3 ms·

I've worked for the same company, a large technology firm, for a little under twenty years starting in my early 20s. I've changed jobs inside that company four

I've worked for the same company, a large technology firm, for a little under twenty years starting in my early 20s. I've changed jobs inside that company four times and changed locations three times. The ability to change jobs but not employers has helped a lot. I have enjoyed it, for the most part. If you like the thrill or engagement or whatever other descriptor you want to use of smaller companies or startups, then it is definitely not that. What it has been is rock-solid stable, interesting, and good benefits and pay. I've debated looking for another job several times, usually on crappy days, but I still come back to I've been at this company for a long time, I know how it works, I have many of the benefits of tenure (more vacation time is one, that managers and other groups give me more of the benefit of the doubt is another), and maybe a little bit of me being "boring." I don't want to change for the sake of change and I'm happy to go to work, do something I mostly like, get paid well for it, and then go home and live my life separate from work. Hope that gives you some insight into why someone would stay at the same employer for so long.

robertAngst 8y ago
>get paid well for it, I am curious what your pay is. I feel like people get screwed if they dont change employers.
- grantcox 8y ago
  I've worked for my company for 7 years now, and I "get paid well for it". The actual $ figure isn't important, other than "it's enough for me". I'm sure it's less than the average software developer with my experience, and certainly it's less than the incredible figures that the big SV companies apparently pay. But I love working here, the company mission is very inspiring, and my coworkers are excellent. And my salary is enough that my needs are met. So I'm really not interested in keeping score.
- techsupporter 8y ago
  Since you asked, and I believe in transparency: Inclusive of stock and cash bonus compensation, my W2 says I was paid a little over $225k in 2018. The W2 I received for my first year of employment says I was paid a little over $60k in that year. I don't know if it's true that people get screwed if they don't change employers. I certainly don't feel screwed. Maybe I could make more if I went to work at one of the other large technology companies; that's certainly been something I've thought about. But I'm quite happy with what I am paid and feel like the downsides (real or imagined) of changing employers are not outweighed by the upside of a higher income.
  - fierro 8y ago
    where is this job located, that matters a lot in evaluating if you "got screwed" by being at total comp 225k after 2 decades. For comparison, 175k was my total comp at Bay Area job out of college.
    - techsupporter 8y ago
      I live in Seattle, though that’s not where I first started with my employer, so that may skew the numbers. Also, depending on when we respectively graduated from college, the starting salaries are different. Starting salaries for IT where I lived when I graduated were in the $40-50k range.
      - staticcaucasian 8y ago
        Your answers read exactly like most of the people I know at Microsoft. I think to a certain extent companies with high average tenure produce cultures where people become risk-averse and reinforce these values through statements like your own. For what it's worth, by staying there you are leaving a serious amount of compensation behind, assuming your skills could find you another job. $225k would be $350k elsewhere, easily. Many of the MSFT lifers I know don't really have a skillset that would translate or be valuable elsewhere, due to their focus on their company. That's probably true of most cases where someone stays at a single firm for a long time. By no means am I suggesting there's anything wrong with your worldview, just pointing out that in this industry, you are leaving serious comp behind by not shopping around. Your work after moving would probably be more enjoyable and interesting, too.
        joewee 8y ago
        I don’t know about this math. What if you change jobs and hate the new job? How do you put a dollar value on months wasted working at a place that’s not a good fit for you. There’s only a 33% chance a job will work out. That is, that both you and the employer agree it’s a good fit after a year. So you are more likely to fail in a job change, and the odds get worse the more jobs you change.
- techcode 8y ago
  In practice it just doesn't happen to the level that makes changing jobs worth it. When it comes to base salary - sure you might get salary that's bigger than existing employees in same role. And then on first annual cycle they'll be in the same ballpark as you through combination of salary increase and annual bonus. That's because bigger companies usually look at "total compensation". I guess if you play it right you might "inflate" pending RSUs and ask them to match it. Though how much can you "inflate" it in the age when employeers too can go to glassdoor and check what that other company usually gives?
indemnity 8y ago
I’ve been working for the same company now for a what is going on a record for myself, since 2008. Made it through GFC, acquisition, etc. In same company, have had engineering, product & managerial roles. Right now transitioning back to engineering (my choice). Why not move? Well, company is keeping up with industry despite its size (Fortune 100), I have decent autonomy over what I work on and how I work, I’m compensated well above local market, and have seen 5-8% pay increases every year, along with generous RSU grants. This effect of this has meant in less than 5 years now I will be mortgage free (in a housing market with 12x annual income multiple for house prices), and a financial buffer of a few years annual income I could have been working for cooler or more exciting local startups, but wouldn’t have been even close to the financial position I am now in (I’m 38). Work is enabling my independence and peace of mind.

robertAngst 8y ago

>get paid well for it, I am curious what your pay is. I feel like people get screwed if they dont change employers.

grantcox 8y ago
I've worked for my company for 7 years now, and I "get paid well for it". The actual $ figure isn't important, other than "it's enough for me". I'm sure it's less than the average software developer with my experience, and certainly it's less than the incredible figures that the big SV companies apparently pay. But I love working here, the company mission is very inspiring, and my coworkers are excellent. And my salary is enough that my needs are met. So I'm really not interested in keeping score.
techsupporter 8y ago
Since you asked, and I believe in transparency: Inclusive of stock and cash bonus compensation, my W2 says I was paid a little over $225k in 2018. The W2 I received for my first year of employment says I was paid a little over $60k in that year. I don't know if it's true that people get screwed if they don't change employers. I certainly don't feel screwed. Maybe I could make more if I went to work at one of the other large technology companies; that's certainly been something I've thought about. But I'm quite happy with what I am paid and feel like the downsides (real or imagined) of changing employers are not outweighed by the upside of a higher income.
- fierro 8y ago
  where is this job located, that matters a lot in evaluating if you "got screwed" by being at total comp 225k after 2 decades. For comparison, 175k was my total comp at Bay Area job out of college.
  - techsupporter 8y ago
    I live in Seattle, though that’s not where I first started with my employer, so that may skew the numbers. Also, depending on when we respectively graduated from college, the starting salaries are different. Starting salaries for IT where I lived when I graduated were in the $40-50k range.
    - staticcaucasian 8y ago
      Your answers read exactly like most of the people I know at Microsoft. I think to a certain extent companies with high average tenure produce cultures where people become risk-averse and reinforce these values through statements like your own. For what it's worth, by staying there you are leaving a serious amount of compensation behind, assuming your skills could find you another job. $225k would be $350k elsewhere, easily. Many of the MSFT lifers I know don't really have a skillset that would translate or be valuable elsewhere, due to their focus on their company. That's probably true of most cases where someone stays at a single firm for a long time. By no means am I suggesting there's anything wrong with your worldview, just pointing out that in this industry, you are leaving serious comp behind by not shopping around. Your work after moving would probably be more enjoyable and interesting, too.
      - joewee 8y ago
        I don’t know about this math. What if you change jobs and hate the new job? How do you put a dollar value on months wasted working at a place that’s not a good fit for you. There’s only a 33% chance a job will work out. That is, that both you and the employer agree it’s a good fit after a year. So you are more likely to fail in a job change, and the odds get worse the more jobs you change.
techcode 8y ago
In practice it just doesn't happen to the level that makes changing jobs worth it. When it comes to base salary - sure you might get salary that's bigger than existing employees in same role. And then on first annual cycle they'll be in the same ballpark as you through combination of salary increase and annual bonus. That's because bigger companies usually look at "total compensation". I guess if you play it right you might "inflate" pending RSUs and ask them to match it. Though how much can you "inflate" it in the age when employeers too can go to glassdoor and check what that other company usually gives?

indemnity 8y ago

I’ve been working for the same company now for a what is going on a record for myself, since 2008. Made it through GFC, acquisition, etc. In same company, have had engineering, product & managerial roles. Right now transitioning back to engineering (my choice). Why not move? Well, company is keeping up with industry despite its size (Fortune 100), I have decent autonomy over what I work on and how I work, I’m compensated well above local market, and have seen 5-8% pay increases every year, along with generous RSU grants. This effect of this has meant in less than 5 years now I will be mortgage free (in a housing market with 12x annual income multiple for house prices), and a financial buffer of a few years annual income I could have been working for cooler or more exciting local startups, but wouldn’t have been even close to the financial position I am now in (I’m 38). Work is enabling my independence and peace of mind.