This is one of those questions that is hard to answer, such as 'Which is better Java or Python?'. As usual, the answer it 'it depends'. More specifically, it d

This is one of those questions that is hard to answer, such as 'Which is better Java or Python?'. As usual, the answer it 'it depends'. More specifically, it depends on your situation. I would suggest creating a 3 year vision, then a 3 year plan. Set targets for yourself regarding work life balance, salary, benefits, industry recognition, company recognition. Make the first cut your first thoughts, not wildly out of the park, but probably overly ambitious. Keep that draft, but then revise it to be more conservative. Aim for what would make you happy, not what would make you ecstatic. Now you have two sets of goals: objectives and thresholds. Taken together, this is a vision of where you want to be in 3 years. Now create a plan by charting where along the road to that plan you want to be at the end of the first year. Which milestones do you expect you can hit? Which are stretch goals? Always have stretch goals, a lack of the possibility of failure means you are not trying hard enough, in many cases. Now prioritize the goals in your three year vision, and the milestones at the 1 and 2 years marks. For each milestone at the 1 year mark, write down habits you can start that will get you there. For example, I have a goal of wanting to be be good at React by the end of next year (this is a weasel-goal though, too ambiguous, but what I came up with spur of the moment). I can start a practice of studying React APIs three hours every week for a year, and putting in 5 hours every week working on an Open Source React library of components, to be released at the end of the year. These then are tangible goals. The library also helps with goals of recognition for my React skills. At the end of each year, evaluate where you are in your plan. If you've stalled, work with your manager. If the plan doesn't seem achievable in your company after talking with your manager, then that's the time to seek another position. If there's none in the company that progresses your plan enough, then that's the time to look for a job elsewhere. That said, always be networking. Respond personally to every recruiter, expand your linked in network as much as you can (but only with people you establish a real connection with), stay in touch with people from past projects. That way, you are always hearing of new openings. When the time is right to move it won't be a matter of finding a spot, but letting people know you're actively looking now, then choosing from a number of different positions.