Let's look at the facts: what is the average length of time someone has worked for a company? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, it was 4.1 years in 2022. Managers have the longest work experience within an organization (6.2 years), employees in educational institutions and libraries (5.5 years), and workers in the service and hospitality sectors have the shortest (1.6 years).
Most companies are interested in employing juniors (it's cheaper) and developing them to higher positions. That's why at almost every interview, the candidate will hear from HR: "We are looking for someone who is interested in long-term cooperation and the opportunity to grow in the company." However, long-term cooperation does not always mean quick progress.
Why do employees work for an employer for years without receiving a tangible promotion? An analytical article in the Harvard Business Review states that people simply act out of inertia. They stay with a company until indonesia phone number data something forces them to leave, or (as in physics) a physical body maintains its position and properties until a certain force acts on it.
Inert behavior is usually influenced by the following factors:
Internal assumptions – a person is satisfied with their job and feels good in the company. The employer creates its own values, and if they are close to the employee's social and moral views, it will remain indifferent.
External factors – an employee does not leave a job based on real labor market constraints, their own financial situation, personal beliefs, and even family ties. HBR researchers found that people may refuse to leave their current job because they “like the environment” and “have good friends and colleagues.”
These factors together strengthen the bond between the employee and the company, and the chance that a person will leave for personal ambitions decreases. They will have to leave their favorite neighborhood and colleagues, send their children to another school (which may be inconvenient) - in other words, leave their comfort zone.
It's up to you how long you want to stay in your current position. If you're happy with your current position and don't expect any unexpected promotions in the coming years, you shouldn't force yourself into any sudden changes.
However, if you are considering career stagnation and feeling demotivated, you should reevaluate your priorities. Below, we will discuss the most common situations that signal this need.