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Comment by toomuchtodo | Hacker News Reader

VP of Operations here. The longest I've stayed at a job was three years in thirteen years. I make what I make because I don't wait around for a raise. If you haven't given me one, I go to greener pastures (as we all should!).

Loyalty and waiting years for recognition via compensation? Ain't nobody got time for that.

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Do you at least ask for a raise first?

I would assume he did. I would usually make it known that I'm not pleased with my current pay level and that if an opportunity were to arise that compensated me fairly, I would take it.

No. Asking for the raise sours the relationship (In my experience). I have an expected time frame, and if it doesn't occur, I go.

You can usually get way more by switching.

A raise usually means a 5-10% increase, a job change a 20-50% increase. Asking for a raise makes little sense.

Asking for a raise also puts you on management radar. some people like that, some people don't. they consider you a "flight risk" at that point. good companies will try to figure out ways (other than money) to keep you around. Sometimes though, personal dynamics change and those people just leave a few months later anyway, even if they do get a bump in the short term.

You and the parent you posted to answered perfectly for me.

My company has straight up told me that they know I'm a "flight risk". I've been there for a year and a half, and they know I'm looking to do "bigger" things then what I currently work on.

So, they've been continually giving me raises. It's really nice, but frankly, it doesn't matter. I'm still interviewing elsewhere.

They're right; I want to go somewhere where I'm challenged, and unless they can pay me 40% more than what I'll make on the free market, I'm a "flight risk".

you'll see what you were missing on when you give a notice to your manager :)

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