Lately, I’ve been hearing the same thing from friends: “Since you’ve been with the same company for 8 years, your salary must be huge by now.” When I tell them how much I actually earn, they’re surprised. Some even say staying in this company for this long isn’t a good move because salary growth is slow—and that if I had switched jobs every couple of years, my income might be triple by now.

I don’t know if I feel disappointed or sad. Don’t get me wrong—I’m genuinely grateful for the company I work for. I’ve learned so much, and they gave me a chance to enter the Tech/IT field from a customer service role even without a degree. That opportunity changed my life, and I’ll always appreciate it. But reality is real. I have bills to pay, and I help support my parents and siblings. As a breadwinner, salary matters just as much as experience and knowledge. Growth isn’t only about skills, it’s also about being able to provide and survive. Because of that, I’ve started thinking more seriously about applying and looking for new opportunities, specially in the freelance field. It’s not an easy decision, but sometimes growth means stepping outside what’s familiar.

Ganbatte!