π #IndustryStandard #PromotionExpectations #CareerGrowth
Hey there, fellow mid-level Software Engineer! πΌπ Let’s tackle your situation and explore whether this expectation set by your higher-up is bull**** or actually an industry standard! π€πͺ
First off, it’s important to note that every company and industry has its own unique promotion criteria and timelines. π’βοΈ What might work in one organization could be completely different elsewhere. However, let’s dive deeper into this situation and see if we can shed some light on it! π‘β¨
Based on what you’ve shared, it seems like your company expects individuals to consistently perform at a higher level for a period of 4-6 months before being considered for a promotion. ππ While it may feel frustrating, it’s worth noting that this timeline could be influenced by various factors, such as organizational growth, team dynamics, and the need for consistent performance. π’π₯
To determine if this expectation is industry standard, it would be beneficial to gather insights from others in similar roles and companies. ππ¬ Networking with colleagues, attending industry events, or even exploring online communities, such as LinkedIn or tech forums, can provide you with a broader perspective. ππ£οΈ
Moreover, it’s great to hear that you’ve taken on senior-level responsibilities and have been consistently delivering at that level since June. ππͺ This demonstrates your eagerness to grow and contribute to the team. Perhaps sharing specific examples of your senior-level work, such as successful projects or positive feedback from your peers, would aid your case for promotion.
Try having an open and honest conversation with your higher-up to understand their perspective more clearly. π£οΈπ₯ It could be that their expectations are aligned with the company’s growth strategy or that there might be specific criteria they are looking for before promoting an individual. Asking for clarification can help you navigate the path forward. πΊοΈπ
Remember, it’s essential to approach this conversation respectfully and professionally. Emojis can be a bit tricky to incorporate in professional communication, so it’s best to keep them to a minimum or use them sparingly if you feel it’s appropriate. ππ
Furthermore, don’t forget to consider your own career aspirations and evaluate if this company’s promotion policy aligns with your long-term goals. Sometimes, it might be necessary to explore other opportunities where your growth can be better recognized and rewarded in a shorter time frame. ππ
Ultimately, what matters most is finding a company and work environment that values and appreciates your efforts and achievements. Keep pushing forward, showcasing your capabilities, and seizing new opportunities whenever they arise! ππΌπͺ
Best of luck on your path to success! ππ
I understand why they do promotions once a year, but you do not have to play along with that. They will promoter you outside of that if they think you are a senior AND you have a job offer for a senior position elsewhere.
They might even promote you to senior if they donβt really think youβre a senior but you have a senior offer elsewhere and they really need you or really like you. I would not recommend this tho because bad things happen when youβre significantly over paid or over titled – your peers will resent you and you become the most bang-for-the-buck person at layoff time.
Yep. The hardest one IMO is when you need to manage before having management authority.
yup. usually 1 y to 1.5 y, though, in my experience.
first 6 mo before they realized that we perform above our level, another 6 mo – 1 y for them to really know that we should be promoted.
1. Get a better offer
2. If youβre really determined to stay at company, tell them exactly what you want and why.
3. If they give you what you want, stay. If they donβt, leave π
Itβs very common for them to say, and itβs very common to get an instant raise and promotion by switching companies when they say that as an excuse to drag your promotion outβ¦
Yes. But the general consensus among engineers is that you shouldn’t assume additional responsibilities without additional compensation.
There’s a saying in this industry, “You gotta step out to step up”. In my experience that’s very true. You can spend 2-5 years at your current role fighting for a promotion, or leave the company for another that needs to fill that same role in half that time. However, you should have the ability to perform at the level you’re trying to apply for before you apply for it.
Go back twenty years; it was called a stretch role. It was an official designation for HR. You received a mentor and milestones to achieve by a specific date. If you couldn’t accomplish it, you stayed at your current level. No harm, no foul. If you did accomplish you would get a 25% bonus that year, a promotion, and a raise.
We lost all of that as organizations flattened and HR has been thinned. Nowadays, it’s bust your ass while I politic in the background, hoping to get you promoted because the organization can’t make any promises to me.
Maybe I was spoiled early in my career. I haven’t seen it since.
It’s industry standard to lie like that to squeeze you into doing senior work for mid-level pay. What you do is job hop and get senior pay.
In most large companies I’ve worked at or know about to get a promotion you need to receive “above expectations” review once or twice during your performance review which usually takes place 1-2 times per year.
Yeah – the only time you’re given a title and expected to grow into it is when you’re initially hired.
It depends on the company but it’s usually linked more to budget considerations and constraints you don’t see along with managerial favoritisms than actual performance.
For example, your director knows that if you’re promoted, you’ll get a raise and blow his budget for employees. So, he uses the review system to hold you back to make it look like he’s holding the line on costs to his management.
This is a bad way of doing things but it is common. That’s why SWEs like to job hop to get a promotion and raise instead of sticking with a company.
Yes it’s common. This is why it’s also common to job hop and get promoted during your job hop because it’s easier to find another job at a higher level than it is to get promoted to that level in your company.
Yes. Why would they promote you to a position and hope you figure it out? The best way to get a promotion is to start doing the promoted job and then make your case and explain why.
It’s normal to expect to perform at the eventual promotion level before getting actually promoted, but it sounds like they’re not actually promoting people given that you’ve only seen 1 promotion in 2.5 years. That’s pretty common at companies that don’t have any sort of leveling/promotion policies in place.
4-6 months minimum, more likely 12-24 months.
It’s easier to look for a new job with increased title/pay than get a promotion.
Yes the industry standard is bullshit.
If you want consistent raises job hop or collectively bargain for em.
Just look outside your company. Working at the next level is expected for promo, but unless you really love your current team you can get a better offer externally than anything internal. Also reduces the risk of a carrot-on-a-stick, because you could be working at the next level for a while and be constantly pushed back if they donβt fear any attrition
This is definitely common, but it’s also common to get led on for months thinking you’ll get a promotion that isn’t coming.
For what it’s worth, part of the promotion criteria at my company is whether or not they have been performing at a higher level.
normal
you don’t become a Senior and **then** perform at Senior-level
you first perform at Senior-level and **then** get promoted to Senior
unfortunately this means promotion tend to lag behind performance and it’s normal, your higher-up is correct in this case
otherwise imagine me telling Google “hey how about you hire me as a L6 Staff Engineer first and then I’ll perform as L6?”
Only 4 to 6 months? Damn :D. It’s over a year here. And yes, it’s normal.
Where I work this is standard. You need to be taking responsibilities for the position you want before a promotion. That said, we follow through with promotions. If your company leads you on and you can clearly demonstrated youβve been performing above your current position itβs probably time to consider looking elsewhere. Or having a frank conversation with your manager.
Yes
You get promoted to the next level based on if you prove you can handle it.
Itβs part of why people job hop. When you hop jobs you only have to convince a few interviewers you can handle the level you are applying for.
This was common at Google for a long time, but then they changed it to “showing the potential to work at the higher level” because it’s supposed to be more fair (though in practice I’m not sure that’s actually happening yet). That older way is definitely a way for the company to get more from you for less money, especially since each level is a bit subjective over time.
Well, there’s no real “industry standard” other than “you’re going to be jerked around pretty much all the time before you get any kind of promotion or pay raise at all”. This was true even when the market was good – the only way to move up was to move out to another company.
yeah. you should be already performning at the new level
yes