Why can staying too long in an individual contributor role for seven or eight years straight be particularly damaging for an early-career professional?

Answer

Recruiters may question why they haven't progressed into management or a senior specialist track.

For entry-level or early-career professionals, the first few roles are foundational for skill acquisition and setting salary benchmarks, so remaining static for several years without progression raises questions about ambition or capability for advancement.

Why can staying too long in an individual contributor role for seven or eight years straight be particularly damaging for an early-career professional?
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