> I have little sympathy for companies that choose to operate that way.
A known product is more valuable than an unknown one. And you did "switch" from your first job when your value was more realized, so it cuts both ways!
That's why contract-to-hire exists; to turn an unknown into a known. If a company is serious about getting the best, they'll know that their best shot of getting it is before -everyone else knows how good the person is too-. Unfortunately, most companies are too short sighted to do this (the startup hire fast fire fast mantra applies here too).
> The sad thing is, any one of them could have netted my loyalty and at a cheaper price overall if they were savvy at recruiting
I just want to mention here, that he did say that he would have had a sense of loyalty towards employers, had he been treated differently by one (to that effect at least).
A known product is more valuable than an unknown one. And you did "switch" from your first job when your value was more realized, so it cuts both ways!