It is often said that loyalty to a company is a cardinal virtue. That staying in the same place for a long time is a guarantee of stability. However, in our professions, stability can quickly look like stagnation.
From personal experience, I have achieved the most advancement in salary and responsibility by changing companies.
Recently, I made the decision to move on. Here is why I think it is crucial to know how to seize opportunities when they arise.
The Comfort Trap
It’s easy to stay. You know your colleagues, you have mastered the tech stack, you know who to ask for what. This is what we call the “comfort zone”.
But comfort comes at a price: the end of learning.
The daily routine is comfortable, so much so that you can predict every day of the week. But this comfort is treacherous. Without realizing it, my learning curve had flattened out.
The Telltale Signs
How do you know it’s time to leave? For me, there are a few clear indicators:
- Boredom: When tasks become automatic and repetitive.
- Technical stagnation: There is always something to learn about the business, but sometimes there is no longer any room to improve your technical skills in your current role.
- The glass ceiling: When you feel you can no longer grow, neither in position nor in salary.
Change as an Accelerator
Changing companies is not just changing desks. It’s a beneficial “reset”.
- Technically: You discover new tools (like I am currently doing with Astro!).
- Humanly: You confront new team cultures.
- Professionally: It is often the only real way to make a significant salary jump, to revalue your profile on the market, and to gain more responsibilities.
Conclusion: Daring to Move
Seizing an opportunity is scary. There is always a degree of risk in leaving what you know. But the biggest risk is waking up in 5 years realizing you’ve been treading water.