> I don’t have to tell you things are bad. Everybody knows things are bad. When you hate your job, no matter how much you try to put up with it, there comes a point where you’re mad as hell and you’re just not going to take it anymore. So, maybe this is the right moment to reflect: is it time to go?

I think only people who have stayed long enough would feel that way: and chances are by the time you feel this way it's because of external things that you can't change, and internal (values) that you are unwilling to adjust/sacrifice.

If you get to this point then you should probably just go and _maybe_ leave the reflection till later -- at that point it's too far beyond the point to reflecting on whether you should go or not.

> For example, if you’ve already become a so-called “senior” developer at Company A, and then you apply for the same job at Company B, you may find that their definition of “senior” is rather different, and that you don’t meet it. You’re a victim of title inflation: the currency of “senior” has become devalued.

Keep in mind that there are companies that do the opposite: they make you feel like you are not worth as much so that they can underpay you as much as possible, and only start throwing money at you when they are scared that you may leave and your leaving can have substantial impact on the company.

If you have never worked at places like that before I'm happy for you but know that there are lots of these places out there that manage to keep very bright people. These places typically have people with very high IQ in execs/management and they do everything to convince you that everything is about the mission (usually a genuinely worthwhile mission). They have long selection processes that weed out those who are _only_ technically capable -- they only hire those who are technically capable, will truly believe in the mission, kind, and subservient. They typically have long interviews (2 months + regardless of what level you are) and ask very probing questions (many would find uncomfortable even if they end up accepting the job) during topgrading so that they can identify whether or not they can hold you hostage.

The result is they will make you feel incompetent forever, and you will only realise how good you actually are when you finally have the courage to step outside -- by that time you will likely have been paid "unfairly" for years and have your career hampered.

> In particular, the HR department is not your friend. They’re not your enemy, necessarily, but they exist to protect the company from you, and not vice versa.

I find these kind of literal explanation of situations pretty pointless. When you are in a tough situation, and assuming that you are reasonable, then the party that isn't protecting your interest is literally your enemy. If the company wants to fire you and HR is doing that anyway (sometimes even doing everything they can to silence you even know they know it's unreasonable or even unlawful), then they're your enemies.

Only people who are reasonable and care for others will read statements like "they're not your friend but also not your enemy" as something meaningful, think about it and make their own lives hell. I wish people would stop giving this type of pseudo advice to people like they are presenting a balanced view when it really isn't.

"Hey, it's literally their job to screw you over to protect the company even when it's morally wrong, so don't blame them for just doing their job, OK?" Does that sound reasonable to you?

> In particular, you should give your boss a chance to change your mind—or, at least, you should let them feel that they’ve had that chance.

Making them feel like they have that chance is fine, giving them that chance is actually bad advice. If you have made up your mind to leave and made preparations, hopefully you have a job lined up if you're not retiring, then don't give them any chance and don't cave in to more money (if they can pay you substantially more that also shows that they have been underpaying you knowingly and your manager haven't been looking out for you anyway -- the relationship is already broken and you will just fell more miserable if you accept it). The whole point of this article is that you already hate it and want to go, so don't think twice and make it more difficult for yourself.