how do some people stay in same company for whole career?

I'm at a massive corporation as my first job now and there are tons of people who have been here for like 30 years and they are just senior analysts. I don't get it. How can you stay with same place and job that long and not advance further. they get in at 8:59 and leave at 4:59. I get some people love the work life balance and being comfortable but I can't imagine ever being this. if you've made it to Director or above I can sort of understand then staying as you're comfortable and advanced decently well and happy with your pay.

I just don't get how people can be in same position for so long and not a move. Either another company or even advancing in job title. Unless you literally love your job to the point where Sun nights you can't wait to the Monday.

 
Best Response

It's simple - they are content with their compensation/responsibilities and how it allows for them to arrive at 8:59am and leave at 4:59pm. The same way some are content with living well below their means and being a ski bum in Vermont.

That being said, most of the individuals that visit this website do not share this mentality. It should not be a concept that you 'just don't get' because it is a way of life that you don't envision for yourself. However, it is perfectly fair to think, "I get it, but I know that is not where I want to be in 30 years."

Something that we often are blinded by is that we see individuals who work less and think that they're less intelligent, less qualified, less motivated, etc. That is not true whatsoever. None of us know what that individual had to endure to get to where they are, how many kids they have at home, whether they're taking care of a sick parent, or maybe they also work nights at the local YMCA teaching swimming lessons because that is their passion.

Everybody has a different idea of success but it is up to you to determine whether you find yourself there in 30 years.

 

+1. My mom works for the County back in my home city (public works, elections, etc.), and she's been there her entire life. She's at the tail end of her working career now, but even simply taking the same train/same exact commute to work for 30+ years would drive me absolutely insane. Granted, I'm from a fairly large/well-known/fun city and I'm sure she's moved around departments/desks/etc, but I always ask her how she does it. Maybe I have some sort of anxiety/long-term ADD, but I'm in constant need of a change of scenery. Be it a new route to work or new office environment altogether. Maybe that'll change as I grow to fully grasp what I do and understand/appreciate the work more, who knows. But I also am aware of where she came from (outside the US), and the opportunities that were afforded to her. She and my father have made a hell of a lot out of what they had and I'm grateful every day for that damn County job.

 

Staying at a company for 30 years and working 9 to 5 is very much a boomer mentality. It seems odd to you because the world has changed and that isn't the norm anymore. It was, however, the norm for decades.

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

I know a guy who has turned down numerous job promotions over the years to stay in his current role making just about the same salary a year. I don't share the mentality, but I understand it. To some people a job is a job, and they'd rather go home at a reasonable hour, leave all work at the office, and spend the rest of their day doing whatever it is that really makes them happy. Climbing the ladder means taking on more responsibilities, learning new skills, managing people, dealing with clients/bosses/shareholders, etc. I applaud that some people have the foresight and knowledge of themselves to know that the added stress isn't worth it.

 

The longer you stay in a position, the easier it gets. The easier it gets, the less time it takes to get your work done (especially once you create a format or a way to automate creating decks for that monthly staff meeting). This means that the time you spend at work could be spent doing lots of things, like running a successful blog/website, being a reddit moderator, or lining up things for your charity/volunteer work. You can also take 2 hour lunch breaks and hit the gym (saw this from some people at a F500)

This may not be what those people are doing, but that's what I would do if I chose to stay at a place for a long time. Nice, safe gig that fulfills my financial needs and lets me spend my time doing something else I care about, or provide a platform that supports me while I try and think of my own business or product that will make $$$$.

 

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