Lack of Growth Opportunities: Why You Quit Your Job Too Soon, Reason 4

I’ve worked for two amazing companies where it felt like the only way you could get a promotion was if someone retired or died.  The average employee had been there 15 years or more and most of that was in the same role.  It can be very frustrating to find yourself in that situation, especially as a younger employee who is anxious to experience career growth. 

Maybe we expect it to be like a video game where you get promoted every time you complete a mission.  Some fast-paced startups might be that way but it’s certainly not the norm from what I’ve experienced.  Working in a slow-moving company can feel like waiting behind a line of cars at a stop sign trying to cross the highway.  You’re peaking around the cars in front of you and wondering why that first car doesn’t just go.

While it’s frustrating to be forced to go slower than you want, there is an upside to a lack of growth opportunities that I think is underappreciated.  Upon reflecting, I realized that both of those companies had survived the Great Financial Crisis of 2008-2012 without laying off a single employee.  All of their equipment was bought with cash.  One had long-term leases on the property for their branch locations while the other owned their property outright.  In short, they grew slowly but with great stability.  They did not blast off like a rocket, but they never gave up ground.  It’s like a ratchet that only goes one direction. 

By contrast, I have also worked for a relatively large-scale startup which disrupted the market and rolled up several smaller companies over a very short period of time.  Opportunities were everywhere and I was able to experience incredible success there.  The main reason for all these opportunities was that the complexity of running a young, multifaceted company took a large strain on many people who frequently burned out and left for other opportunities. It's like a young tree that grows too quickly and then has to be staked up because it isn't strong enough to stand on its own.

I suppose what I’m saying here is that promotions are good if you can hold onto them.  John Milton’s poem Paradise Lost has a line that says, “Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.”  You may be able to achieve great career growth at a fast-paced, volatile company but there is a risk to it.  One key factor to consider is what causes the opportunities to become available.  Promotion may come from expansion or may come from excessive turnover.  Maybe both.  In any case, the root causes are worth considering before jumping on board because it might be hell. 

Beyond security, I would also look at the opportunities each pace provides.  You generally find true masters of your craft working in those long-term positions.  Learning under them can provide invaluable experience that propels you to the next level.  If you want to learn from a master, you must prove yourself to be consistently helpful and engaged. 

It might be time to ask yourself if you are taking on enough responsibility where you are.  By taking on more responsibilities, you’ll quickly build on your experience and become a more valuable employee.  Adding to your economic value by honing your skills, increasing your experience, and taking on more responsibilities will open doors for you where you are or if you decide to work elsewhere.  Take advantage of the relative safety of your slow company to invest in yourself.  It will pay dividends for the rest of your career.