What does it take to stick with a job?

I have been a job hopper most of my career. I admit it. I've always had my eye out for the next best thing. I'm an expert on working the job boards. I've figured out how to get more responses from Dice and Career Builder than I could ever use. I have a list of agencies from all around the world who send me job listings for which I am at least partially qualified. If I wanted to start a new job next year I'm sure I could shake the trees and have something lined up in a few weeks.

I don't think that's bragging. I just think that's the miracle of modern technology at work. Job hunting is easier than ever for a qualified technician. If you have a specialty on some hot piece of software or are a good Java developer you could probably name your price. In my opinion, if you have a good track record and are good at what you do, there's not much to stop you today from moving on in your career if that's what you want to do.

For the most part my strategy of changing jobs every few years has always paid off. Because of my entrepreneurial spirit, I attack a new job with gusto, get the projects lined up, figured out and completed usually within two years. In my current position I finished my project list in less than six months after I came on board (OK, now I'm bragging). My point is that I have enjoyed changing jobs because of the challenge, the salary increases and the new technology. If you need any evidence of my propensity to change jobs just check out my Linked-In profile.

I'm not so interested in changing jobs any more. Why? No, it's not because I'm getting older and it's not because I wouldn't enjoy the challenge. In fact, I was offered a job not more than six months ago right in my home town that included everything I thought I was looking for: a pay increase, no commute, a company that needed my skills and good people with whom to work. So why did I turn it down? I stayed because the CEO told me he needed me and he meant it.

Now some headhunters would tell me I was crazy to believe my boss. "He just told you that to get you to stay while he is looking for your replacement." Nick Corcodilos has often said, "Never, ever accept a counter-offer. The reasons for your dis-satisfaction will still be there six months from now." Well, it's been six months and I couldn't be happier with my choice. Sure, the boss sweetened the deal but something else has changed that is more important.

I don't feel like just a techie any more. There comes a point in your career where trusted relationships are more important than money, working with the latest technology or having a big training budget. Those things are nice, but when you are treated like and feel like a trusted part of the management team, than you've earned my loyalty. I guess what I'm saying is there are just times when you have to look beyond the technology and consider who you are helping.

What do you think? Am I nuts for staying on a job longer than the customary two to three year time frame of most techies today? Have a got a rare thing going here or should I keep those job interviewing skills hot?

Techie in a non-tech environment

I read a great article on Dice this morning. For those who don't know, Dice is the premier site for guys like me who want to keep their finger on the pulse of what skills are in demand. It's a job board first, but provides a lot more than that. This article is an example of why I still visit Dice everyday even though I'm not actively seeking employment. I even have Dice send me daily emails of new jobs posted in my neck of the woods.

Times must be good because on some days there are a dozen or more new listings within ten miles of the small little town of Camarillo CA where I live. Some listings are obvious attempts to suck in new applicants to fill the pool of the new headhunter. Most are attempts to find someone with that obscure skill that most tech guys like me will probably never have.

The writer of the article describes his life as a techie in a non-tech world. I was interested because that's exactly how I spend my day as the IT Manager for a very non-tech company. I was surprised by his take on the whole situation. Instead of focusing on the benefits of being the top tech dog, he described why it was not for him. Apparently he missed the feedback from other techies that he used to get in his previous job. I've gone through that too but as I get older I realize that the perks of such a position far outweigh the downside that he writes about.

For example, I just love going into a meeting to buy new hardware because usually the boss has already been convinced by other managers that the purchase is necessary. I may not be up on all the latest buzzwords and tech offerings but I do feel like a major contributor to the success of the company. While it's true that the boss usually has no interest in IT stuff, when it becomes obvious that the lack of his participation in the process will affect his ability to do business, he becomes very attentive.

The writer has a point that other department managers can be very naive and mistaken when it comes to what you can and can't do as an IT Manager. Yep, they tend to think that you are in charge of anything that uses electricity or that you talk into, but that's OK. I don't mind being the jack of all trades, especially since I use outside consultants for the heavy lifting when it comes to some very specialized technology. I guess it all depends on the company structure.

Working with a lot of other techno geeks is good when getting started in a career but eventually you need to stand on your own. It requires a little more research and digging to find exactly the right solution but that suits me just fine. There are a lot of people out there who could do the tech side on my job better than I do, but my contribution to problem solving and finding new ways to utilize one of our greatest assets - the flow of information - is richly rewarding.