Loyalty Has Plenty Of Advantages

I was able to watch a business forum show just recently discussing about how the millennials, who were once thought to be indecisive in their career and continuously job-hopping, are now settling down in whatever work they are in. They are now starting their adulthood lives and scaling heights in the companies that their hearts found. It’s a good sign because everyone of us must eventually learn to settle down, not only in terms of our personal lives, but also in our career. Eventually, we must figure out where and what kind of work we will be doing for the rest of our working lives because we can’t just always shift work whenever we feel like it, or whenever we don’t like our colleagues.

I am not saying that changing jobs is bad and no one should do it. It has its perks and reasons such as when the work is just not fit for your physical condition, you never get on time because of the distance from your house to the office, the company is about to close, or there is a really great opportunity that was presented to you, and the current working condition is hazardous. But if the reasons are just as petty as the boss not greeting you, your colleagues are walking tabloids that just keep on gossiping about anything and everything, resigning is not the answer. Job-hopping must not be a reflex reaction. Here are some reasons why you must avoid job-hopping:

It’s bad for your résumé. Let’s make this clear: Adding your accumulated short amount of time in five different companies does not amount to a year’s worth of experience. So this means you are still not qualified to apply for bigger positions with your track record looking like that. Why? Because no hiring managers will consider you proficient in any position. You look like someone who they will spend money for training and then quit, leaving the company more expense to post want ads again and train replacement employees. As much as possible, research and assess the companies you are applying for so you can minimize the chances of you resigning.

You get zero retirement money. When an employee stays in a company for how many years, they receive a retirement pay that is usually big enough to start their own businesses. That is a token for all their hard work and loyalty to the company. But if you change job on a regular basis, taking two years as a sign to move out and apply in another company, your retirement money will never see the light of day. So, what happens when you retire? Well, there’s a pretty good chance that all you have is the money you (hopefully) saved in the bank. If not, then better hope that your child makes it big enough to take care of you while you sit down penniless at home.

Patience and loyalty pay off. It’s not just the level of skill that is considered by top management in promoting employees. Time of employment and the loyalty shown by an employee eyeing a position are also critical. You might be one of the few who constantly jumps from one job to another just because you feel underemployed and deserve to be a manager. But that will never be the case. Managerial positions are positions of trust and confidence given by the business owners. Skills are a good basis for promotion, but trust is a bigger one. If you really are bent on getting a managerial position, instead of applying and getting shot back down, why not practice a little more patience in the work that you have right now. You hate your colleagues because you think they gossip about you behind your back? Forget about them. Cool your head down and just do what you are told to do with the best of your abilities, and soon, you might just be receiving that managerial promotion, not to mention the last laugh in the office. Be patient in growing your pay grade. All of these things take time, so ready a great amount of patience, and show loyalty to the company.

We always think that the grass is greener on the other side of the pasture. There will always be stories of how great are the benefits of other companies. Take such talk with a grain of salt as things are rarely as rosy as bragged. Also remember that more often than not, companies that offer more also demand more. Think twice if your prospects are indeed brighter before you decide to shift jobs as the advantages of loyalty may be greater.

*Originally published by the Manila Bulletin. Manila Bulletin, C-4, Sunday, January 17, 2016. Written by Ruben Anlacan, Jr. (President, BusinessCoach, Inc.) All rights reserved. May not be reproduced or copied without express written permission of the copyright holders.