Switching companies every year?

Lyft
coconutzz

Go to company page Lyft

coconutzz
Aug 9, 2020 20 Comments

I graduated in 2017, and I’ve worked at three different companies since graduation (having spent a little over a year at each one).

I’ve enjoyed the teams and work at prior companies and have always jumped ship due to higher salaries and title changes (i started as an analytics consultant at a big4 and made my way to data scientist at lyft). I’m thinking about potentially leaving again as a former manager of mine has asked me to join their team at a FANG company and I would get a 35% raise and arguably be at a more stable company.

Should I go through with this or is it not worth being labeled a serial job hopper?

125 PARTICIPANTS SELECT ONLY ONE ANSWER
VOTE VIEW RESULT

comments

Want to comment? LOG IN or SIGN UP
TOP 20 Comments
  • New
    BurntOut49

    New

    PRE
    Dell EMC, Cloudera, Informatica, Cisco
    BurntOut49
    You have been fortunate to live in a world where the economy has grown so you don't have an idea about the results of your actions.

    Now that companies are starting to lay people off, It's important to stay in one place for as long as you can or you will become unemployable.
    Aug 9, 2020 4
    • Lyft
      coconutzz

      Go to company page Lyft

      coconutzz
      OP
      Hi BurntOut49. I really appreciate your perspective! I honestly agree with everything you’ve said. I want to clarify that I made my first two moves in order to get into a Data Science role (which I failed to get straight out of college) though the salary increases definitely played a role as well. I started as an analytics consultant at a Big4 then moved to product analyst at a startup and then was able to finally get a DS position at Lyft.

      Curious as to hear if 1) this changes your opinion and 2) what your thoughts are on internal transfers. Would you feel differently if I were to move to another team at Lyft?
      Aug 9, 2020
    • New
      BurntOut49

      New

      PRE
      Dell EMC, Cloudera, Informatica, Cisco
      BurntOut49
      It really doesn't. As someone who taught DS and has a lot of experience in analytics, I suspect you may have signed up got a job that's out of your league.

      There's a reason why Data Science jobs require a graduate degree and a lot of experience. You don't have it from what you shared do far and I fear you may lose that job.

      I have less of an issue with internal transfers because you are still working at the same company.

      If I were you, I would have stayed at that Big4 for a few years, got a master's degree and moved into Data Science that way, but you do you.
      Aug 9, 2020
  • Flagged by the community.

  • Petuum
    pancaked

    Go to company page Petuum

    pancaked
    It’s not a problem early in your career. Everyone needs time to find themselves and figure out what they like. I would consider staying for a while at your next job if you can.
    Aug 9, 2020 4
    • New
      BurntOut49

      New

      PRE
      Dell EMC, Cloudera, Informatica, Cisco
      BurntOut49
      First off, yes you can definitely build a network, but it won't be a very strong one. When a company is undecided between two seemingly qualified candidates, who will they pick- the person with a superficial reference that vaguely says that person did something, but didn't stay around or the one who was there long enough to do it and more?

      And yes, it is not always about money -- It's about title, level, benefits, prestige, and the like. But at the end of the day, most companies tend to have similar benefits and the like so unless you are treated really badly and the company you work for really sucks (been there, done that too many times to count), but three jobs in three years is a *huge* red flag to me.

      The fact is you aren't a senior level engineer with three one year stints somewhere. You are a junior engineer who is pretending to be a Senior one.
      Aug 9, 2020
    • Petuum
      willwewin

      Go to company page Petuum

      willwewin
      I’m still not convinced that it’s that bad early on, but I appreciate your perspective. I do agree that three jobs in three years and onto the fourth is setting a bad precedent.
      Aug 9, 2020
  • Google
    UJBa23

    Go to company page Google

    UJBa23
    I wouldn’t hire you... but it’s purely subjective.
    I hate interviewing and seeing a CV of someone that jumps ship every year triggers pain in my brain as I know you’ll jump ship whenever company B offers you a better title and I’ll have to go again through the whole interview process (which can take months) to find someone to replace you while adding workload to my team to cover for your leave
    Again, I understand you are at Lyft, a company that is currently struggling so it makes sense so my advice is to stay in your next company few good years (min. 2 or 3) so future managers don’t see you as a risky hire
    Aug 14, 2020 0
  • New
    BurntOut49

    New

    PRE
    Dell EMC, Cloudera, Informatica, Cisco
    BurntOut49
    Or... they will pass on you thinking you are a flight risk.
    Aug 9, 2020 0