You know that feeling when you’ve been at a company for two years, you’re doing great work, and your raise comes in at… 4%?
Meanwhile, your college friend who jumped ship after 14 months just got a 20% bump in total comp.
That stings. And it teaches you something important early: loyalty is rarely rewarded in your first few years in tech.
I learned this the hard way. Let’s break it down 👇
My story (the short version) 🧵
When I started my career as a software engineer at Netskope, I thought the playbook was simple.
Work hard, be reliable, and the company will take care of you.
That’s what everyone tells us growing up.
And look, Netskope was a great experience. I learned a ton. But after about a year, I made the move to Amazon and saw something eye-opening: the biggest jump in my compensation didn’t come from being at the same place for another year. It came from changing jobs.
Not just in pay. But also in the kind of problems I got to solve.
Staying put would have been comfortable, but comfort never leads to growth.
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Why companies don’t reward loyalty (it’s not personal) 🏢
I have come to understand that this isn’t about your manager being unfair. It’s just a structure everyone follows.
Most companies budget 3-5% for annual raises across the board. That’s the pool. Your manager might fight to get you 7%, and that’s considered exceptional internally.
But when a company is hiring externally? They’re paying market rate. And market rate moves a lot faster than 3-5% a year, especially in your first decade in tech when your skills are compounding quickly.
So you end up in this weird situation where the new hire sitting next to you, doing the same job, might be making $20-30K more.
Simply because they negotiated a fresh offer while you’ve been collecting incremental raises.
Companies know this.
But they also know that most people won’t leave.
Inertia is powerful. You like your team, you’re mid-project, you don’t want to interview. They’re betting on that.
My mind map for navigating this
1. Set a two-year check-in with yourself 📅
I’m not saying quit every two years like clockwork. But calculate your personal ROI every year and every 2 years, seriously evaluate 3 things.
➡️ Am I learning new things?
➡️ Is my comp keeping up with the market?
➡️ Do I see a clear path to the next level here?
If the answer to 2 of those is no, it’s time to explore.
2. Interview even when you’re happy 📞
One of the engineering managers at my previous company shared this with me. Honestly this was a game changer for me.
You don’t have to be miserable to take a call from a recruiter. Interviewing when you’re not desperate gives you leverage and information. You’ll learn what the market pays, what skills are in demand, and you negotiate from a position of strength.
Worst case, you confirm you’re in a good spot.
Best case, you find something better.
3. Don’t confuse comfort with growth ⚠️
If you stay in a role because you’re “comfortable”, and the work is easy - it likely means you aren’t learning. And in tech, if you’re not learning, you’re falling behind.
Comfort feels like safety. But early in your career, it’s actually risk.
The truth is consequences are just delayed by a few years.
4. Your network compounds faster than your salary 🤝
Every job change I made expanded my network in ways I couldn’t have predicted. Former teammates became co-founders, referral sources, mentors, and friends who sent me opportunities and helped me with referrals for my next role.
When you move, you don’t lose your old network. You add a new one.
5. Negotiate like the company expects you to 💰
Here’s the secret: companies have budgets for negotiation.
When you accept the first offer, you’re leaving money on the table that was already allocated. I’ve seen offers go up $15-20K simply because someone asked. Not aggressively. Just asked.
And then this can all compound in long term investments.
📝 HQ Tip: When in doubt, it’s easiest to just ask a simple question while negotiating your offer: “I’m really excited about this role. Based on my research and experience, I was hoping we could get closer to [X]. Is there flexibility on your end?”
The worst outcome is that they say no.
And in the best case, it’s a yes, and that one sentence has made you a lot more recurring money.
The one exception ✋
There are times when staying makes sense.
If you’re at a company where you have a sponsor (not just a manager, a sponsor) who is actively pulling you into rooms you wouldn’t be in otherwise, that’s worth more than a comp bump. Sponsors are rare. If you’ve found one, think carefully before walking away.
But note I said sponsor, not “nice boss.” A sponsor is someone who advocates for you when you’re not in the room. That’s a different thing entirely.
The bottom line 🎯
Your first 7-10 years in tech are when you have the most leverage to make big moves. You have fewer obligations, more energy, and the market values your trajectory more than your tenure.
Companies will not optimize your career for you. That’s your job.
And sometimes doing your job well means knowing when it’s time to go do it somewhere else.
Loyalty to your own growth isn't disloyal, 🚀
It's the best investment in yourself. 🙌
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I wish you a great week!
Until next time,
Sonika