How to Explain Why You Stayed in the Same Job so Long

How to Explain Why You Stayed in the Same Job so Long If youve been fielding a bit of push-back from people saying youve stayed in one job too long, youre not alone. Let me start by saying; theres no  such thing as the perfect candidate. Forget profiles on paper, all humans have imperfections and theyll  show sooner or later.  Rough career edges wont always be deal breakers, as few hiring managers look to employ impersonal  know-it-all robots anyway. Youre great just the way you are. Now that youre feeling a little loved-up and relaxed with your qualms somewhat quashed, its time to get realistic. The thing is, the jobs market is so competitive these days  that  you might  be the perfect fit for a role, but youll never even come close to having the opportunity to prove it. Why? Hiring managers and recruiters are inundated with applications for  every open role they have, which means they have to go through a ruthless weeding process to arrive at a high-quality shortlist. And yes, there will be  casualties. When you are one of a hundred applicants with similar skill sets, factors  like  the length of time youve spent in your job becomes important.  In the same way that serial  job-hoppers  will have to explain why they move between jobs frequently, those whove stayed in one job for many years will also have some  explaining to do. Is the  old norm  the new negative? Gone are the days when staying with one company for life was the done thing. Different people will have different ideas as to whats too long in one job. Some say 5+ years is getting up there into dangerous territory, whereas some are less lenient and point the finger at those with any longer than 3 years a piece. Nowadays, if youve been in the same job or with the same company for  a many, many  years, longterm commitment and loyalty  dont always immediately spring to mind. Instead,  hiring managers can become suspicious of your long tenure: Salary and pricing. Are you  too expensive?  Staying with one company implies youve been looked after pretty well. If youre great at what you do, but been with just the one company for a number of years, youve likely received multiple promotions and pay rises in order to keep you there.  Can your new employee afford to buy you out? On the flip-side, are you  not expensive enough? If you havent received any pay rises and  arent on a competitive wage, questions might be asked as to why you a) havent received monetary compensation for your hard work over many years, and b) why you havent secured another role that pays more. Stagnation. Moving jobs means dealing with new challenges and pushing yourself to adapt to a number of new responsibilities. If your career trajectory (on paper) appears to have plateaued in your current position, it can raise questions about  your drive and motivation. Inflexibility. Moving jobs requires you to adapt to new environments and alter your approach to things, as well as build relationships with new people.    Being with the one company implies a certain level of comfortability, and potential  inflexibility. While all of these points may be completely untrue, its worth getting ready to explain your decision to stay with your current company for such a long time. Recruiters and hiring managers will want  evidence that: 1.  You have been constantly challenged Its important to have clear examples of how your role has evolved over time, and how you have managed an increasing level of responsibility over the  years. Highlight how you have been promoted, invited to complete secondments or switched departments or locations. Report increases in the size of your team, and new projects you are  / were involved in.  Its important to show how your career trajectory has continued to move upwards. 2. Youve added value Use statistics to show the value you have added to your company over time. Whether its increases in revenue or profitability, or major changes / transformations youve made. Bring to life how you have helped better the business. 3. You have  great loyalty to your company Theres rarely an appropriate time to badmouth your existing employer. If you have been with one company for a long time, it is admirable to maintain respect for your workplace and demonstrate that is has been great loyalty that has encouraged you to stay put, not being stuck.  This is a great time to talk about the extra things youve done with your role perhaps organised charity events or been involved in internal committees. 4.  You have a great network and long-lasting relationships If youve been operating in the one market for the one company for a long time, you should be able to demonstrate how your reputation among your clients / colleagues reflects this. You should be seen as the go-to a real asset with in-depth experience. This is a great time to reference character / career referrals and recommendations. Its also a great time to talk about your commitment to creating and sustaining longterm relationships, which is a highly valuable skill. 5.  Your salary  has been under negotiation You need to have a clear hold on your financials, and be realistic with your expectations. Be ready to explain what salary you are on now, and how your salary has changed over time. Showing regular  increases will work in your favour, as it tells the story of an upward trajectory quite clearly. However its not always that simple, so if you feel youre currently underpaid, have clear reasons as to why. Remember another business wont always take a chance on you and  make up for the fact youve been underpaid in your current role. If a lack of salary increase is why youre looking to move, maybe a sidewards step  is one you need to  take in order to open up  further opportunities. If youre too expensive for the rest of the market, perhaps its worth working out whether a new opportunity or moneyis a higher priority. 6. Youve got big career aspirations Talk about your career aspirations, and how your current job has fitted into the grand plan.  What did you hope to achieve with that role, and how far have you come in reaching your goals?  You need to show youve been in the drivers seat  of your career the whole time, and that staying was a decision you made for particular reasons, not one that was forced upon you because you couldnt leave, even though you wanted to. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below?