Changing jobs is often a difficult decision. But switching to the right position can pay dividends both personally and professionally. The traditional perception that you have to stay at one company for a long time is gone. In fact, research shows that most professionals are now switching jobs every 3-5 years. They are looking for new challenges and trust that the type of company they want to work for will value accomplishments over long tenure in one job. We have seen this to be true particularly for tech sector professionals: companies increasingly aren't concerned with how long you have spent somewhere—they care about what you can do. 

If you are considering a new position, there will likely be benefits to staying where you are, and benefits to leaving.  Here we sum up the pros of taking a new job.

You will get back in touch with the world

When you stay in the same company, you gradually lose touch with the outside world. You begin to focus on internal priorities (the politics, your next position, short-term company goals) rather than focusing on the larger world outside your company's walls. One of the biggest dangers of staying a job too long is that you fall behind what is happening in your industry and the wider world beyond it.

Develop your technical skills

This is true for everyone, but particularly technical specialists: with each new position, you get the chance to expand your skillset. You can work in new technical frameworks, attend new trainings and gain new qualifications. You are also are likely to learn new development languages, work on bigger projects, get exposure to different industries and take on new responsibilities. The end result is an increase in your “market value”.

You can re-position yourself professionally

Every time you change jobs, you are able to re-establish your value and expertise—on your own terms. If you learned a lot at your last job and were ready to become Head of Development but couldn’t because that person was your boss, you can become that if you switch jobs.

It will help you stay inspired

When you stay put in one job for a long time, you may begin to perform your job like a robot. Even if you work on different projects over the course of a year, with different challenges, the process you go through with your team will likely be prescribed. Your supply of new ideas will begin to diminish. You need fresh "glasses" to stay inspired and maintain a creative approach.

It will build your reputation & network

The more companies you work for, the more your reputation in the business community will grow. Plus, the more companies you work for, the more people you will know. Wouldn’t it be nice to walk into a new position and build your own perfect team from the best talent you have worked with in the past?  You can’t do that well if you have only worked for a handful of companies.

You can earn the money you want

Money matters. Money makes you feel valued and appreciated. It is also motivating. So don’t sell yourself short when it comes to your remuneration.  Your salary will likely only grow incrementally if you stay put.  Change jobs however, and a jump in compensation is a real possibility.

You will grow your comfort zone

When working for one company for a long time, you get used to the people, dynamic and culture of the organisation. You know the company’s processes and systems inside and out.  You begin to think like the company, and move at its pace. It not only makes it harder to adjust to a new environment when you finally do change jobs, but eventually you don’t even really consider switching. You stop seeing your own vast possibilities.

Changing jobs makes it easier to see that there are no boxes around you.  It reminds you that you are capable of doing whatever you want to do, regardless of the job titles you have held so far. So if you are debating whether to take a new job, consider the pros and cons not only of the new job, but also the sheer act of making a change.

About Oliver Parks

Oliver Parks Consulting offers search-based recruitment solutions to the technology sector, specialising in the ERP, CRM, CMS, ECM, BI and Open Source Technology spaces. The firm’s multilingual consultants operate in narrowly-defined niche market segments, enabling them to gain extensive knowledge of the people and companies operating in each technology.  Oliver Parks has a proven track-record with more than 100,000 candidates worldwide and more than 300 clients globally.