Feeling under-leveled and kind of bored / unmotivated

Google
LkuH38

Go to company page Google

LkuH38
Jul 21, 2021 16 Comments

I'm L4 at google. Was hired at L3 and recently promoted to L4 with "superb" rating. My manager even pointed out that "superb" means I'm clearly doing L5 work, but can only be promoted once at a time. I am already doing many things at L5 ladder, and I have 7+ YoE in the field. I'm feeling a bit impatient at L4 while I've been clearly doing L5 work for a while now.

In fact, I wrote a bunch of code that worked fairly well and then a new L5 hire changed everything for the worse (suddenly became impossible to mock and test the code properly, lost a lot of nice compile-time checks). Furthermore, the L5 started stealing / absorbing some of my designs into their own and taking quarterly tasks with the most impact, so it's harder for me to get them now. This isn't a big deal, since I know L5 is also trying to get promo, but I feel like I'm fully capable of doing everything the L5 is doing and more.

I like Google as a company so I don't really want to move companies, but I think I could easily get offers at Netflix/FB at the equivalent of my level+1. I sent some applications to test the market, so we'll see where that goes.

This feeling is making me kind of unmotivated, but I may also just be getting tired / bored of this specific team.

TC 230k, 7YoE

#swe #engineering #software #google

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TOP 16 Comments
  • Amazon
    zfyvjo12

    Go to company page Amazon

    zfyvjo12
    That TC is lower than Amazon internally promoted SDE 2's
    Jul 21, 2021 1
  • Google
    GOOGπŸ“ˆ

    Go to company page Google

    GOOGπŸ“ˆ
    Wrong message by your manager. Superb doesn't mean you meet L5 bar. It only means you are exceeding L4 bar.
    Jul 21, 2021 2
    • Google
      LkuH38

      Go to company page Google

      LkuH38
      OP
      My understanding is S at L3 is equivalent to EE at L4. I suppose you're right, so maybe half my complaint is that you need to be doing L5 work for 2 years before being promo vs just getting hired at L5 equivalent at another company
      Jul 21, 2021
    • Superb roughly equals to EE of next level is mainly for compensation planning. There is no Superb++, so a L3 doing L5 work could not get higher rating.

      I’ve seen many L4 to L5 promotions within less than 2 years. There are also people get it in less than 1 year, of course uncommon but does happen. Besides level, I think op may consider whether you like the work & team as well before next move.
      Jul 21, 2021
  • Juniper / Eng
    n71ghty

    Go to company page Juniper Eng

    PRE
    Juniper Networks
    BIO
    this is blind bitch, gtfo.
    n71ghty
    Is this how the 1% feel?
    Here I am hoping to atleast get into Google.
    Jul 21, 2021 0
  • Google
    lcxt

    Go to company page Google

    lcxt
    Google promo is heavily tenure based.

    Leave.
    Jul 21, 2021 0
  • Feeling unmotivated and not like you are being recognized is a shitty situation, sorry about that.

    However, you sound like you feel you are entitled to it. That attitude will actually get you shot down for a promo. I have personally told two engineers at Google when they reported to me that it was OK at L3, but they wouldn't make it past L4 if they didn't work on their toxic attitude.

    This is a regular occurrence at Google.
    Jul 21, 2021 0