Knowing what's next - on retention - 154 words

“It’s a great job, there’s just nowhere to go” she said

“Nowhere?” I asked 

“The company got spun out years ago. It’s a small team now, so there’s not a whole lot more I can take on” she explained 

“That doesn’t sound ideal, is it management you’re after or more seniority as an IC?”

“Either, would be great, I just don’t want to be stuck” 

Wondering aimlessly sucks, and that’s what it feels like when career paths aren’t mapped out. 

I get to speak with engineers daily who are considering making a move. It’s reasons like this that stand out. 

They seem like the basics for retention, conversations around career goals, skill development, and the impact of their work. Yet it’s easily overlooked, especially for those that’ve been with the company for a long time “happily plugging away”.

On the flip side, getting these things squared away could become a competitive advantage when hiring.