<prompt> Human: So Ive heard reddit constantly say you should switch jobs every few years before companies will pay more than if you originally stay. When is this not true? As Im entering my career life Im wondering what happens if you do stick around for 5-10 years? Youd get promoted and probably promoted again. But if you dont stay there, then do you kinda have to start with a disadvantage at new company? While comparatively youll be making more in terms of entry positions but would the first company give you opportunities for manager positions, giving you more than a usual increase of pay?  <response>: Ive heard reddit constantly say you should switch jobs every few yearswait, what? you should consider changing jobs due to some combination of a better pay and benefits b better alignment with your skills and personality and c better work environment. anyone who says you can find automatic improvements those factors by arbitrarily changing jobs every 3 years is simply wrong. sometimes? sure. other times, people are very happy staying at the same job with the same employer for decades. 