How do you manage to stay at a company (non-govt) for years and years?

[Anonymous]

Is it just luck? being good at what you do? working for a company with very few layoffs and firings?

[Anonymous]

luck. DH has had about 4 companies either close up shop or relocate (to areas we weren't willing to move to)...tech companies, so maybe a bit more volatile than other industries.
His dad worked for the same company for 50 years....I don't think that really happens anymore unless it's a family business.

[Anonymous]

I work for a pretty large company, so something would have to go terribly wrong for them to close up shop. There have been layoffs, but I happen to work in a department that is unlikely to be cut.

[Anonymous]

I'm super good at my job. 20 plus years.

[Anonymous]

dumb luck and hard work and stupidity.

First rule is work for a successful manager and second rule is to get on successful projects. Forget the rules about working hard, etc etc.

All performance at corporations is driven by politics but specifically the success of your boss. If they are successful, they have the leverage to keep you around. If they are failing, you can expect that eventually you will be tossed overboard.

[Anonymous]

Work at a massively successful firm, in the core competency section of said firm, in key divisions/projects.

[Anonymous]

I have worked at the same company for 16 years. It helps if you fit in well with the corporate culture.

[Anonymous]

I lost jobs when the biggest employer in the country closed my location (GM in the 80s) and the largest stock value company in the country closed my location (GE in the 90s). I ended up at a small company with a couple dozen employees but lost my job five years ago when we got gobbled up by a big corporation that had a client conflict with the work my group was doing.

Keep smiling and it helps to have a little luck.

[Anonymous]

Good question, OP, but is hard to answer. My died has been fired 3 or 4 times from the private sector. I wonder if it's her or if working for the private sector is really that unstable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good question, OP, but is hard to answer. My died has been fired 3 or 4 times from the private sector. I wonder if it's her or if working for the private sector is really that unstable.

Meant to say "my friend" instead of "my died."

[Anonymous]

Too lazy to update my resume... Plus the pay is good, so why bother

[Anonymous]

I think it's a combination of factors - being in the right place at the right time, having skills that are in demand, good performance, and most importantly (I think) - luck.

[Anonymous]

Not sure it's such a good thing. Have stayed at my company for too long but I have family issues and the recession also kept me in one place. It's not been good for my overall career but it's been good for the family.

[Anonymous]

I work for the World Bank. We have the "golden handcuff" issue. It often feels too good here to even think about going elsewhere. It is comfortable and for the most part profitable. While many folks could make more in the private sector the benefits and flexibility we have here would be tough to give up. (FYI I am in the new plan and it still pretty cushy here, even though I would LOVE LOVE to be in the old plan!)

I just celebrated by 15 year staffaversary a few months back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work for the World Bank. We have the "golden handcuff" issue. It often feels too good here to even think about going elsewhere. It is comfortable and for the most part profitable. While many folks could make more in the private sector the benefits and flexibility we have here would be tough to give up. (FYI I am in the new plan and it still pretty cushy here, even though I would LOVE LOVE to be in the old plan!)

I just celebrated by 15 year staffaversary a few months back.

My husband works at the IMF it is definitely a golden handcuff situation!