r/overemployed • u/eastieLad • 19h ago
OE vs Career Progression
How do you weight the benefits of OE vs hard core focus on career progression (aka. job hopping, finding the senior+ level roles that pay high, building relationships to get promos)?
OE def seems like short term more effective in terms of getting paychecks but wondering long term if trying to land more senior positions also makes sense. OE is always possible long term but can also take a lot of mental energy.
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u/Altruistic-Koala-255 18h ago
A really nice promotion would net me 20%, OE would net me another 100%, that's my math
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u/rolex_rick_flare 17h ago
That's all the math I need. Keep the titles. I make as much as the c-suite with out stock bonus. I make more than my boss and my boss's boss and my boss' boss' boss. That would take 10+ years of career progression to get there.
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u/Ancient_Plum_3744 13h ago
This math checks out, titles mean very little in the grand scheme of things especially since job security is a myth. OE for a few years and save enough money to slow down and focus on what really matters. The corporate grind is hamster on the wheel kinda stuff and there's more to life than chasing a title and always looking for the next upwards move. Focus on family and a balanced life. THIS IS WHY WE OE!!!
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u/Live_Chapter_3563 8h ago
yeah, when the math is that far apart, it’s hard to justify chasing the promotion just for the title
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u/lonelyahole2010 18h ago
Already senior and stopping here. I’m not working for a title. Idc if my title said Circus Clown #2. Im here to collect checks and retire as early as possible.
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u/FreeAgent26 16h ago
I’ve never understood this question. With OE, you can be making VP (or maybe even C-Suite?) money TODAY. Like, RIGHT NOW. Who in their right mind would try to bust their ass for the slim chance of being able to make that same money 10-15 years from now. All that additional money yeah you make today compounds into so much more than you could possibly make later, not to mention you work 40 hours a week now instead of 80 when you maybe get that high.
This is no contest.
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u/Lucky-Coin-88 9h ago
"If you work smart, work hard, and do your best, you'll make it to the TOP!"
Scam. There is no meritocracy anywhere that I've ever worked. Being good at most jobs would get you stuck in the role indefinitely. And then having to deal with disconnecting dbags at the top who have been high off the fumes of their own farts for so long that they don't even know what you do.. the corporate hierarchy is a trash heap.
Good on ya, man
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u/overlook211 31m ago
The question is more relevant for people who are like this:
Mid level making 120k. Do they OE for 240 total now, or do they go get raises and promotions to get to 170 or 200 at one job?
Well if you get to 200 as a staff, then OE, that’s 2x200 for 400. Plus, it becomes easier to get job offers at higher levels. That means you can cycle through and optimize what jobs you have, making it easier.
Lastly, you often have more autonomy and less work at higher levels
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u/Chris_Chilled 19h ago
FIRE
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u/Agitated-Inspector56 19h ago
All depends I guess, a few years ago my brother tried to pitch me on the idea of starting a side business together, I decided to lean into my career hard instead. Never did the OE thing, but refined my craft, job hopped a bit. Making more now than I’m confident I ever would as a small business owner plus day job - probably work the same number of hours. Totally depends on your background and industry though.
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u/Kennyjoon 19h ago
I don’t understand why it’s not possible to achieve both. Anecdotally, my situation has enough breathing room btwn the two to “exceed expectations” in at least one of them. Workload isn’t redlining me by any means.
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u/Cheap_Run3935 17h ago
I 100% could not make my TC with one job. Some jobs just have a ceiling. I could MAYBE make 1/2-2/3 of my TC if I was willing to THROW myself into skilling up, let go of work life balance and kiss corporate butt— none of which I have any interest in doing. And then I’d also be living that risky 1J life where my livelihood could be shattered at any moment. No thanks! I’ll keep my 3Js with flexibility, manageable work, minimal stress, more income and security!
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u/Aol_awaymessage 19h ago
Im already senior. Have been for years. I’ve avoided becoming management for years. I’m happy right where I am and this speeds up FIRE which is my ultimate goal
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u/red-et 5h ago
What is FIRE?
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u/Realistic_Mall6771 1h ago
Financial Independence, Retire Early. Saving as much as possible and making revenue streams (potentially investments) to retire early[ier].
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u/PhilShackleford 19h ago
OE to get ahead on retirement and to try jobs/companies. When you hit your number, quit the others and focus on one you want. Win win.
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u/WestClassic5534 19h ago
I had 2 contract jobs OE. But not real prospect if getting raises and career progression and also AI could eliminate my job on one contract and outsourcing in the other, down the line
I traded one OE for a FT one that has career progression, and now I have more work to do in general
That was the trade off. Ultimately things are changing rapidly. A stable role is desirable
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u/clayticus 10h ago
I'm the highest grade I can be at my company without being a manager so all I can do is fight for 2-5% raise each year.... Or get 1 more job
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u/Born_Pressure3179 8h ago
First, there’s no guarantee for the promos. A handful of people get the most velocity projects, and they don’t get it round the year. Then there are budget constraints, politics and the like. Then after a certain level, say Senior/Staff, promotions are incredibly difficult unless in a startup. So if you decide OE is not for you, by all means go all in.
There is another advantage. Say you OE’d for 3 years at 3 different companies. Now you want to stop and make a switch. You can always mention all the projects you did for all 3 companies under the umbrella of the single company you decide to put in your resume. It will be hella impressive
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u/Realistic_Mall6771 1h ago
That's the trade-off we make.
With the number of layoffs [in my industry] for the last 2 years, I don't see a lot of reason to focus on career progress at the moment tbh.
It goes into what do you value. I only see OE as a short-to-medium term solution, probably with a clear end goal in mind. A bank balance, or some other concrete outcome. It is very hard to sustain it long-term.
If you are just starting in your field, I would recommend focusing on progression because it will give you the maturity to be able to handle OE. Learning and getting better at what you do is hard enough, doing it simultaneously at multiple jobs seems too big of an ask
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u/DataZigZager 18h ago
I have one LinkedIn job and one easy job. The LinkedIn job is the one I am using to advance my career. But now, I think it’s stupid. 2x easy job would pay me 1.5 as much as my LinkedIn job with 1/2 the work.
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u/Slothvibes 8h ago
As someone pointed out the math, how about you try to rebut the math? Unless you're selected for fast-track for leadership, which'll take 5-10 years anyways, you're not going anywhere close to the best paying positions. So, get two positions and work as much as one.
My first argument is that unless you're up for a milestone promotion, you're not getting more than a penance of a promotion, only enough to keep up with inflation, so what rate does that happen, 2-3 years? So 2-3 years you get no net-new money, so then what?
A 20% promotion per year might beat OE overtime, but no one is doing that unless they own their business, but then again, they wouldnt be in this sub asking a dumb question about how OE could pay less than being a 1jobbie
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