I'm stuck at mid level, please help
20 yoe, 130k TC Long story short: What should I do to be part of the group that makes 200k+ base / 300k+ TC??? What does an engineer like this looks like? Long story about me: Last 10 years in a AAA Gaming company ("regular" web tech, not directly making the games) I'm fairly good. I have a good grasp of everything but only have production systems in Java. This year after my yearly review and being denied Senior position another year, I decided to apply somewhere else. Got final rounds on Meta, Stripe, Greenhouse, Calm,and many others. For other companies I failed in the tech assessment (but I have to admit I was stretching myself on areas where I'm not an expert, e.g. Ruby on rails, or things like React, where I can still go and maintain it but it takes me a bit to start). Anyway, a total of 13 interviews in 6 months, not a single offer. I learned really quick I had to spend more time on LC (failed my first attempt on Amazon when I was still trying to "just use my experience"). I think I've got really good as I started to make final rounds with other companies. I'm starting to be afraid companies see my tenure like a red flag (can I blame them?) I've been executing as Sr for at least the past 5 years, but no promotion. Right now I'm taking a break, for having all these 1hr interviews during the day were getting out of hand. I plan to restart soon, and probably start looking abroad (currently in Austin Texas area). The main reason for my setback was I moved to the USA during a difficult time in my life and my English wasn't as good, so I was mostly on the back (coasting I have to admit it) just doing my day to day task without participating a lot. Five years ago when my personal problems settled down and my command of English was good I started to apply all the recommendations for promotion (protectiveness, documentation, help others etc etc etc) but still no dice. Anyway, hence the question: what does a 300k+ TC SWE looks like, what doi have to do?
honestly sounds like a numbers game.. grind lc, grind sd and with 20 yoe you are infinitely more valuable than some mid levels on here making 300
You've already said what it takes and I think you are spot on. Ask recruiters for feedback about whether you need any professional help with your resume. That is your first step forward. Everything else backs that up.
I totally understand your situation. I've never been more on edge or unhappy than when I see new grads or people (who barely know anything but are good at interviewing) working in a domain that's relatively easier with a larger number of opportunities making a lot more than me. I've got about half your YOE & make a little less than you. You got to learn to be happy for those people & pave your own path. Look at roles that pay you your target TC & start preparing to clear those interviews. Everyone has their own journey. There's a lot of bad & good advice on Blind. In the end also remember to keep a balance & not constantly chase more money. All the best.
You said it yourself - you made it to final rounds but didn’t have the LC practice to seal the deal
No company waits till the final round to decide your tenure is a problem - stay on the LC grind and keep applying