Is it better to stay or switch (@6-8 YOE)

Here is my view on this (i'm late 30s, "jumped" firm/function a few times, so I'm speaking as let's say a 15 nearing 20 yoe type person)....

- Once you get beyond the analyst/associate stage, you really should only jump for "strategic" reasons, meaning it is definitively a "move up" in title/role/firm not just for pay

- As you approach 10 yoe, you become the target of legit executive search firms doing searches for true "senior" roles (i.e. won't be posted on LinkedIn/Indeed most of the time).... HH firms screen by length of time at present job amongst other things (literally search via LinkedIn by such), so "lateralling" at later stage of career can hit "reset" for the "big jump" had you waited (clearly, no guarantees of this, part of risk mgnt of a career tbh).

- If you are more senior, like at manager/director or even VP level, then you should be able to have much better clarity internally on your prospects of internal promotion/advancement... like does someone need to die/leave to get promoted.. or is it probable based on time in grade or landing next big deal/start new fund, etc. 

- Following the above... if you reach a point where moving up seems unlikely or will take a really long time.... network more aggressively, let HH know you exist (emails), and wait.... let the job come to you (if see something on a job site you want to apply for do it, but not for lateral!!!)

- If you are becoming "unhappy" for whatever reason (including underpaid..), you can be more and more aggressive... but if you hit this stage you may easily foreclose the chance at internal promotion at current firm if you start seeming "checked out" (trust me... sr. mngt and HR are not stupid, they know who will leave, I have to "rate" probability of direct reports leaving each year as part of the annual review process...)

- "Waiting" (even when probably seems low or could take a while), is often not a bad strategy... as people above you literally get HH as well or may just quit, die, become stay-home parent, get fired, or whatever.. OR their could be a "re-org" or "new business line" or whatever that suddenly puts you in a good place. The two times I got internally bumped where due to each of these (once a person leaving very suddenly for a new job and once due to re-org). Frankly, both of these "bumps" have placed much farther ahead relative to age or anything else.

- The "risk" of jumping later in career is the "reset".. you enter a new firm with lower trust and understanding, that can take time to build, and thus can lead to some lost time in many cases. Thus, I say only jump when you get "bumped" up and that risk is well worth taking (this is why taking laterals for 20-25% pay bumps can be good for short-term, but actually murdering long-term career advancement).

- There is also the "risk" of being tagged a "serial jumper" or just a "careerist" (meaning little loyalty given or expected), to some firms (including the one you may be working for).. this can be a kiss of death in recruiting and it will even scare HH firms from wanting to present you to clients (you can be shifted to the "2nd tier" list despite being otherwise perfect). TBH, I think this risk is exaggerated but is real. The best protection from this (like if you do jump after 2-3 years) is that is was clear that the jump was a "move up" and thus understandable, if was a "lateral" it brings the speculation of just moving for pay or worse moving due to poor performance (and fear of getting fired, low raises, etc.).

Those are my thoughts, and all are just OPINIONS (I know some haters on here like to argue for the fun of it... all can have own views... these are mine). TBH, what is optimal for one person could be horribly sub-optimal for another. I'll add if you "like" your firm (culture, work environment, relationships with people, location of office, etc.), that is not something to discount in deciding whether to leave or not. Pay bumps and promotions are awesome, but the older I get, the less I want to deal with a den of assholes (what creates the "sweatshop" effect at junior levels). I'd have to feel really good about "liking" all the non-pay, non-direct job parts of a new firm if I were to jump. That is one of the luxuries you gain with more YOE and hopefully higher titles/roles (and thus pay)... you can CHOOSE if you need to move up or out. At younger levels, sometimes you need to jump to get ahead (part of why the 20s suck for careers, even if paid well, you sometimes do shitty roles to learn and be able to get better roles). By later 30s at least, you should be done with that shit if not long before!