May I ask: Why do you think 4y is optimal for pay increase?
For me, I would swap anyway after 2y for the below reasons but I've found that optimal for income...
Year 1:
* You're learning a lot
* You're on significantly more money and better benefits than before
* You can plausibly believe that all the cultural/structural issues you have will be solved in the next 12m
Year 3:
* None of the above. You're learning very little, you've gotten cost of living raises or a little above but not the 20% + a job change should bring, you realise now the business has no intention of dealing with it's issues. You will just have to live with them...
For me, I would swap anyway after 2y for the below reasons but I've found that optimal for income...
Year 1:
* You're learning a lot
* You're on significantly more money and better benefits than before
* You can plausibly believe that all the cultural/structural issues you have will be solved in the next 12m
Year 3:
* None of the above. You're learning very little, you've gotten cost of living raises or a little above but not the 20% + a job change should bring, you realise now the business has no intention of dealing with it's issues. You will just have to live with them...