When and how to move.
WHAT GOOD REASONS LOOK LIKE
No further growth available Compensation substantially below market A manager or environment that is damaging Work that no longer interests you A materially better opportunity
WHAT POOR REASONS LOOK LIKE
A single bad week Avoiding a difficult conversation Assuming elsewhere is better
WHAT TO DO BEFORE DECIDING
Establish whether the problem is fixable here.
HOW
Raise it, clearly, and see what happens.
WHY
Some problems are solved by asking, and leaving carries its own cost.
WHAT LEAVING COSTS
Rebuilding relationships Learning a new system Losing accumulated context
WHAT TO ESTABLISH ABOUT ANY NEW ROLE
What the work actually is Who you would work with Whether the problems are better or merely different
HOW LONG TO STAY SOMEWHERE
Long enough to see consequences of your decisions.
WHY THAT MATTERS
Shipping and leaving teaches little.
WHAT FREQUENT MOVES SIGNAL
Either ambition or a pattern.
WHAT TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN
Each move, briefly and without bitterness.
WHAT TO DO WHEN RESIGNING
Give proper notice Hand over properly Say nothing damaging
WHY
The industry is small, and people meet again.
WHAT TO NEVER DO
Leave badly to make a point.