I'm an AE at Microsoft and have 'climbed the ladder' from a junior entry level vendor role. I'm learning a tonne in my current role and feel there's a ceiling to my career progression. I'm a victim of not hopping around tech companies to benefit from salary bumps. As a result, my salary and level are lower than what they should be. I have a potential opp to join Google as an AE in a different role, potentially more junior but would massively boost my sales accumen, Should i make the jump?

Are headhunters and 3rd party rectueirs on your side when it comes to salary negotiations? My understanding is that they take a cut of the pay OR the company pays them some about in order to get someone hired into a role. If that’s the case I’d assume they’re incentivized to get a higher offer unless it’s a flat rate at which point maybe they don’t care?

More companies announcing layoffs. If you were a CEO with a heart, what would you offer as severance? I think most of the severance offered is too low.

I just walked away from an interview where they asked me to live-code a solution using only a whiteboard and no AI assistance. Completely detached from how actual engineering happens in 2026. If a company refuses to let you use the tools that make you 10x faster, does that mean their internal culture is just as stuck in the past?

What is your most unpopular salary opinion? Mine is it's okay to not job hop every 2-3 years if you are still growing your skills even if your salary isn't.