The economic imperative: why I need to move on

They say that people leave managers, not jobs. But they also say that money doesn't buy happiness.

Reality is complex...

Since September 2024 I've been working as a cook at a fast food resturant.

I currently work with what is objectively the best team I have ever been a part of. Brandon, Ethan, Ryan, Mario, and Tamim aren't just colleagues; they are a rare convergence of competence, character, and camaraderie.

Walking into work feels like walking into an area where I'm not just working for a wage, but to help my friends who are always there for me.

So why look for a new job?

The Cost of Stagnation

We live in an era—specifically here in 2026—where "comfort" is a depreciating asset.

The financial goalposts haven't just moved; they have been uprooted and transported to a different stadium entirely.

To provide for a family, to secure a future, and to build the kind of tragedy-proof life I aim for, "good enough" is no longer enough.

Apparently stability and security in this decade is awarded only to those who are truly exceptional. I never experienced luxury growing up.

I have a duty to my family and to my future self to maximize the return on my labor.

I am entering the market not because I am running away from a bad situation, but because I am moving toward a necessary level of resource accumulation.

The Push

The push is both economic and academically driven. I need to find work as an engineering intern to graduate, and once I have the experience then why would I return to a lower paying industry. It only makes sense to move on.

The salary I expect isn't something unachievable or unheard of. I'm not asking for a million dollars, but I'm not asking for a pittance either. I would expect something which is sustainable for both myself (and my family) and the organisation I work for. I value stability, and I would like to not have to change jobs due to lack of resources. I also expect that salary progression should be standard practice and at a minimum keep up with inflation.

Acknowledgements

To Brandon, Ethan, Ryan, Mario, and Tamim: Thank you.

I need to move on to secure the bag, not for the sake of the bag itself, but for the fortress I need to build with it.

If anyone needs a hard working business analyst with skills in software development, Khandaker Tamim is available, he would love the opportunity to cut his teeth and prove himself. I've worked with him for a year and he's a pleasure to work with, he makes me laugh every day.