Market Relevance

Failing to level up for three years is claimed to reduce market value by 30 percent. The article says individual developers are responsible for changing stagnant patterns because the system does not automatically care about their growth. Defensiveness can leave a developer good enough for the current job but not qualified for a better one. Old skills can look senior until a layoff or market pressure reveals they have become stale. Dependability in old systems may protect a current role while weakening future career options.