Can staying in a job too long damage your career?

The daily grind can easily wear down workers, but now a new survey has revealed that UK workers actually believe staying in the same job can actually damage a career.

Although one-third (33.8 per cent) of Brits have been in the same job for more than 10 years, over half (54.5 per cent) believe that staying in the same job for too long can damage a career.

Nearly half (44.7 per cent) believe that the optimum time to stay in a job is between two and five years.

The survey by CV Library – which questioned 1,200 UK professionals – also found that 54.8 per cent of Brits feel it’s acceptable to change jobs often, with 44.7 per cent saying that it can help workers gain more experience.

In addition, nearly a third (29.6 per cent) said they thought changing jobs is a good opportunity to climb the career ladder, and 13.7 per cent said it can help workers gain a higher salary.

As Lee Biggins, founder and managing director of CV Library, explains, changing roles is important for career development, but the reasons for doing so should also be considered.

He says: “Within your working life, it’s important to constantly learn new skills and gain new experiences. If your current employer is offering this, then great!

“However, if you’ve been in the same role, doing the same tasks, for a long period of time, it may be worth discussing opportunities for development or looking for a new job entirely.”

When asked why they had left their last job, 16.3 per cent of Brits said it was because there was no room to progress, while 12.1 per cent had been offered a better position elsewhere.

Interestingly, the study also asked respondents if they’d hope for a counteroffer from their current employer after they hand their notice in, with 56 per cent stating that they would.

Lee adds: “It’s always important to leave a job for the right reasons.

“Don’t make any rash decisions and ensure that you have a good chat with your manager first.

“Alongside this, avoid securing another job just to get a counter-offer from your existing employer. This isn’t professional and will paint you in a bad light.

“If it is time to move on, then look at this as an exciting opportunity to take your career to new heights.”