software industry - java job now or take promotion sooner

[tennismac]

I've been torn over a career change. I'm a software engineer who has been on one team for 2.5 years working with relatively old technology - visual c++ 6.0/mfc application development.

My current options are:

1) switch teams inside the company and work with newer technology now (web java), might take 3 years to get promoted to "software architect", broaden skillset. (could still be promoted faster depending how crazy i work at it to compensate for kinda starting over on a new team). Get to work on consumer-oriented web apps and has a lot of growth potential.

2) stay on current team with older technology, will move to new technology in like 1.5 years which will be java as well but fat-client development. Probably get promoted in 2 years or 2.5 years. This team will also get to work on more complex problems since it's fat-client development but web gets more visibility and recognition potentially.

Perceptions that i have (please correct me if i'm wrong or provide some insight for me):

- web applications seems very hot right now and that industry is taking off.

- title promotions aren't that big of a deal and it's the broader skill set that is the important part and determines how marketable you are on your resume.

[JodiVee]

I'd take the safer route and stay with the same team. You posted this quite a while ago. What did you end up doing?