"Sometimes Staying Is The Right Career Move"

A full-circle placement made me question my own advice about never getting too comfortable in one company.

Recently, I had one of those moments in recruitment that made me stop and reflect. About 15 years ago, I started working with a client. Over those years, I have recruited approximately 20–25 people into the business. Around 95% of those placements are still there today.

Recently, I recruited another role for the same company. The person who got the role would report into someone I originally placed back in 2016. That was already a great feeling. But during the reference check process, I realised the referee was the same person I had spoken to years ago when I recruited the current hiring manager back in 2016. A full-circle moment. A great story.

But then another thought crossed my mind. For years, one piece of advice I have often given candidates is: “Don’t become too comfortable in one company.” Keep learning. Keep challenging yourself. Keep growing. And most importantly, keep in touch with the market so you understand what else is out there. And I still strongly believe that advice is right.

So I started wondering… Was this company and were these candidates I had placed over the years actually doing themselves an injustice by staying?

After thinking about it more, I realised something. My advice was, is and will continue to be true. But in this particular situation, that wasn’t what I was seeing. I wasn’t seeing people staying because they were comfortable. I was seeing people staying because: They were valued. They were trusted. They continued to grow. They progressed in their careers. And the company continued to invest in them.

The mistake is not staying with one company for a long time. The mistake is staying somewhere where you have stopped growing. Someone can spend 15 years with one organisation and have multiple career journeys within that business. Someone else can change companies every two years and still not develop.

Career growth does not always have to mean moving. Sometimes it means taking on more responsibility where you already are. Sometimes it means learning something new. Sometimes it means growing with the people and company around you. But staying doesn’t mean closing yourself off from the outside world. Knowing your market value, understanding what opportunities exist and continuing to learn are still important.

This experience also reminded me of something about recruitment. We often talk about candidates finding the right company. But the right company finding the right people is just as important. This client has been the exception, not the rule. In 15 years, I haven’t come across many companies where the majority of people I have placed are still there and continuing to grow.

Maybe the lesson isn’t: “Don’t stay too long.” Maybe the lesson is: Don’t stay somewhere where you are no longer growing. Because sometimes… the best career move is not moving at all, as long as your career is still moving in the direction you want.

Need personalised help with this?

I have spent 15 years on the hiring side of the table. I have interviewed thousands of candidates and seen exactly what works and what does not. Book a session and I will give you direct, honest advice based on your specific situation.