Conventional wisdom says that you should stay with a company for roughly five years before moving on. But what if you’ve been with one employer for ten years — or your entire career? What do you need to consider if you want to get a job with a different employer?
How unusual is it?
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median time spent working at a company has decreased to 3.9 years. For those in management, professional, and related occupations, however, the median tenure is 4.8 years — and 4.9 years for those working in finance specifically. And, the proportion of workers over 25 who have ten or more years with their current employer is just over 30%. So, if you are a long-serving member of staff, you are not the norm. Nor, however, are you an outlier.
Not all companies are created equal
Huge multinationals are their own universes. If you’ve worked for a big blue chip across several different divisions, perhaps in different locations or even different countries, having been at one company is far less of an issue, as the variety is akin to working for multiple employers. In a slightly different vein, if you’re working for a superstar company that has performed incredibly well over the past decade, your long tenure will also make sense — why would you leave a winner? However, if you’ve been at a small business with a single site or at a company whose performance has been average or below, potential employers are likely to ask questions.
Build a narrative
As you write your CV, really interrogate your career history. Make a list of the roles you’ve had over the years and arrange it to show clear progression in terms of seniority and responsibility. Highlight the achievements that stand out, particularly those that demonstrate flexibility and a desire to embrace change. If you’ve worked in half a dozen roles for a Fortune 500 company, this should be no problem. It also tends to be easy with professional firms (such as accountants and lawyers), which have clearly defined, industry-standard career paths. If you started in a junior role and are now a senior manager (or near partnership), you’ll be an attractive candidate.
What if I haven’t been promoted much?
It’s trickier here. But you should still really drill down into what you’ve done over the years. Think about different projects you’ve worked on, new skills you’ve learned, and experience you’ve gained. When have you really gone the extra mile and made a difference? Again, you want to create a narrative that demonstrates you’ve progressed and developed, even if it’s not as obvious as a new job title every three years. Provide easy-to-remember wins like, “Under me, profits in my division tripled” or “I found a way to reduce costs by 65%.”
If you’ve been at a small or underperforming company
Look for the upsides. If you’ve been at an SME, you might highlight the breadth of experience your role encompassed. Often, in smaller companies, people take on responsibilities far beyond their job descriptions. If the company’s performance has been less than stellar, you might be able to say that it’s a tough sector and the business is doing well compared to its peers. Or perhaps your part of the business has outperformed the whole. Maybe you believed the company had real potential, but it hasn’t delivered for various reasons. You should avoid denigrating your current employer, but you might reasonably say that, having tried to make things work, you believe you need to move on to progress.
Really think about what you want
Leaving a company you’ve been at for a decade or more is a big move. So, take a deep, strategic view of what you want rather than jumping into the first half-decent opening. What is going to really move your career forward? What will offer new challenges? What has changed in the career landscape since you last looked for a job — and where are the opportunities? A few extra months to ensure you make the right choice will be time well spent.
Practise interviews
You will be out of practice for interviews. So, when you land one, practise interview techniques beforehand with a friend, trusted colleague, or coach. You also probably know what the difficult questions are likely to be, so workshop answers to these. You might look at topics such as ambition, cultural fit, risk-taking, and knowledge of the sector (outside your company).
What if I struggle to find a job?
Don’t expect instant results. But you also need to get used to being entrepreneurial and selling yourself. Ask former colleagues about opportunities and talk to recruiters. Get your name out there. Don’t be afraid to admit that it’s been a while. Network — the more senior you are, the more likely new roles are to come via those you know. Be open-minded, too. Is there an interesting, lateral move you could make that might deliver progression? Or could you move into another sector that is booming or where your skills will be at a premium?
What are the good points of a long tenure?
Loyalty is the obvious one, and people really like this. You can also point to having great, deep relationships with your co-workers, customers, and suppliers. There’s in-depth experience and knowledge, too. Position yourself as an expert with an incredible network you can draw on. Finally, remember that having been at one company for ten years is far better than having been with five companies over two years.
Leave well
When you do get a job, you should leave your present job as well as you possibly can, even if you can’t wait to get out. Tell your boss first and then your team. Thank everyone. Complete all the tasks you can, tie up any loose ends, and hand over to your successor efficiently. You’ve invested a huge amount of your career in your current employer, colleagues like and respect you, and you don’t want to ruin that in the last few months — not least because past colleagues can often become future colleagues.
Visit the Global Career Hub from AICPA & CIMA for help with finding a job or recruiting.
— Rhymer Rigby is an FM magazine contributor and the author of The Careerist: Over 100 Ways to Get Ahead at Work. To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Oliver Rowe at Oliver.Rowe@aicpa-cima.com.
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