Why You Should Watch Out for Your 5-Year Job Anniversary

Most of us begin a new position with energy and a desire to impress. Our effort is high. Our passion is infectious. Our enthusiasm helps us to excel quickly.

But for some, work becomes mundane and repetitive. They lose some of their passion, and their work can begin to feel like a chore. To better understand this phenomenon we examined data from 970 such people in a single organization. They were between 35 and 44 years old (the typical range for the onset of a mid-career crisis), and they all rated their engagement at work in the bottom 10%.

What was troubling them?

1.Lack of pride and satisfaction with the organization.

2.Minimal appreciation or recognition.

3.Absence of challenge and meaning in work.

4.Unwillingness to go beyond basic requirements.

5.Conclusion that they were not treated fairly.

6.Feeling of powerlessness.

7.The company failed to value and practice values such as teamwork, trust, and fostering diversity.

8.Minimal opportunities for growth and development opportunities.


To the organization we would say this: Over the years, we’ve asked executives to reflect on their own curve of excitement and creativity in all the jobs they’ve done. At what point does the downturn occur? The consistent answer we receive is five years. So at the very least, we would suggest that managers be on the lookout at the five-year point for signs of boredom in their staffs, and nip it the bud by giving some thought to assignments that will require new skills and capabilities. Don’t let these people languish just because they are continuing to do a good job for you.We recognize that managers love to hang on to good people too long.But even the simplest organizational intervention – the requirement that all job assignments be posted – can be remarkably effective.

And to individuals we would say this: You can try to pull yourself out of the career ditch by shifting the burden from blaming the organization to raising the bar on your own efforts. If the organization won’t help you do it, use your own initiative. Taking on new and important challenges can change the dynamics of the game. Work may not have to be about feeling underutilized and disconnected from the organization. It can be about putting your best efforts to good use and making a discernable difference. That effort may not get the recognition it deserves. But it could bring the satisfaction back of doing important work, and doing it well. At the very least it will set you up for a better position at a wiser organization.

https://hbr.org/2015/04/why-you-should-watch-out-for-your-5-year-job-anniversary