How long to reach 65 at Microsoft from high 62?
Two questions about promotions at MSFT: 1) I'm 62 now, close to promotion, maybe in few months. If I do really well, in a fast pace team in microsoft AI, how long will it take me to get promotion from 63 to 64, and 64 to 65? 2) Also is there any knowledge that promotions can be faster depending the role? Software engineer vs data & applied scientist vs research scientist. I can be in all of them potentially, currently D&AS.
In addition to your performance there are other things that matter too. Are you someone who will increase diversity at MS? Is it a well funded team?
Yes I'm a pretty rare type in my position! Team is new and strategic with high visibility up to ceo level. Milestones need to be reached to justify more funding. Good or bad for promo?
Your manager and skip matter a lot as does the overall "culture of promotion" on the team. All of that other stuff matters very little. Two years would be very, very unlikely although not unheard of. Average is like 5.5-6 years. You could do it in 3-4 if your manager and skip were on board. Researchers start at 63 but I dont get the sense they get promoted very quickly. I think your best bet is sde teams with "high promo" culture with a manager you "click" with.
Can you clarify what "skip" means in this context?
Skip level = manager of manager
It will normally take 3 years to be at 65 if you are 62 now. đ
Also its worth asking yourself why you want to be a 65. A high performing 64 makes almost as much with MUCH less stress no matter the team.
What extra stress a 65 has compared to 64?
65s are competing with director level managers. They have to have commensurate impact.
In AI near best case is 5 years if you get 63 today.. Else think and plan 6 as best case..
Is it specific to AI? I am part of microsoft AI & Research, as a data and applied scientist. Is it too slow comparec to other orgs and roles?
Not really specific as most orgs at senior level ask for 18 mos in level at intra level and 24 months in level for between level bands. There are exceptions but the burden of proof is higher on the manager and skip abd principal promos are approved at CVP level. Hence you need some key projects and good runway. In research it is probably harder to do based on nature of work than say development in O365 or Azure Service Management or say Customer Success etc.
1) Honestly it can be anything from 2 years-forever. Impossible to say without knowing more details about you, your team, your manager & skip. 2) No idea.