The Exception to the Adage “Don’t Make Too Many Moves”

Hiring managers consistently prefer candidates who have grown their skills and tend to avoid candidates who have made multiple moves. But one bullet-proof answer to why you made those moves is you worked with a great manager who repeatedly asked you to come along. It shows you do good work and build strong connections.

And now WSJ says the one trait that “makes for a great manager” is not vision, empathy, or intelligence, but “the ability to figure out people’s strengths—and steer them to the jobs that suit them best.” A 10 year study of 200,000 workers found employees with high quality managers were more likely to have moved within the org, were much better paid, and also much more productive in the short and long term. Top managers:

• spent 19% more time on 1:1 meetings with their employees.
• had a “knack for finding workers’ unrecognized strengths and aspirations.”
• directed employees toward better-fitting roles.
• acted as mentors who “guided their career development with structured feedback, and who created opportunities aligned with employees’ skills and aspirations.”

The moral of the story? If you find a good manager, you will learn more, take on new work, and thrive. And if they ask you to go with them? Do it! Future employers understand this story.