Change Jobs Now, or Wait? Favorable and Unfavorable Move Years
Two people both hear "there is movement this year." One changes jobs and goes from strength to strength; the other finds the switch a slog. The difference often lies in whether that year is favorable or unfavorable for you. This page lays out five situations, what suits each, and what to have ready before you make a move.
Five situations, five ways to play it
| The year | More like | Better suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Movement, favorable | Opportunity knocks, and you are ready | Sending out applications, negotiating terms, accepting a headhunter’s offer; a start-up or a change of field also fits |
| Movement, unfavorable | Change is pushed on you: restructuring, a new boss, a changed role | Getting savings, CV and network ready first; no rush to jump, and if you must, line up the next step first |
| Movement, mixed | Opportunity, at a price | Deciding by your luck pillar and circumstances: move if they are good, wait a year if not |
| No movement, favorable | More opportunity where you are than outside | Going for a promotion, a raise or new projects at your current company |
| No movement, unfavorable | Hard going, but little change | Holding steady and building up: study or save through this stretch and wait for the next favorable year |
How we counted: our engine cast one chart for every day from 1960 to 2005 (birth hour drawn at random, alternating male and female), 16,802 charts in all, and looked at the ten years 2026 to 2035. These are how often the signals appear; they say nothing about whether any real person will change jobs.
About 78.2% of people have at least one favorable move year within ten years, so there is no need to force a switch in a bad year. For the other 18.1% or so, every change in the decade falls in an unfavorable year; for them, the point is to handle each change well when it comes, not to wait for a perfect moment.
Example: Ming’s 2030 and 2031
In 2030, Geng-Xu fully clashes Ming’s Month Pillar, and both stem and branch are favorable: the best year of the decade for him to change jobs by choice. In 2031, Xin-Hai, he starts a new luck pillar; the stem is Seven Killings and favorable, the branch Direct Resource and unfavorable, a mixed year. If he does not move in 2030, 2031 still offers a chance, but he needs to weigh the direction of the new luck pillar: the Hai Water of Ji-Hai is unfavorable for him and the following years run less smoothly, so it is better to be settled in a good position by 2030. His full ten-year table is on the overview.
Before you switch jobs, get these ready
- An emergency fund: at least three to six months of living costs. In an unfavorable move year, this matters most.
- Your work and results: turn what you have done in recent years into results people can see; they count in interviews and salary talks.
- Where you are going next: find the next job, or at least settle on a direction, before you hand in your notice, unless it is a favorable move year and you already have an offer in hand.
- How you leave: hand over cleanly and part on good terms. In a Hurting Officer year especially, do not burn bridges.
- The people in the new place: which Ten God your new boss and colleagues are to you affects how smoothly you settle in; you can check with the tool on partners and coworkers.
A new employer, or your own business?
Both are movement, but in different directions. A favorable year that brings Output or Wealth stars suits working for yourself, freelancing or starting a business; a favorable year that brings Officer or Resource stars suits moving to a better organization, going for a position, or further study. Starting a business also depends on whether Wealth is favorable for you and whether your Day Master is strong enough to carry it; see BaZi and career and BaZi wealth luck.
A straight word: BaZi can only tell you when change comes more easily
Whether to change jobs comes down to whether your savings will carry you, where the next job is, and how your field is doing. What BaZi can do is point out which years carry more signals of change, and whether a move then has the wind behind it or against it, so you can prepare early. It does not decide for you whether to stay or go. Everything on this site is for reference and entertainment and is no substitute for professional career, financial or legal advice.
Which of your years is a favorable move year?
Enter your birth date and sex to see, for each of the next ten years, whether it is a favorable move year, an unfavorable one, or a year to make the most of where you are.
Changing jobs now or waiting: FAQ
Can I never change jobs in an unfavorable move year?
You can, but change in such a year tends to arrive on someone else’s terms, so prepare first: savings, CV, and where you are going next. If a restructuring or layoff does come, treat it as a chance to regroup, not a failure.
What if none of my next ten years is a favorable move year?
About 18.1% of people are in that position. It means every change falls in a harder year, so the point is to handle each one well: prepare early, move together with people you trust, and use the quiet years to build up your strength.
When is a good time to start a business?
A favorable year that brings Output or Wealth stars makes working for yourself go more smoothly. But a business also depends on whether Wealth is favorable for you, whether your Day Master is strong enough to carry it, and on your capital and market.