Loyalty or Ambition

ssmith6287

I regard myself as loyal. Ive worked for the same company now for 7 years in various positions. On my CV most of my experience is from this company. Does this make me look unambitious or loyal. I could prob walk into a higher paying job in Dublin tomorrow. Where I am is close to home, relatively easy and theyre good people. Just at a stage now where I change altogether or reducate in what I know. Any advice?

obezyana

I was kind of in the same position as yourself only I was working 11yrs for the same crowd. I was loyal and happy with my lot and then the business started going down hill. A good few of us working there ended up taking redundancy which I suppose in one way we were lucky to get. As time passed I realised I pretty much wasted 11yrs of my life working there as I couldn't go any higher than I was already. Because i chose the loyalty path more so than the ambition path I stayed in a job I didn't want to be doing when in my mid 30s early 40s and so on......

Im now in the process of trying to get a job in what I actually want to do and its hard trying to get my foot in the door. Im going to study Electronic engineering in September so that means more time out of a job but Ill be better educated and in a stronger position to do what I want..... My advice is this, if you are questioning your position now well then its time you act or another 7yrs will pass you by before you know and you may just regret it.

thefa

In my opinion, 7 years nowadays is considered loyal. I believe most employers would take a guaranteed 7 years out of each new good recruit if it was offered to them.

There's a sign of ambition too if there's some progression within the company in those years. I think a potential employer would get worried if you were switching company every 12 months unless it was in a high labour turnover field.

ssmith6287

Yeah I suppose, Im in this job 7 years and my last job 6 years. Whilst I was in college. I have a degree in IT but haven't worked in the type of field I studied for, networking was my main focus, but that was 7 years ago so realistically it's irrelevant now. I'm currently working an Assistant Managar in an Accounts Office and I enjoy it, but I'm thinking of maybe even doing a part time finance course to get a deeper understanding. I'd love to stay with the company, In fairness theyre great to work for, but like that I don't want to be 35 with nothing to really show. Its a toughie. I'm not in the mindset of I'm lucky to have a job, I would like to try a venture of my own, but again im to comfy at the mo and the risks are way too high. Would any of you have any ideas on part time or even online accredited courses that don't cost a fortune, prefarebly in Finance or even Business Management.

obezyana

Im sure there might be some kind of night course in a college that would cater for your needs. I dont know of any myself so I cant help you there......Id love to be able to work during the day and study at night....it would be the best of both worlds as having f all money is a PITA. The only thing is that is keeping me focused is knowing im off to study in Sept. I try not to think of the 11yrs I let pass me by without acting on what I kinda knew already. Have a quick google im sure there is something that would suit you.

Tom Dunne

I stayed with an employer for 13 years.

It wasn't necessarily out of loyalty (it's a big US multinational, so we were well looked after), but more out of a sense of variety - in those 13 years, I probably had about 5 different jobs.

However, looking back now, while I do not for a minute regret working for that company, I do think that 13 years was way to long to stay with one employer.

Caanar

It is so amazing how times have changed. I remember when I was much younger and considered unstable because I was in out of jobs every few years.

Here's the thing though. If you want to stay with your company, make it work for you. Prepare yourself for your next job by making your present one look really productive for you and making any potential employer stop and take notice.

There are several strategies you can employ that will not just increase your value at your company, and potentially gain you a promotion, but it will help you to look appealing to potential employers. So then, it won't be a question of whether you lack ambition or not.

Strategy examples:

1. Find something to improve. With your IT advantage, you can find an IT project that will make a big improvement in an accounting process or something.

2. You can stay in problem-solving mode and work on solving problems that arise in your department that gets in the way of work goals.

You would want to create monthly reports (more geared towards showing your achievements as opposed to what might already be required). You can say to your manager or higher ups, you decided to start doing this report because this report helps you to keep track of the different projects you are working on to make your job easier. In your report, use sub-headings like challenges, actions, achievements etc. Send it to as many higher ups as is feasible. (Reporting challenges does two things: It keeps bosses' expectations of you more realistic, and your actions to address it shows you as doing something about it--whether it gets resolved or not it's a positive.)

Then in your resume and on your next interview, you can talk about all your achievements and the value you brought to that company with real case examples.

I think you have an amazing advantage with both IT and accounting and you can gear your resume and these project achievements to having an advantage over other candidates when you are ready to move on.

All the best to you!
Caanar

ssmith6287

I appreciate the feedback guys, cheers. I'm defo going to look into challenges. I have an IT background, very basic accounting though. Thinking of doing an evening book keeping and then maybe a payroll course, theyre both FETAC so at least theyre recognised.

Cheers Guys

Outkast_IRE

Very much depends on the employer and how they treat the employee.

My other half currently works for a multinational pharma company, and they are always looking to fund staff to do masters programmes, giving them study leave, additional training in any relavant area, scope to move to other locations in the world if you want, additonal days off the longer you are with the company, and plenty of scope to move up the company if you educate yourself accordingly along the way etc.......

To me that is a good company, that tends to keep a good number of staff for years, however you still have a good proportion of staff who will move for better money or new challenge etc.....

ssmith6287

Well that's the thing, I've been offered jobs that gave me 10, 20, 30% higher wages. But whether it be travelling, the company, the people in the interview, the nature of the business, I just wasnt interested. Ive never been motivated by money. If I can live comfy I'm happy, I have everything I need by saving. In my current company, I went from sales, to web team, to copywriter, to Brand Ambassador, Im now Office Assistant Manager, with intentions of moving up. Money was never my motive. I guess it's ego, I like to matter

Is ACCA worth doing if you don't have accountancy qualifications. Like is there any point