Should you stay or should you go?

People often ask me, “how long should I stay at my job”? To which I always answer, “until you’re done”.

It really is that simple.

Have you gotten everything you can from the job? Has the agency gotten everything it needs from you?

Any other questions are superfluous.

Some might say, “what about loyalty”?

To which I would say, “you’re kidding, right”?

I have worked at a lot of agencies. And they’ve all been great, in very different ways. But one thing each place had in common was an incredibly short supply of loyalty.

And I don’t blame them.

Our economy has changed. What companies need now may not be what they need next year. Or next week for that matter. Any smart agency will continuously evaluate their talent to make sure it is delivering exactly what they need at exactly that moment. If they are not doing this, they are fools.

Same goes for you.

You should be evaluating your place of work every day. Is it providing you with enough of a challenge? Are you learning? Are you excited by new projects? Do you see opportunities for growth? If you answer no to any of these questions, it’s time to move on. Both you and the agency will be better off.

For some, this may mean a lifetime of jumping ship every year. For others, it may keep them at the same company for their entire career. The rest of us will fall somewhere in between. Any outcome is great, as long as you’re making an honest assessment of your situation on a regular basis.

The key word is honesty.

Ad agencies are wonderful places to work. They can be exciting, excruciating, fascinating and frustrating. But let’s face it—at the end of the day, they are a business. And they will always behave like one.

You want loyalty? Get a dog.