Former Microsoft Engineer Shares the Question He Asked Before Quitting
Business Insider • • general
Key Points:
- Kun Chen, a former engineer at Microsoft, Meta, and Atlassian, shared a personal framework for deciding when to leave a job, focusing on consistent personal growth rather than waiting for missed promotions.
- Chen regularly asked himself, "What did I do this month that I couldn't last month?" to assess whether he was still learning and growing in his role, realizing after six years at Microsoft that he wasn't progressing significantly.
- He emphasized the importance of this monthly self-assessment, especially amid rapid industry changes like AI advancements, which are transforming software engineering at a fast pace.
- Chen noted that feeling stagnant doesn't necessarily mean one must leave immediately but should prompt discussions with management or consideration of new opportunities for growth.
- After leaving Microsoft for Facebook to pursue greater growth, Chen returned to Microsoft to leverage his new experiences, highlighting the value of strategic career moves aligned with personal development.
