"So, why did you leave Great Company"? A better option might be to take a higher position/pay at a lousy company. At least then he will have a savings cushion

"So, why did you leave Great Company"? A better option might be to take a higher position/pay at a lousy company. At least then he will have a savings cushion to fall back on. There is no sense in trying to "climb the ladder"; some positions are so low that you can't possibly climb out of them. Try to grow from testing into lead dev, if you don't believe me.