been there a couple of years now. However, I've recently been encouraged by certain colleagues to move on to pastures new. I'm sure that there's no malice involved — and it's probably for the best if I want to further my career — but I just don't feel ready yet. Do jobs have a shelf life these days and am I jeopardising my career chances by staying put?
To be honest, this is a decision that you have to make for yourself. You need to ask those colleagues why they think it might be time for you to move on, but also remember that it's very rare for people to have a completely unselfish viewpoint on anything. Hear what they say and be brutally honest with yourself about whether you like it or not, but also bear in mind that they probably have an agenda.
I think it's quite valid that in this time of economic instability people are feeling less secure about moving jobs. The truth is that there are not hundreds of jobs out there and if you're happy in a job and good at it , which seems to be the case, then maybe it isn't time to move. You have to be brave to take a step into the unknown if you don't have a job to go to. If you're feeling nervous or reticent, then don't do it.
I've had some people working for me for over 15 years because they were good at what they did and not ambitious, and we had a very upfront conversation about our mutual expectations. People feel in organisations that if you don't appear ambitious and don't look like you want to move up then you're not wanted. Actually it comes as a relief for an employer! You don't want everyone racing to be first past the finishing post because only one person can win.
But some jobs do have shelf lives — fast-paced, high-powered roles need you fresh and it's likely at some point you're going to get stale and someone else will be fresher.
Deborah Meaden is author of Common Sense Rules, £18.99
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