Executives hold traditional values regarding job mobility and tenure

A recent study conducted by BlueSteps.com, the online executive talent database of the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC), revealed a global trend among senior executives. The research from 12 July to 15 October 2007 of 933 senior executives worldwide (278 from Europe), revealed that traditional values about job tenure and loyalty remain well ingrained with executives taking a cautious view of high job mobility.

Of the European executives surveyed, 39% had worked for their current organisation for between two and five years, with 51% estimating they will have worked for between four and seven organisations by the end of their career. Forty percent of Europeans stated that a quarter of the senior management staff at their current organisation had been with the company for less than five years.

Peter Felix, President of the AESC and its subsidiary BlueSteps.com, said, ìI was surprised to see that most executives only intended to work for between four and seven organisations throughout their entire career. I found it fairly low to be honest. Given the current skills shortage among senior executives around the world, I would have expected executives to be anticipating numerous job movements throughout their careers.î

Fifty-five percent of European respondents believed that two years was the shortest tenure an executive should spend at any one organisation before it would compromise the value of their CV. Twenty-seven percent believed the tenure needed to be at least three years or more before it would impact their credibility in the eyes of future employers. Seventy-one percent of Europeans believed that the maximum number of organisations an executive could work for in a ten year period without being labeled a ëserial job changerí was two to three in total.

Mr. Felix further commented, ìThis finding likely reflects the widely held opinion among senior level executives that you cannot make a significant impact at an organisation in less than two or three years. It takes time to establish yourself and make inroads, particularly if a role involves international responsibilities and travel. It seems executives have a healthy respect for the investment of time and energy needed in any given role.

ìPerhaps, with much talk about hot job markets, especially in booming economies such as China and India, it is easy to get caught up in the expectation that executives will be opportunistic and bounce from role to role. However, it seems a traditional view of job mobility and tenure remains, at least at the senior level.î

The BlueSteps.com research also highlighted the key factors that cause an executive to leave an employer, with 76% of European executives attributing a lack of career advancement opportunities as the number one motivator to leave. The second most important catalyst, with 64% of the European vote, was dissatisfaction with senior management. Poor company values were rated the third most important reason to leave by 56% of European executives.

Respondents also commented on the most important factors when considering a prospective career opportunity. The majority of Europeans, 83%, were attracted to increased responsibilities and/or a more senior role. The second priority (voted by 61%) was the opportunity to hold a more entrepreneurial role, followed by 42% of European executives stating they were attracted by increased compensation and benefits.

Interestingly, the feedback from European executives closely mirrored the global responses. However, the response which differed most significantly was the perceived importance of travel and international relocation when considering a job opportunity. European and North American executives rated this much lower than Asia Pacific executives; while 38% of Asia Pacific executives rated it as extremely important, only 27% of Europeans and 15% of North Americans rated it this highly. In fact, 31% of Europeans and 54% of North Americans stated it was not important at all.

A full copy of the report is available upon request to all AESC member firms and the press.

BlueSteps.com is an online global database that provides talented senior executives with exposure to members of the worldwide Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC).