I'm Still Standing (Or Why I've Stayed with IBM for 33 years)

When I tell people how long I've been working for IBM, their reaction is pretty predictable: "Oh my God! Why?"

Funny, I never thought I would stay this long either, but it certainly hasn't been a bad thing for me, my family or IBM.

When I started working for IBM, it was not unusual for someone to have 30+ years with the company. In fact, it was unheard of to even think about leaving IBM. If you got a job with IBM, you pretty much had a job for life. (Kind of like the government, but I digress).

So why have I stayed as long as I have? That's easy: I've stayed because I've had at least 5 very different careers in my time here - and I didn't have go anywhere else to do so. That's been one of the many benefits of working for a company like IBM - the unparalleled number of opportunities available to me.

Here are the 5 IBM Lives of Kimberlee Kemble:

• Career #1: Systems Assurance
• Career #2: Software Development Manager
• Career #3: Human Factors Manager
• Career #4: Technical Writer
• Career #5: Marketing

Fresh out of college with a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science from Georgia Tech, I went to work for IBM in Boca Raton, Florida. My first job was in Systems Assurance. I chose this job specifically so I could be involved in usability testing. I loved user interface design and Human Factors. Plus, even though I was a Software Developer by degree, I didn't really want to "code." I liked the "other things" involved in software development - and I made it my goal to always find a niche where I could stand out.

This idea of "finding my niche" is a recurring theme throughout my career (as you'll find out as I go through my 5 Lives, each in a bit more detail).

And, yes, it is very unusual to work with just one company for your entire career any more. I shared my story because I want people to know that it can still be very viable choice for people to make.

For those of you with similar backgrounds, be very proud of your longevity and the depth and breadth of your experiences at your company. Not many people have that these days, that's for sure!

And for those of you who have switched companies and careers (or will in the future), I would be disingenuous if I said I wasn't envious, but I've been lucky and found a great company that has helped me fulfill so many aspirations and goals. I wish you the best as you make your life changes - and hope that you can respect and even admire those of us whose choices have been different than yours.

With that, just know that I'm still standing, better than I ever did, looking like a true survivor, and (sometimes even) feeling like a little kid. Which is pretty cool, if I may say so myself.