Hiring managers are often surprised when high performers start looking for new roles.
“But they’re doing great here.”
“They haven’t said anything.”
“They just got a raise.”
I talk to a lot of candidates. And one theme keeps coming up lately. People who are looking want growth and development. It’s not just money. It’s not titles.
Even in a shaky market, top performers are willing to make a move if it means learning something new, taking on a stretch, or just feeling challenged again. They’re not job-hopping. They’re growth-seeking.
In a recent HBR article, “How to Lose Your Best Employees”, the author writes about the S-curve of learning: how people thrive when they’re challenged, grow when they’re supported. And stall out when they’re kept too comfortable for too long.
If you’re hiring, here’s what candidates want to hear:
- “Here’s what you’ll be learning in year one.”
Not just what you need them to do. - “We have people who’ve grown into new roles.”
Not “we promote from within” with no follow-through. - “We’ll support you, even if it feels like a stretch.”
Because growth doesn’t come from playing it safe.
And if you’re managing great people today?
Ask yourself:
- When’s the last time they learned something new?
- Are they leading anything?
- Would they say they’re being challenged? Or just counted on?
If someone’s still delivering but feeling stuck, they won’t always tell you.
They’ll quietly update their resume.