Why Do You Work For The Same Company For 25 Years?

I read senior Financial Times writer Lucy Kellaway's recent column describing her thoughts on completing 25 years at FT. Especially her need to explain to the world why she was still there, at a time when most successful executives would not be found stable at one place for so long.

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Dear Lucy,


That was a candid story.

I spent 5 years in accounting, 5 years in teaching/financial publishing and 10 years in investment banking jobs, working with 3 employers over first 20 years. For the last four years I have been busy changing 3 jobs in search for a bigger life picture than just career growth. And I am not feeling stable yet! That should make us quite a contrast!

I experienced that the first 5 years in any job tell you all about your growth prospects i.e. if you grew slow in that period, it is unlikely you will be a senior VP or CEO but also vice versa. The first 5 years also tell you if you like what you are doing, and whether you like to do it for more than 5 years.

All in all 25 years make you bored unless excitement was created by economic uncertainty, change of jobs, geographic movement and so on.

My guess is that in your 25 years at FT, your life remained exciting, as it appears from your smile and your writings, due to one or more of these:

= You have had several children giving you as many maternity leaves to break the monotony. Probably you are also an involved mother or daughter
= You have been cheating on your husband of 20 years or if unable to do so, channelizing the energy into writing even more....(sorry for being cheesy)
= FT is not very demanding and you work at your pace, not chasing higher position/pay in the organization
= You are rich from an inheritance or you have a rich husband and you enjoy frequent holidays
= You can not take the physical discomfort resulting from a change of job
= You most certainly enjoy watching the world go by

As the years pass by, your senses evolve and as you see and read and hear and smell and touch more, that world you have not seen and read and heard and smelt and touched so far looks more exciting to explore. And you realize that the time on your hand is getting shorter!

Therefore, dear Lucy, may I advise you to write out a resignation to FT NOW. The beautiful world outside has been missing you for years. I assure you, FT will fully 'support' your decision to leave.

Yours,

Chetan Shah
26042010
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Lucy writes -

Re: 25 Years
Thursday, 29 April, 2010 1:59 PM


From: "Lucy.Kellaway@FT.com" View contact details
To: chetan_gshah@yahoo.com

Thanks for your nice message. You are quite right about maternity leaves - as I've had four children.


Best wishes

Lucy Kellaway