In my parents' generation, people usually had about three jobs throughout their entire careers. But for millennials, it's common to switch jobs every couple of years.
It feels like we are no longer solely focused on money; rather, freedom and job satisfaction are what motivate millennials to get out of bed every day.
If money is no longer the primary incentive, what should you look for when choosing a job?
Leverage
As someone working in the tech industry, the ability to leverage resources is a significant advantage.
When you're still in school, you might be working with data on a megabyte scale. However, once you join a startup, you gain access to gigabytes of data. And at top-tier corporations, you learn how to handle terabytes of data.
The fascinating aspect of software engineering is that you have to adapt your mindset as you interact with data at different scales.
Imagine two job offers, both similar, but one offers access to a huge user base and autonomy to explore and utilize vast amounts of data. Wouldn't that be incredibly appealing?
Growing a product from zero is interesting, but you also need to consider the opportunity cost if you miss the chance to help another company grow from millions to billions of users.
Connection
While I appreciate remote work, I also value the people I work with. Connection is more about value exchange, creating win-win situations for both sides.
Would you rather work with a guru in your industry for a lower salary or a mediocre manager for a higher salary?
I can't guarantee that you'll always learn a lot from a master, but if you do, you'll easily adopt the mindset of a master and rise to become one yourself.
Reputation
In the software industry, it's often said that if you start your career at a FANG company (Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, Google), you'll have your pick of job offers later on.
Recruiters typically spend an average of 20 seconds skimming through resumes, and having FANG on your resume can be a huge advantage.
Behind the scene
Have you ever wondered what it's like to work at companies like Tesla or SpaceX?
Being an insider at such companies is fascinating, even if the job might not offer top compensation (though most do).
While learning about a product's principles after joining a company might diminish the excitement, working on intriguing and growing projects is undeniably rewarding.
Bottom line
If you're in your twenties, focus on acquiring skills and fostering growth.
When you leave a company, you should have already acquired unique skills and domain knowledge. Understand why you're joining a new company and what you hope to gain from the experience.
Question: What is the most valuable asset or skill that your current company possesses? How do you leverage it to grow yourself?
