What motivates you to change companies?
Question for everyone, but targeted to Gen X and Y. Let's assume you've sown your tech wild oats, done the startup thing, tried to disrupt and change the world, worked for companies large and small, and generally moved into that next stage of life; Mortgage, marriage, maybe even a few young kids. What motivates you when you consider changing companies or careers? What do you consider when looking at a new company or position? How do you weigh comp vs stability? How often do you consider moves? I have my own thoughts on the matter, but interested in differing viewpoints.
30 year old here I move companies fairly often, about once every 2-3 years or so. I've never taken a job that pays less than my current job but honestly my main reason for switching is because I get bored/don't feel challenged.
For me, historically, I've only really switched jobs when necessary. My first job was full remote until one day the CEO said remote work would no longer be allowed, so I started job hunting. Moving for family reasons, or reaching a point where salary no longer could support my family, or changes in a company making my life miserable would all make me start looking for a new job.
almost 40, IT Manager... currently interviewing to go back technical. In my case I find I enjoy tech more than management, which is more BS and menial busy work than ever expected, plus I enjoy the more flexible schedules some tech companies offer, even if it means more work.
Gen X'er: I leave places of employment due to poor management. Predominantly, if I feel that I'm not being set up for success - am I being supported? Challenged? Provided opportunities to grow - leveraging my core skills and converting my weaknesses to strengths. And... does management/the company listen?
Early gen X. In the past I often left for personal reasons -- partner had school or new job in a new city for example. These days I am settled geographically bc it's hard to move kids out of school. Now I usually leave once the politics become unbearable. When I have to work too hard to build cool things because there are certain people you have to convince or consult or know, or who disrupt or block good projects so they can push through their pet projects. Or because there are too many processes put in place that act as roadblocks instead of enablers. Maybe the company changed or maybe I'm just plugged in enough after 2 years to be frustrated by it. Or maybe I got promoted so now am less protected from it or my manager changed and is not as good at shielding me from it. But politics, more than money or other perks, is #1 reason for me to start job hunting.
This thread is interesting to me, but I'm not sure I'm qualified to answer since I'm 33 and single with no kids
There's nothing not qualifying you to answer. Need (money) might be the #1 reason to change jobs but not he only one. Sometimes you want to be part of something big that is making a difference in the world. Sometimes you value working in your own terms of schedule. Sometimes you have a goal for your career direction and you don't see a clear path in your company anymore. Sometimes you care about the work culture, perhaps about ethics and work/life balance. And you don't have to be single or young or old to have those reasons.
Well, I agree anyone can answer. I just felt like the question was geared more towards people with a family of their own, which doesn't really apply to me
For me it's money, then career opportunities, then challenges. And I am big on ethics. I cannot work for a company that contradicts their ethical values.
mainly to grow my career to more demanding field and then money.
I look at the overall quality of life, which is made up of all the factors others have already described. I will start looking for another job if I get bored, I don't like my coworkers or boss, or if I can no longer tolerate my commute. If I'm happy at a job I probably wouldn't leave unless all those factors, along with salary, are substantially better in their totality.
Money