Just found these notes that I wrote in May of ‘21, but for some reason I decided not to post them. Here they are, in case they help someone. flashback starts here --------------- May 2021: M2 non-SWE, MPK based Hired H1 2016 at IC5 - $182k per year salary, $320k RSUs (stock price at the time was right around $100 per share) July 2016: first PSC, MA Jan 2017: EE + Promo to IC6, salary increase to $201k, granted some number of RSUs, probably around $45k worth July 2017: first rating at new level, MA Jan 2018: EE + Transition to M1, salary increased to $209k, granted $70k-ish of RSUs July 2018: EE Jan 2019: EE, salary increased to $220k, granted something like $80k RSUs There were some indications that I was on a good track to M2 here - in 12 months at M1 (2 years at level 6), I had wrapped up 2 big projects, had very high pulse scores, had significant team growth, had org level impact, had visible director interactions, had some important people management experiences occur, was managing 2x IC7s, and had 2x IC6s on the way to M1. BUT, one problem with wrapping up a big project or two is that you have to start something new: July 2019: MA - rating was a bit of a shock, given how hard I worked that half on a new area, but there were some big lessons here for me: 1. Disagreement on vision/roadmap between EM, PM, other xfn leads do not necessarily get a fair/equal treatment if those individuals are not cross-calibrated in the same sessions or mashups. 2. In a company of direct feedback, some senior leaders only give subtle signals in 1:1 and small groups that they will not support you when it comes to decision time - and that decision / lack of support might happen in front of a large audience. On a "glass half empty" day I could call this backstabbing. On a "glass half full" day, I could say that I learned something valuable about politics at FB. 3. If you think your manager asked you to "take one for the team", Don’t assume - ask them to confirm. 4. If you don't enjoy what you're doing, you won't do it well. At least I haven't figured out how. Following this experience, I started interviewing outside the company. Had several good offers, but they all felt too lateral, and I didn't want to move on without a bigger career step. Financially, I should have left, since this MA set back the promo process enough that I fell off the RSU cliff. Jan 2020: EE, salary increased to $226k, granted another $70k RSUs - learned a lot from the previous half, and proved it by getting back on track By Feb 2020, I had declined a handful of offers, and opted to stay at FB for stability as COVID got real into March/April 2020. I also had something to prove to myself about the promo that I was working toward. July 2020: no PSC due to COVID/WFH transition, but I had kicked off a new program in H1, and I knew it was going well, so I felt confident an EE was in the cards for a non-COVID half Jan 2021: GE + Promo to M2, salary increased to $251k, granted something like $140k in RSUs - learned a lot from the previous half, and proved it - overall comp still not where it would be if I had been promoted earlier or went and got a new L7 (or even L6) grant at another FANG company. I have now accepted another offer and will be moving on. ------ end flashback.
Assume you posted this in 2018, We would have still commented “TC or GTFO”
The main idea in this story is?
started reading expecting a big payoff. payoff never came.
Good chronological account, thanks. How big was your team in July 2019?
It was between 12 and 16. At 8 direct reports, I was enjoying being an M1. At 12 direct reports, I had a couple of clear leaders emerging on the team, and I enjoyed the help they provided to balance competing projects/priorities. The next few hires and transfers I started funneling into those tech leads, which was how I started them on the path to their own M1 transitions.
Since life is a journey, not a destination, many people find it helpful to get a little snapshot of someone else’s journey. My career isn’t over, so I don’t have any more payoff to offer than what I shared here - I set myself some goals at FB, had some successes and some setbacks, including prioritizing recognition/title goals over monetary goals. You can make that kind of choice for yourself in your own career, deciding to play it safe or take a risk the next time there is a global pandemic - there’s no clear right or wrong answer. If there’s no value for you here, that’s OK - the only person for whom this was costly was me.
Just letting you know I appreciate your post 😊
Cool story bro
Great post. Thank you. Shows how politics work. Applicable to any organization.
It was a good decision not to post them.
why?
I painted my toenails yesterday morning. I did not post about it. Same idea.