How Changing Teams Can Boost Your Career Growth
As engineers, we often focus on solving problems and shipping code. But what happens when the team you're on isn’t helping you grow? Switching teams can feel like a big step, but it can also open up new opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive in your career.
In today’s edition of The Hustling Engineer, let’s talk about the signs that it’s time to switch teams and why it can sometimes be the smartest career move you make.
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When to Consider Switching Teams
1. You’re Not Learning Anything New
If every project feels like a repeat of the last one, it’s a clear sign your growth is stalling. Sticking around in your comfort zone for too long can hurt your long-term career.
Example: A strong backend engineer at my old company, worked on the same microservice for two years. She switched to a platform team and gained experience with distributed systems and DevOps—skills that made her more valuable and excited about work again.
2. Your Career Goals Don’t Match the Team’s Work
If your team’s projects aren’t helping you reach your goals, it might be time to move. Sticking around in the wrong place can delay your progress and make you feel stuck. Switching to a team aligned with your aspirations can help you gain the skills and experience you need to grow.
Example: If you’re passionate about machine learning but only working on front-end projects, that mismatch could hold you back. Another example can be if you are looking to transition into management in future but there is no such opportunity in your current team.
3. There’s No Room to Grow
If you’re being overlooked for leadership opportunities or your team structure limits your potential, look for a place where you can take on bigger challenges. Sometimes, it’s not about your skills but about the lack of room to grow within your current setup. A new team with different projects or a clearer path to advancement can help you showcase your capabilities and step into a leadership role.
Example: I once switched team at my old company as I found that promotions in were limited due to a bottleneck in leadership positions. After transferring to another team and working on a high-visibility project, I quickly became the go-to person for critical decisions. Within a year, I became a tech lead. This proves how the right environment can help you thrive.
4. The Team Culture Is Dragging You Down
A toxic team environment—like constant negativity, poor communication, or micromanagement—can hurt your mental health and productivity. No job or team is worth that.
If you constantly feel that you are being micromanaged or do not feel that your manager is supportive of your career growth, your well-being will improve tremendously once you switch teams
5. You’re Losing Interest in the Work
Interests change over time. If you’re no longer excited about what your team does, explore other teams where the work feels more aligned with what excites you now.
Why Switching Teams Can Be Good for You
Learn New Skills
A new team means exposure to new technologies, projects, and challenges. These experiences help you grow and make you more marketable in the long run.New Energy and Fresh Ideas
A change of environment can inspire creativity and motivation. Working with a new group of people often helps you see things in new ways.Build More Connections
Joining a new team expands your internal network. The more people you know in your company, the more opportunities you’ll have to grow and collaborate.Get Out of a Rut
Sometimes a fresh start is all you need to feel excited about work again.
How to Make the Switch Smoothly
Think It Through: Make sure you know why you’re switching. Are you running from a problem or running toward growth?
Talk to Your Manager: Be honest about your goals. A good manager will support your decision to move if it’s best for you.
Research the New Team: Learn about their projects, tools, and culture. Talk to people on that team to get a sense of what to expect.
Finish Strong: Wrap up your current responsibilities before switching to leave on good terms.
The Bottom Line
Switching teams isn’t a failure—it’s an opportunity. Whether you’re looking to learn new skills, align your work with your passions, or escape a tough environment, making a move can bring fresh energy and open doors for your career.
Think of it like a system upgrade: sometimes, you need to make changes to improve performance.
Have you ever switched teams and seen your career take off? Hit reply and share your story—I’d love to hear it!