How is the promo process at FB for SWEs?

Google / Eng
seemh34

Go to company page Google Eng

PRE
Startuply
seemh34
Jul 17, 2021 53 Comments

Googler here frustrated with slow growth at the company. Manager doesn't support promo before 2 years no matter how many projects I'm landing.

So I'm exploring outside options. Especially curious about Facebook. Can people who worked both at FB and G tell me if the promo process is more meritocratic at FB? Is fast promo there easier as long as I'm willing to work hard? I'm ok with working 60-70 hours per week and on weekends.

L3 TC 220K

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TOP 53 Comments
  • Facebook
    carbonhand

    Go to company page Facebook

    carbonhand
    FB is known for being one of the best companies to join if you want to promo quickly. I personally got promoted from E3 to E4 in 6 months, E4 to E5 in 1 year and then E5 to E6 in another year. Been a year at E6 so far, but I think I can get to E7 in another couple cycles. Hope this helps!
    Jul 17, 2021 9
    • Facebook
      carbonhand

      Go to company page Facebook

      carbonhand
      I worked an average of 50 hours a week, but there were weeks where I was doing 60. It helps that I'm relatively young, so don't have family to take care of yet.

      I've found that AE is *sometimes* given during cliff or when your TC is much lower than your level for top performers as a retention tool. It's decided by the director, so that might be org dependent.
      Jul 18, 2021
    • Uber
      millionyen

      Go to company page Uber

      millionyen
      @carbonhand Do you think you could have worked normal 35-40 hours on average and not get MM but slowed down to get E3 -> E4 in 1 years and E4 -> E5 in 2 years instead of 6month/1year? Why the rush is my question.
      Jan 22
  • Much better
    Jul 17, 2021 4
    • Google / Eng
      seemh34

      Go to company page Google Eng

      PRE
      Startuply
      seemh34
      OP
      Thank you for sharing this experience. It sounds really meritocratic, and exactly how it should be.
      Jul 17, 2021
    • New
      arbitrary6

      New

      arbitrary6
      @FrdV78 when junior engineers at E3/4 get promoted that fast to E5 internally, does tc usually lag behind external E5 hires by quite a bit, or do high ratings, refreshers, and stock appreciation still make up for it (even though the promotions occur in a span of very little years)?
      Jul 18, 2021
  • Promos at FB aren’t “easy” but they are at least fair, in my opinion, unlike Google where it will take you a minimum of let’s say 5 years, no matter what, to get from L3->6, and often much longer.

    Source-joined FB as an E3, now I’m an E6 4 years later. Would I get hired as a staff SWE at Google? No, because they want more YOE. But I’m performing at an E6 level at FB, and really enjoying the work too.

    For that reason, I’ll always be grateful to FB for allowing promos at a “fair rate” instead of worrying about YOE. No one cares I only have 4 YOE. They only care that I’m delivering, and that’s why it’s an awesome culture.
    Jul 17, 2021 3
  • Chime
    Timekeeper

    Go to company page Chime

    Timekeeper
    There are no tenure requirements for promos at FB. All that matters is whether you're performing at the next level. For reference, I interned at FB, then joined full-time as a new grad E3, got promoted to E4 in the first full cycle (~9 months after joining), then to E5 2 cycles later. I haven't worked at Google.
    Jul 17, 2021 4
    • Google / Eng
      seemh34

      Go to company page Google Eng

      PRE
      Startuply
      seemh34
      OP
      Thank you! That's great to hear that you managed to go from E4 to E5 without even focusing on promo! This is exactly how it should be!
      Jul 17, 2021
    • New
      arbitrary6

      New

      arbitrary6
      @Chime, Do you have rough estimates to what your Tc progression looked at FB while you where there since starting as a new grad? I’m a past intern and having a hard time choosing.

      When you get promoted that quickly, since you’re still under your initial E3 stock grant, does comp tend to lag behind external hires coming in at E5? Even with refreshers, 2-3 years of stacked E3/E4 refreshers doesn’t seem like enough to mitigate the difference.
      Jul 18, 2021
  • Facebook
    c fb nccvc

    Go to company page Facebook

    c fb nccvc
    Manager here will push for your promotion till E5, as they also get credit for growing you.
    Jul 17, 2021 5
    • Google / Eng
      chnou

      Go to company page Google Eng

      chnou
      HR/finance org incentives != manager incentives (happily)

      Managers benefit when you get promoted because it demonstrates they are doing their job well (helping you grow technically and have your achievements recognized by the organization)
      Jul 18, 2021
    • Uber
      millionyen

      Go to company page Uber

      millionyen
      Wow exactly how much does the manager's team's growth/promo affect his own TC/promo?
      Jan 23