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I have always given the advice to everyone I meet "Move up or move on". You should not work at a company more than a few years before you are either promoted or

I have always given the advice to everyone I meet "Move up or move on". You should not work at a company more than a few years before you are either promoted or become highly compensated for your position. Far too many of my peers have become stagnant working at a company for 6+ years without moving up. They make less and miss out on the opportunity to make more money and expand their skills elsewhere. If you apply for an internal position you are qualified for and get denied it's time to start looking, you do not have a future at that company.

zabatuvajdka 5y ago
Context is important though. For instance, developers applying for management position with no management experience. In other words just because they work at a company does not mean they are qualified for the position there (or elsewhere). Those people would likely quit out of resentment. I think in many cases people think they deserve a promotion based on seniority—but they don’t show signs of going above-and-beyond. Simply working somewhere longer does NOT warrant any merit increase in my mind. Doing extra things to help the company in ways beyond ones role deserves merit increase/promotion. I’d argue more times than not, folks consider time-spent on the job a sole factor in guaranteeing that promotion. For instance, someone new might join a company and have a skill set above and beyond folks who have 2+ years of seniority. That new employee might demonstrate exceeding merit in two months of employment—and in my mind, the new hire should get the promotion. Granted, that’s comparing two employees who work at a company already. I suppose in the interview process it would be based on fact (existing employee) versus word of reference and how well the new hire sells their abilities. And that’s why I’m not in management because I’d rather not have to deal with making those decisions!
mattbuilds 5y ago
I think this is pretty good advice. I think about if I should move on as two parts. 1. Am I learning? Improving Skills? Gaining Insight? Working with Interesting People/Problems? 2. Am I getting paid enough for the value I provide? The best positions have both, but it's not always that simple. I can forgo 2 for a time if 1 is really happening because in the end, the skills will eventually lead to better prospects. I also can do a boring not as growing job if it pays well. I think people get stuck though after all their learning and skill building and the friction of finding something new stops them. (I know from experience, its a lot of effort to switch things up)
vlunkr 5y ago
Maybe your peers are content, not stagnant? Constantly moving up or moving on sounds highly stressful. If you like your job and can live comfortably with your salary, why not stay there? I can only see that it would be an issue if you're stuck working with some ancient technology and don't have other marketable skills.
deleted 5y ago
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zabatuvajdka 5y ago

Context is important though. For instance, developers applying for management position with no management experience. In other words just because they work at a company does not mean they are qualified for the position there (or elsewhere). Those people would likely quit out of resentment. I think in many cases people think they deserve a promotion based on seniority—but they don’t show signs of going above-and-beyond. Simply working somewhere longer does NOT warrant any merit increase in my mind. Doing extra things to help the company in ways beyond ones role deserves merit increase/promotion. I’d argue more times than not, folks consider time-spent on the job a sole factor in guaranteeing that promotion. For instance, someone new might join a company and have a skill set above and beyond folks who have 2+ years of seniority. That new employee might demonstrate exceeding merit in two months of employment—and in my mind, the new hire should get the promotion. Granted, that’s comparing two employees who work at a company already. I suppose in the interview process it would be based on fact (existing employee) versus word of reference and how well the new hire sells their abilities. And that’s why I’m not in management because I’d rather not have to deal with making those decisions!

mattbuilds 5y ago

I think this is pretty good advice. I think about if I should move on as two parts. 1. Am I learning? Improving Skills? Gaining Insight? Working with Interesting People/Problems? 2. Am I getting paid enough for the value I provide? The best positions have both, but it's not always that simple. I can forgo 2 for a time if 1 is really happening because in the end, the skills will eventually lead to better prospects. I also can do a boring not as growing job if it pays well. I think people get stuck though after all their learning and skill building and the friction of finding something new stops them. (I know from experience, its a lot of effort to switch things up)

vlunkr 5y ago

Maybe your peers are content, not stagnant? Constantly moving up or moving on sounds highly stressful. If you like your job and can live comfortably with your salary, why not stay there? I can only see that it would be an issue if you're stuck working with some ancient technology and don't have other marketable skills.

deleted 5y ago

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