Is job hopping the only way to move up?

I feel that I constantly need to be moving from company to company to get a raise or a promotion and while that was fun and exciting when I was younger, I’m getting tired of it now.

I had been working at a company for 2.5 years and quit 5 months ago. I worked really hard in that job. I was often pulling plenty of over time, they gave me plenty of responsibilities and until the very end, I was the only person operating on my team.

They had never given me a raise that was more than 3% and when I tried to go after an internal opportunity, I found out my boss attempted to block that promotion as I was the only person on the team that I was in.

Naturally I left. Not only have I gotten that promotion that I was searching for, but I make 25% more than I did at the last company.

This isn’t the only time I’ve done this. Actually my entire twenties after university, I job hopped three times. Each time making significantly more money and getting a promotion.

Now in my thirties, I find this frustrating. While I get leaving a job because it’s toxic or doesn’t fit your needs, why do you have to leave a job to get a promotion or a raise?

It’s like constantly breaking up with a partner rather than trying to make things work together. Why not just negotiate with the employee? Why not promote someone who deserves it?

If random strangers at a different company can hire me for a role that’s above my current job title, why couldn’t the current company do so too?