Switching Jobs In IT: Beware Of This First!

For many years now, there has been this famous phenomenon where IT employees generally move from company to company in search of better packages. But this is not going to be simple and straightforward in the future as things are looking shaky now.

The Oracle layoffs expose a hidden risk in chasing bigger roles and higher salaries too aggressively. As your title and pay rise, your market often shrinks. At 12, 20, or even 30 LPA, opportunities are plentiful. At 60, 80, or 1 crore plus, very few companies can afford you.

Add layoffs into the mix, and the danger grows. Companies cutting costs often target expensive mid- or senior-level hires who joined recently, while those with years of system knowledge are safer.

The psychological pressure makes it worse. Once your lifestyle adjusts, going backward is tough. EMIs don’t care about career corrections. Your ego resists a lower title. Your family isn’t thrilled about a “temporary step down.” Meanwhile, the market doesn’t bend for you.

This leaves you stuck: too costly for many roles, too junior for certain leadership positions, and unwilling to compromise.

Blindly chasing salary jumps is risky. A better approach is to switch roles with purpose, build rare and valuable skills, ensure your market value is real, and save enough to negotiate calmly.

A 40 LPA engineer with ownership, composure, and 18 months of runway is far stronger than an 80 LPA engineer with no savings or flexibility. Salary matters but stability and strategy matter more.