Why can't I keep my current post? I work in a multinational that expects you to move around. But if I'm happy, I don't see why I shouldn't be allowed to stay I work in a multinational organisation and have great, intellectually stimulating colleagues. The organisation expects you to move around to advance in your career. I have been offered a number of positions, but always say no. I tell myself the civil war in that section or the boss I may not get on with are not worth it. Is this a mistake? Perhaps dealing with conflict or personalities is part of the learning curve. But if I'm happy, I don't see why I shouldn't be allowed to stay where I am. Contented male, 29 Lucy's answer Let me get this straight. You are happy and you really like your work and your colleagues. Most Financial Times readers conclude that you must be in the wrong job. They argue that you are not in tune with the values of the organisation, so you had better jump before you are pushed. This strikes me as utterly mad. The rule of thumb with an agony column is that people write in because they are in agony. They hate their jobs, loath their jumped-up colleagues and are bitter that no one else in their organisation thinks they are as brilliant as they do. The solution for them may be to quit. But you must dig your heels in. You have found early on what your colleagues are unlikely ever to find - contentment in what you do - and you must fight to keep it. It is true your attitude may be an affront to your bosses, whose world view is based on the belief that climbing the ladder is the sole purpose of work. Your task is to find a way to make your lack of ambition unthreatening. I assume that this multinational company of yours is a slave to frequent, useless career appraisals. Take the next one as an opportunity to set out your stall. Talk a language your bosses understand. Say there are "challenges" in your present role that you feel compelled to overcome before you move on. Outline the things you have still to learn in this job. Tell them it is in the company's interest for you to stay put. Explain that the team needs continuity. Then, keep your head down. Do your job well. But not so well that HR slots you into a "leadership potential" box - in which case they will not rest until they have moved you on and up into a series of unpalatable new roles. Eventually you will be forced out because the queue of people waiting to take your job will have got too long. However, I'm assuming you only want to stay put for now, not forever. These intellectually inspiring colleagues of yours will move on in time and may be replaced by scheming dullards - in which case maybe you can engineer things so that you move on with them.