I prefer to keep some details to myself but let me know if you need to know more.

I am a software architect in IT MNC for 10 years and counting.
1. This is my first and only job excluding internship.
2. People and culture: good. People are generally helpful and I made some good friends.
3. Salary: let's just say...
- increment is performance based and I'm rated above average yearly
- some friends have told me that I can aim higher with my capability
- I can save at least 40% a year including yearly travels, but that may change in coming years due to personal reasons
4. Management: good and bad. My boss is good and I am well liked by the upper management... But there are some bad apples. The worst one: an old dude waiting to retire, notoriously inefficient and absent in meetings, works like a messenger or delegator of tasks.
5. Career: good and bad. Within department, I'm at the highest I can be as a technical role.
- Any further means I'd need to aim director role and that is impossible due to upper management saturation + I'm less qualified in seniority (experience +age??) as an upper management.
- Overseas prospect: I thought of transferring to other business units overseas to experience different country lifestyle, and I'm very confident that it'll be much easier within my current company than to look externally.
6. Overall package (stress vs flexibility): both have ups and downs. Generally very flexible -- my personal favourite is no MC needed for sick leave. Everyone also respects weekends/holidays.

All things considered, I like my job. Truth be told, I am VERY comfortable in my position, also because I know I 100% won't be retrenched in the foreseeable future for what I offer...

For better or worse, my company isn't giving me a lot of motivation to seek job out there, plus the ongoing retrenchment wave in the IT industry and all...

I just have a nagging question for years now: What am I missing out?

Your problem is listening to your friends.

If your happy and contented with your current employment nothing wrong with staying at one place.

If u need a change of environment then listen to urself, get a transfer to another branch of the company.

Remember only u know what is really best for you.

Aim high high for what when you already fully satisfied with your job unless you feel bored now. Good money. Wont be retrench then just stay unless you feel left behind or too specialise that if stay too long you wont be able to get other job if you lost your job later on

I think that question only you can answer. I’m currently in the same position as you. Starting to feel a bit bored, but I decided to focus on things outside of my work, like my hobbies. You need to consider point 6 - the flexibility. Not many companies can offer this. Many can offer good salary and bonus package but unable to provide good flexibility.

This post has been edited by lolabunny123: Nov 1 2024, 10:57 AM

Thank you both, unfortunately it's not something I'm able to answer yet still...

I guess I feel like a frog trapped in well but with curiosity for the outside world. I'd like to know from y'all/others who have changed jobs:

1. How did the change affect your career?
2. How do you feel now about your decision then?

some ppl will tell you need to get out from your comfort zone and aim higher

if you are the ambitious type and can tolerate newfound stress at other companies, then take a challenge and find a new job with higher pay.

but if you are aiming for work-life balance and planning to start a family, then from what I read above, this sounds like a perfect job.

Alternatively, stay in this job and further your studies part-time. It sounds like a very comfortable job to stay on while you can study part-time. If you pursue post-grad studies, you need a lot of research/reading time (don't listen to some who only aim just to merely pass their course and got a terrible CGPA). Then only later, you find another job.

I was in your shoes and I'd say you miss the shots you don't take.

> Relaxed environment, but doing the same shit every day.
> No F2F communication with clients
> Lack of any increments even after working for over 1 year. In fact, some actually got them while the rest of were sidelined.

I could do my part-time job but yet, no satisfaction during my 9 -6.

So I jumped, and got a 50% salary increment. No regrets now that I can expand my skillsets.

You learn new things = More skills = Better salary negotiation. After all, company loyalty doesn't mean shit nowadays.

This post has been edited by UserU: Nov 2 2024, 04:52 PM

I have been in your shoes and change company every few years.
I change roles within the same company, and also hop to another company that required my skills.

IMHO:
1) Request for more challenges from your manager.
2) If you found a internal job that you are interested, seek permission from manager and apply for the role.
3) Go to overseas project as you are already competent within the company. That will give you a fresh prospective and challenge for a couple of years.

Never be too comfortable and take up challenges while still young and capable.

This post has been edited by HappyA_Q: Nov 7 2024, 05:56 AM

Choose to stay if there are still room to grow, do not choose to stay if it is due to the comfort zone. If there no room to grow & you decided to stay, your carrier tribulation will come knocking your door as early as in your mid 40s.

The scariest part is the stagnation of knowledge & not being aware that ourselves have been overtaken by the peer / younger generation.

Thank you all for the replies.

I have just accepted an offer to transfer internally to a new department to be formed starting next year. I was slated for promotion next year so this decision may kill the chance, idk tbh. I guess it's one baby step out of the centre of my comfort zone, basically where I've been the past 10 years... Even such a small decision gave me so much dilemma

Regardless, I'll definitely maintain good relationship with the existing department because I truly enjoyed working with them and might want to return one day...

I think one thing I found it hard to discern was the stagnation itself. If I have to compare to everything you guys have said so far...
Was I challenged? Yes. In my current role, I am constantly challenged to solve problems, and you could say every puzzle was different in a way.
Was I learning? All the time. From above, I learned every time and felt satisfaction whenever I designed a good solution for the team. In my company + my seniority, there's way too much to learn as an individual and work will never end.
Was there growth? Yeah I had promotions, just that it's slower as a senior... but isn't it normal for the graph to plateau? Like, you can't be getting 100% growth every year just like the big companies revenue growth right?

But yeah anyway, the new role is more globalised. Pros: increased chances of travel opportunities. Cons: potentially stretched working hours to accommodate multiple time zones. Nature of work still very similar but may lean more towards things that I would like to gain more exposure on.

Great question. Let me share my 2 cents as someone who have taken the plunge

I was with my first company for 9 years when I decided to switch. There were some push factors, things were certainly not as rosy as yours back then. But I was always recognised for my contributions and being paid above average package, I already did a role switch by year 5/6 to be less stressful. People in my dept were all there for a long time, the idea of staying for the rest of my working life in 1 single company scares me, and the 10 year mark makes me feel like I would not dare to move after that. So I made a parallel move to a different environment, even better hours but different type of stress

Since then, I switched 2 more times, everytime to a wider role and now I'm in a comfortable international role that allows WFH all the time + work travels; lots of autonomy and better package than local roles. Sounds like a dream right? Of course there's always the not so nice part, but the nice part is enough for me to not want to look out for now

Looking back, I have no regrets leaving at all, my former team mates remained stuck in their roles for better or worse. I may have become the dept head if I stayed, but my current role is a lot better. Of course everyone's journey will be different, and you may regret big time with a worse off employer. But hey, it sounds like you are a high performer, as long as you don't burn the bridges, I'm sure it's possible to go back if you wanted to. I get offer to go back every now and then, to more than one former employer

I think your decision to switch dept is a great one, you would soon realise you are more adaptable than you thought. The move for me is not just about pay or whether I like my job, but to see what is out there. Doesn't it freak you out when you think about being with the same company for 30-40 years of your working life? It sure scares the hell out of me. The era for life-long career in 1 company like IBM-ers are over I think

TS the only way is to ask yourself this:

Are the skills and experience that you are learning on the job now, is practical in the job market? would it go obsolete? is it widely use in the market? if you were to quit your job would it be able to give you a job with higher promotion higher salary and higher opportunities? if you leave this role, would other roles afford you the work life balance that you are enjoying now? if you stayed too long in this role, like 10 years or more, would your marketability slowly go down the drain because what you are doing is no longer practical in the job market?

Only this would determine for you to decide to leave or stay.

This post has been edited by hoonanoo: Nov 17 2024, 02:54 PM

What are you missing out?

I hope no offense are taken, but you are missing out on testing real-world markets to determine if your skillset is actually world-class and if it could be used across different atmospheres and to tackle different challenges.

You get to meet newer colleagues and see a different spectrum of skillset and environment / field, as well as doing your best in a limited financial structure.

If you ask me, a professional who job hops every 2-5 years is someone who is confident in his/her raw skillset, and can be employed and be useful in any given situation regardless of the job market, market direction and related matter.

For someone who stays on the job for beyond the time-bounded servitude I shared above, my understanding is that he/she has become complacent and is usually political on the job. I merely say this based on what I observed and experienced, and not out of being critical.

Competency comes if you're out there in the market fishing to be employed and you are picked up.

If I can add, unless one is doing very well and progressing career ladder in current companies, looking out is probably is second best thing to do.

Thanks for the insights everyone. Checking in since my change...

I was promoted as promised by my previous boss, so I'm thankful for that. % is not as much as before but I guess it's something to get used to when you're already in the so called T20 range 🤷‍♀️

My team is newly formed where everyone basically internally transferred from other existing departments. Interestingly, I turned out to be one with unique skillset (I'm the only technical expert whereas the others were functional), so my boss has very high expectations of me.

I'm stretched more than before and struggling to juggle 3 concurrent assignments spanning 3 time zones. Some days it's bad enough I get physical headaches during the evening meetings. Thankfully my colleagues are supportive whenever I need help.

Honestly it's tiring, but I am eager to be part of the development of a new product, where its success means establishing a foothold on a new domain. I guess this will keep me busy at least until next year, so touch wood I probably won't be coming back to this thread for now

That’s a thoughtful reflection, and you’ve painted a clear, honest picture of where you stand. You’re not alone in asking this question—“What am I missing out?” often arises when someone reaches a stable, respected, and well-compensated position, but with limited upward mobility and a strong comfort zone.

Let’s break down what might lie beneath that nagging feeling:

⸻

1. Growth Beyond Comfort

You’re comfortable—a rare achievement. But comfort can mask stagnation. You’ve likely mastered your environment, and your challenges are manageable, even predictable. That leads to questions like:
• Am I still growing?
• When was the last time I felt excited or nervous about something at work?

What you might be missing:
That uncomfortable but thrilling phase of learning something completely new, being the newbie again, building something from scratch, or proving yourself in a different arena (e.g., a new tech stack, culture, or leadership role).

⸻

2. Untapped Market Value

You’re aware, through peers, that your skills could fetch more in the market. That’s not just about money—it’s a proxy for how the world values what you’ve built.

What you might be missing:
A sense of external validation or risk-reward feedback. You’ve grown entirely within one ecosystem. You haven’t tested your value in other environments—startups, product companies, consulting, or even your own venture.

⸻

3. Alternate Career Routes

With 10 years of deep architecture experience and strong internal credibility, you could pivot to:
• Consulting roles (internal or external) where you set technical direction across organizations
• Public speaking, writing, open-source contributions, teaching—establishing thought leadership
• Startups or advisory roles where your technical maturity could be gold

What you might be missing:
The opportunity to diversify your identity beyond “internal technical architect”—and see how your skills translate in wider circles.

⸻

4. Geography & Culture Shift

You mentioned overseas units—a change in geography can dramatically reset your perspective. Same job, new environment, new problems, new people.

What you might be missing:
A jolt of inspiration, perhaps from being in a region with different work-life balance norms, tech maturity levels, or business practices.

⸻

5. Purpose and Legacy

Comfort rarely answers questions like:
• What do I want to be known for?
• Am I building something that will outlast me?
• Do I still care about what I build, or am I just optimizing?

What you might be missing:
A deeper sense of mission, autonomy, or impact. Stability is wonderful, but it sometimes sidelines purpose.

⸻

So… What Next?

You’re not necessarily missing out—you’ve built a great base. But the feeling is likely telling you:
• It’s time to sample something uncomfortable again.
• You don’t have to jump ship, but maybe test waters: mentorships, part-time teaching, internal transfers, certifications, or side projects.
• Challenge the boundaries of what “career growth” means to you now—it may no longer be titles or compensation, but impact, learning, or balance.



Pls seek further from almighty ChatGPT

Thanks chatgpt, I literally updated just above like I'm following your advice 🙃

You just get promoted. Now its all excitement and andrenaline. Wait till it wear out and you know it might not worth it

Sitting at a desk job day in and out... Constant headaches... You have to exercise more...

You are like me... or at least, I faced what you are going through before... And both of us in the software field ourselves...

What helped me is both running and yoga, which does wonders... I exercise about 2-3 hours almost daily...

@Takudan, do you have sales target as IT Architect? That makes you a glorified sales person isn't it? T20 isnt really a great target. You need to reach T0.1