Is there such a thing to be too long in one company?
I know people with ~20 years at Intel. Of course there are folks much longer than that as well. But does it tell something about Intel? Or is it about those folks? Are they stuck with Intel for lack of skills? Or just love it there?
This is correct. In general, Intel on the resume is a liability.
I was subjected to too much proprietary stuff at Intel, now can't find jack worth of jobs outside. People all want experience with TSMC tech
After many years, they see all their peers bail intel after intel exited mobile, some even taking lower position than what they enjoyed at intel. Stuck at Intel. All the years of experience just don't translate well outside. For example, apple doesn't hire long timers at Intel and will opt for 1-3 year guys. I just don't know how any one can leave Intel after and still get a higher salary! There is just nothing out there, and its just too bad. It so happens for those who worked for less than 5 years. It other words, the reputation of having worked at intel for so long just puts a black eye, a career dent, and a scarlet letter across the body. that is not the case if intel had dominated tech (i.e if they had supplied iphone cpu or had converted all the fabs into data center). In this universe, it did not happen due to failed leadership. No wonder the long timers cannot easily find a job outside of intel!
Intel uses so many either proprietary or obsolete tools it's easy to get to the point when you much less valuable to any other company, so you are pretty much stuck. After 5 years spent in 2 different groups I've realized I'm really close to this point, currently working on sharpening my skills again before jumping the ship, in a couple of years it would be too late.
People are generally stuck and the older folks are trying to just "get to the finish line". There are still very bright technical engineers there, but the vast majority of folks have accepted that their current skill set is not applicable to other companies. There is an ego aspect as well. A grade 9 who fancies themselves as an "architect" will get blown out the water from other real architects at someplace like Apple, and they don't want to go back down to doing real technical work.
most engineers at intel are incapable of working anywhere else because they spent 25 years pushing the same button. functionally they are barely better than new grads.
Some have set a goal of staying approximately 5 or less years in a BU and transition to another BU to learn new skills and handle a different set of challenges. Including new environments, managers etc. Very soon 25 years have flown by and you have a diversified set if experiences. Worked well.
Financially you are better off moving companies and getting better offers. That's a feature of capitalism. If you can get promoted internally that is another way to go.
You take a risk everytime you move though that the grass is not always greener on the other side. You also take another risk that you get promoted or brought into your level of incompetence and can't do your job effectively. Other companies are MUCH more ruthless culling incompetence. It's not comfortable to hear but that's the reality.
I have been fortunate internally although i have also switched groups a number of times when i didnt like things. It's a lot easier internally than externally switching unless you think you are gods gift to engineering and interview well. This is not a bad thing and a different group is not much different than switching companies. I've had many friends leave/stay/switch go up and down the chain.
Build your network and skills. Never once did i let my skills degrade or not have a resume ready to go because at the end of the day this is not 40 years ago. The company owes you nothing and you owe it nothing in return. So as a good boyscout always be prepared for something like an ACT/SET as uncomfortable as that might sound regardless of your company. Best luck coming from someone who has been around the block a few times.
Some are fortunate to be in a slice of Intel where their customers, coworkers, and manager are good.
Some are protected by their manager from legitimate criticisms by their peers and customers. Since there is no consequence to their mediocrity, they stay (and unfortunately for Intel, they are often given key roles which negatively impacts the company).
Some are close to retirement, and want to get to that finish line with retirement benefits (and if they are really lucky, a nice 2016-style retirement package).
Some are wed to their routine and don’t want to stir things up and deal with the stress of a new job.
And for some, they are fearful of the outside because Intel is all they have known.