… or they’re at least a possibility for some! With thanks to all who participated in my last Weekend Poll, here are your responses to my question:  Is a job change in your forseeable future?

Context: speaking from experience

Twelve percent of respondents have been in the career eight years or less, and another 25% have between nine and 15 years’ experience as assistants. Another 22% have been on the job for anywhere between 16 and 20 years, and a full 41% of respondents have already invested 21 or more years in the career.

However, a significant percentage of people are (or have been) on the move. More than a third (35%) of respondents reported that you’ve been with your current employer two years or less, and another 22% reported being with your current employers somewhere between three and five years. Only 18% of respondents reported having been with your current employers 11 years or longer.

Why did you leave?

Two thirds of you reported that you left your previous employers of your own accord, and 33% said that your departures were employer-driven.

For those whose departures were employer-driven, restructuring was the dominant factor. A whopping 59% of respondents said that your previous roles were eliminated as a result of restructuring; for another 11%, restructuring led to your roles beign downgraded.

Again focusing on those whose departures were employer-driven, more than one in four of you (26%) said this reflected a lack of fit with your principal (boss).

You want a challenge and a good workplace culture

I also asked those who left their previous roles of your own accord to select from a list of possible reasons. Workplace culture and the need for more challenge or opportunity topped the list.

Uncertain times

There are a few factors at play. Only 62.5% of respondents said that you feel you have job security in your current roles. Perhaps it’s unsurprising, then, that only 30% of respondents envision remaining in your current roles for the next five years. Six percent of you said you’ll be gone on the basis of your retirement plans (congrats!), but that leaves 64% who anticipate working somewhere else five years out. Why? Read on; you’ll find all the data below.

THE DATA

Note: Information below reflects the percentage of respondents who selected specific responses from multiple choice options.

1. How long have you been an assistant?

• <1 year:  0% of respondents 
• 1-2 years: 0% of respondents
• 3-5 years:  6% of respondents
• 6-8 years:  6% of respondents
• 9-10 years: 9% of respondents
• 11-15 years: 16% of respondents
• 16-20 years: 22% of respondents
• 21-25 years:  27% of respondents
• 26-30 years: 5% of respondents
• >30 years: 9% of respondents

2. How long have you been with your current employer?

• <1 year:  16% of respondents 
• 1-2 years: 19% of respondents
• 3-5 years:  22% of respondents
• 6-8 years:  16% of respondents
• 9-10 years: 9% of respondents
• 11-15 years: 6% of respondents
• 16-20 years: 5% of respondents
• 21-25 years:  6% of respondents
• 26-30 years: 1% of respondents
• >30 years: 0% of respondents

3. How long were you with your most immediately previous employer?

• <1 year:  9% of respondents 
• 1-2 years: 23% of respondents
• 3-5 years:  34% of respondents
• 6-8 years:  14% of respondents
• 9-10 years: 8% of respondents
• 11-15 years: 6% of respondents
• 16-20 years: 3% of respondents
• 21-25 years: 3% of respondents
• 26-30 years: 0% of respondents
• >30 years: 0% of respondents

 4. Did you leave your previous employer of your own choice, or was it employer-driven? 

• 67% of respondents: My departure was my choice
• 33% of respondents: My departure was employer-driven

 5. If your departure from your previous employer was employer-driven, which best describes the reason? 

• 59% of respondents: Restructuring; the role was eliminated
• 26% of respondents: Lack of fit with principal
• 11% of respondents: Restructuring; role was downgraded
• 4% of respondents: Principal retired; my work was assigned to someone else
• 0% of respondents: Reduction in compensation
• 0% of respondents: Employer dissatisfied with my performance
• 0% of respondents: Principal was replaced; successor chose a different assistant

 6. If your departure from your previous employer was of your choice, which best describes the reason?  I invited readers to choose as many answers as applied. The following list shows how frequently each response was chosen, in descending order of frequency.

• Workplace culture
• More challenge or opportunity
• Simply time for a change
• Compensation package
• Didn’t want to continue working with principal (boss)
• Writing was on the wall; restructuring was imminent
• Workload; lack of balance
• I/we relocated
• More convenient commute
• More flexible working environment

 7. Do you feel you have job security in your present job?

• 62.5% of respondents: Yes
• 37.5% of respondents: No

 8. Have you held more than one different role/position at your current place of employment?

• 44% of respondents: Yes
• 56% of respondents: No

 9. Do you envision remaining in your current role for the next five years?

• 30% of respondents: Yes
• 64% of respondents: No
• 6% of respondents: No, but only because I’ll be retired by then

 10. If you don’t envision yourself in your current role for the next five years, which of the following best describes the reason?

• 22% of respondents: Job satisfaction
• 14% of respondents: Compensation
• 14% of respondents: I need more challenge
• 14% of respondents: Workplace culture
• 11% of respondents: Little potential for promotion
• 10% of respondents: Lack of fit with principal
• 7% of respondents: Lack of job security
• 5% of respondents: More flexible working conditions
• 3% of respondents: I may relocate