What Would Keep You at Your Current Job? The Career Advancement Dilemma

Job hopping is a common phenomenon these days, and the average worker stays at any given job about two years, according to career blogger Penelope Trunk. A lot of this is because they’re impatient and frustrated with a lack of opportunity.

A recent Wall Street Journal story highlighted the frustrations of young workers who crave more responsibility. They’re dissatisfied with the work they’re given, the responsibility – or lack thereof – they have, and the feeling that the wait to start climbing the career ladder is too long. Especially for entrepreneurial types.

Blogs like Escape From Cubicle Nation and Employee Evolution highlight the frustration of many workers today. Employee Evolution was founded a few months ago by Ryan Healy and Ryan Paugh as a way for millennials to voice their frustrations about trying to move up the career ladder. They’ve been featured in the Wall Street Journal about their efforts. With all they’ve been able to accomplish blogging about their career frustrations, imagine what these people could do if their employers only gave them more opportunities.

Too many job descriptions these days seem to say “experience required” rather than “experience offered.” Now’s the time for employers to step up to the plate and invest in their young, eager recruits, or they’ll lose them to companies that do, or perhaps, to entrepreneurial ventures.

Comments

  1. Ryan Paugh

    Too many job descriptions these days seem to say “experience required” rather than “experience offered.”
    I couldn’t have put it better myself! It brings me back to those frustrating hours spent on CareerBuilder and Monster hovering over exciting opportunities with the hope that those dreaded two words wouldn’t be part of the job description.
    I would love to see some more of that “experience offered” that we’re lacking. That’s really what we’re all about over at EE.
    Thanks for the shout out and that great quote. It’s going to stick with me now all day!

  2. karen

    its hard if you work for a temp service for a long period of time wishing and hoping to get hired on, especially if they have issues with rehires, learn as many departments as you can as i have so “they need you” as much as you need your job, as much as i like my job i wish my temp service really listened to what goals and issues ive seen, day to day issues, but living in a small community i guess you cant ask for much, when you see bigger cities and there temp services and how well there run and how well “it works for all” maybe then you really see its just the temp service itself that needs to change, but the plant itself ive learned to open my mouth and say “I WANT TO LEARN IT” they teach me right there, saftey issues and meeting we wernt”aloud” to be apart of ive fought to be apart of, as a team member we work in the plant we need to know everything, it doesnt matter if your a temp,union member, or a person off the street, if your there to work you need to be required to learn all that is required all”plant staff” take a step yourself, they might say at first ok whats up with this person, a year and something later i do have alot of respect at the plant, i really cant say that for the temp service, i really wish they would take imput from us as we are working for you, dont you think as your personal you would like to grow more then just clients? i think respect is the key word to but of course here as a exp temp thats another voice till you get hired on

  3. Summer

    Karen,
    It sounds like you’ve put out a lot of effort to learn everything you can about your job and your company. I agree that it’s unfortunate when managers, staffing companies, or businesses aren’t receptive to feedback from their employees. Companies can save themselves a lot of time and money by simply listening to what their people who are on the “frontlines” have to say.
    You’ve demonstrated your enthusiasm for learning at your current employer; I encourage you to also share these feelings with your staffing coordinator. Let that person know what you’re accomplishing and your eagerness to learn more and more. If you have frustrations, let your supervisor and staffing coordinator know. Then, share with them ways you think things could be improved in the future.

  4. Katie Moore

    I think if Employer’s would show that they care more about their employee’s there will be least turn over in the employment sector. I was told by a friend of mine She said that because the states are right to work or at will companies are using that to fire employee’s over a little of nothing just to keep from putting them on full time or keep from giving them a raise if deserved. She told me Katie some temporary agencies when you work for them and the employer let you go for any reason then the temp agency don’t want to work with you anymore they use what we call the network system and communicate back and forward with each other by email or net-fax to give bad feedback about a employee. I say no you got to be kidding! my friend to me no it’s the truth I can prove it you no I work in the upper administration and I see and hear a lot of things.You would not believe some of the things people get away with in the regular sector and the temporary sector.I just smiled and said you know if you hold yourself down then that what going to happen,but you must realize every temporary company or maybe 15% of employer’s don’t feel this way or think this way.I going to keep on trying to accomplish my dreams for the future. I told her if I don’t believe in myself and my goals then who will if companies don’t want to hire me or fire for the at will act.Then I just going to keep on running the race for the goal. Like they say those with the goal or in control and those with the goal,gold,& knowledge or in 3 times more contral and with God and Jesus blessings this is me in the next 15 years.

  5. Melanie

    Unethical management is a disease that is gripping the nation. The bottom line has become the “almighty dollar,” not taking care of the employees who make them look good! I am one of those people who hasn’t stayed at a job more than a couple of years because I quickly tire of blackbook politics and a lack of “career” potential. If you outshine management, they sabotage your efforts. You have to cover your assets and watch your back constantly! I just want a place to plant, root, and grow! Instead of rooting into rich, fertile soil, I mostly realized I was planted in a dimly lit room with a cold, concrete floor! What a disappointment it is to spend time dedicating yourself to a company – working overtime, putting in Saturday hours, providing excellent service – only to find management doesn’t notice…or they take the credit for YOUR hard work. Does anyone else feel this way?

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