10 Years at a Multinational? Golden Handcuffs vs. Job-Hopping

Updated 2026/10/16

A few coffee chats with some senior professionals recently got me thinking about career choices in a new way.

Some people stick to one path and spend ten years deepening their expertise. Others keep changing tracks in search of the next opportunity. Which path is more “worth it”?

It sounds like a simple question, but there’s no standard answer. Still, the career stories these two shared changed how I think about what “worth it” means.

A Career of Stability and Anxiety

The first joined a multinational right after graduating and hasn’t left in ten years.

“A multinational does offer a relatively stable environment,” he said. “Especially for liberal arts graduates, a big company’s systems let us adapt to the workplace quickly, and the pay is better than what most of our peers get.”

Over those ten years he has worked with top talent from around the world, helped make market decisions and watched his industry change. He gets the latest information every day and grows quickly under high pressure.

He also admitted that this environment keeps you constantly on edge. “Everyone is excellent, and if you ease off even a little, it feels like you could be pushed out. Endless meetings and endless deadlines have made ‘balance’ something I have to keep working on.”

That reminded me of an interesting phenomenon: “Golden Handcuffs.”

Many employees at multinationals feel this way: the pay and benefits are generous and the environment is top-tier, but the pressure is heavy. They want change but can’t bring themselves to act, because letting go could mean losing their edge, or never finding an opportunity at the same level again. (Switching jobs doesn’t offer many equally generous options either.)

“Sometimes I wonder whether I’ll still be here in ten years,” he said with a laugh. “But whenever I think about it, I tell myself that as long as this place still helps me grow, it’s worth it.”

He said there’s no need to be so negative or to rush to define the pressure as handcuffs while ignoring the growth the environment gives you.

A Philosophy of Changing Course

The second senior colleague’s career looks completely different. He moved from FMCG to tech, worked in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong, and eventually returned to FMCG as a brand manager.

“Was it worth it? That’s hard to measure objectively,” he said, smiling. “Each move was a choice I made based on what I wanted at the time. For me, of course it was worth it.”

When we stay at the same company, we give up the chance to explore new industries. When we switch jobs, we give up some of the advantage of accumulated seniority and may add more ups and downs to our résumé. Every decision costs us the path we didn’t take.

When he was younger, he compared himself with people his age too. After seven years in the workforce, though, he found that the value of many decisions can’t be measured in numbers alone. Moving back to Taipei and giving up a clearer promotion path might look like a career “downgrade” to some people, but for him it bought something more precious: time with his family.

“Was it worth it?” he said. “I can’t speak for anyone else, but for me, very much so.”

Is “Worth It” the Wrong Question?

Neither of them gave a verdict on whether it was “worth it,” and I think that’s because there’s no absolute answer.

The better question is: “What do we actually want?”

Daniel Kahneman makes the point in Thinking, Fast and Slow that people’s decisions are often driven by the situation in front of them rather than by long-term plans.

The standard for “worth it” should come from inside you, not from the outside world. Understand what you want, work for it, and move toward your own goals.

After all, as many people say, “We always end up regretting the things we didn’t do.”

Global Workplace Trends: Long-Term Stability vs. Constant Change

Zoom out to global workplace trends and you’ll see people taking both routes.

🔹 One path: the specialist who goes deep

In Japan and Germany, lifetime employment still exists. Many people stay at one company for more than 20 years and become irreplaceable experts in their field, building a secure position on the strength of deep expertise.

🔹 The other path: a slash career that keeps changing

In the US and Taiwan, people change jobs often, on average every three to five years, and some have started running several jobs at once (a portfolio career). The “slash career” has stayed a hot topic on social media in recent years. I’m one of them: since 2022 I’ve been running my “Jason” account, which means I’m no longer limited to one career path. Cross-disciplinary learning, a startup and side projects give me more flexible options.

Freedom of Choice Comes From Knowing Your Priorities

Once you know your priorities and are willing to accept the cost of your choice, you don’t need to agonize over a standard answer.

What matters is which path suits you better, regardless of which one looks “objectively better.”

Final Thoughts: Your “Worth It” Belongs to You

Maybe we should stop asking, “Is this worth it?”

We should ask ourselves instead: “Does this fit my values? Is this what I really want?”

Choices made that way won’t be shaken by other people’s opinions (or expectations).