How Long Should We Stay
May 28, 2010 6 Comments
I was asked how could I work for the same employer for a long time. I have worked with the same employer for about 30 years now. I joined the current employer in November 1980 when I had enough black hear on top of my head and a slim waist that I can only wish for now. I have gain a lot of weight which mostly not muscles. Back then, I was eager and happy to work in an unforgiving environment like the refining industry. My start was with a team ten years older than me. They started bullying and pressuring me to quit. They asked me many times why would I work in such harsh conditions while I am still young and able to join less demanding and more prestige’s job. My answer would always be in the a derivative of the following question “…. and why are you still working in this environment if it is not good as you said!” usually they could not give a good answer. I knew then that I had a good job because they were trying to push me out of it.
The number one reason for me to stay with the same employer is the good salary and the frequent promotions I got. I was promoted relatively fast from one position to the other when I was a high school graduate and also when I got my engineering degree. I should say that I got the degree by a generous scholarship from the same employer.
The working team and the culture in the refinery is the second reason for me to stay with the same employer. The refinery is full of people who would help me when I ask them to, and they are always supportive when I needed support. They are more like a family to me than coworkers. The daily challenges keep me busy and innovative constantly. These challenge are my third reason for staying with the same employer because routine or repetitive work is does not suit me. I would say that good salary, good benefits combined with daily challenges in a supportive environment would be a good combination for somebody like me to stay forever with a single employer.
About Sami Malallah
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So generaly saying is the good credits you are having ,,, keep rocking Boss
Thanks Bo Ali, I will !
The answer is very convincing and the reasons you raised are strong enough to stay 30 years in the same
company ….. But ,, But !!!
what caught my attention more !! Is what you raised at the beginning of the article !!!! If we go back
to the beginning of the article, where you said : They asked me many times why would I work in such harsh
conditions while I am still young and able to join less demanding and more prestige’s job. My answer
would always be in the a derivative of the following question “…. and why are you still working in this
environment if it is not good as you said !!! ??
Your reaction as a new employee ( aged 18 years old ) was ……
“smart” and reflects how open-mindedness you were ( which we miss in the youth of this generation ) . I
think here lies the point of your success and the good position you reach now . Here also lies the lesson
of this article … If you surrendered to the words of your colleagues in 1980 , you were not be in your
position and current happiness and success .. You controlled your destiny and your future and did not
leave it for others … More success insha Allah .
Good point. I am glad that you spot that I was able to resist the challenges from my co-workers and their attempts to push me aside. Your participation enrich my post always, thank you.
Sami Malallah Sent from my iPad
I worked for 10 years at a sister company to yours (KPI) and after 10 years (mostly good I must add) I was getting bored! There was not enough of a challenge – and promotions were there whether you worked or not! This is not an environment I wanted to be in. I got an opportunity to change and i took it… The new salary was the same! No extra benefit. The difference is in fact worse, I now work for a company that doesn’t guarantee my job (at KPI I was guaranteed a career for life!) but the challenge and the respect I have here makes me want to work.
Yes, of course money and benefits are important – but you have to feel you WANT to work. It seems you are able to do this with your employer – and for this I think they are the lucky ones to have you.
Nice post.
Thank you Bu Yousef for sharing your experience with us. You are right, money is not everything and I think you made the right decision in moving to a more challenging career. I have added that the work environment in my current job is excellent, and that’s was one of the reasons why I am still there. I think I am getting ready to move, but it would be in few years from now after I finish my doctorate studies.
Sami Malallah Sent from my iPad