Hey guys,
Started getting quite lost and not sure about my next move in my career.
About my background: Started my first swe job ~4 years ago. Before that self-learned software development & CS topics through various ways (online courses, books, classes, youtube videos, paid courses, personal projects and so on) while working at a semi-technical role.
After that my job experiences have been quite short, even though all have valid reasons. First job was a fixed term contract job (< 1 year). Then joined a small startup but had to leave in < 1 year (company moved away). After that leetcoded a lot and joined a well-known pre-IPO tech company yet was unlucky to join a problematic org so after a year when I got a great offer (240k TC) from a larger tech company (not allowed to name it due to NDA), I decided to take it. Gave my notice, took 1 month break to visit family before starting new job.
Unfortunately the offer got rescinded only few weeks prior to my start date due to Covid-19. Instead, the company started covid-layoffs at that time (along with many other companies). I got panicked and took the first offer I got from a startup in order not to become unemployed. I didn't negotiate in order not to risk it and instead took a paycut (TC went down from $205k to $157k).
Now after a year, I'm lost and not sure what to do. If offer hadn't got rescinded, my plan was to stay at least 3-4 years to break the last 3 short-job-experience streak in my resume.
But at the current startup salary increase is 1% and my growth is very limited (especially compared to prev job) plus company's growth not looking good either.
Because of all this, I'm tempted to start looking but if I do I will have to do it with a streak of 4 short (+-1 year) job experiences in my resume which is putting me into a big dilemma.
Should I stay put for at least 1 more year (to make it 2 years) despite the low TC and limited growth or should I try to move on?
If I move on, how should I explain the short job experiences on my resume?
My friend told that only recruiters care about it but engineers and EMs just look for skills and potential, is that really the case or would it hurt my chances overall?
Sorry for the long post. Thanks for reading it. Any advice is appreciated.
YOE: 4
TC: 157k
Previous TC: 205k :(
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comments
Remember, YOLO! Keep moving forward and do what you need to now onwards to make the future better, while keeping your present to your satisfaction.
But be a lot more picky this time, another short stint in a no name start up would hurt your career path as you approaching more senior role. On the other hand, have a good brand name company for your next role and stay longer till you get a promotion would absolutely outweight your current short stint.
As far as what to tell them, just go with the typical bull crap, i.e growth, have more impact and so on. You are still early in your career as an IC, it's unlikely the interviewer would dig that deep into it, so just be cool and no need to emphasize it.