Question for current/past Microsoft employees: If your bonus is below Target, does it mean that you are not performing up-to expectations? My manager tells me I am doing great but getting a below target bonus is sending a conflicting message. I am a Level 61 and a PM2 and just completed a year at Microsoft last month. I am losing faith in management as any performance issues need to be told to the employee way earlier and not at the rewards discussion. More so sending an opposite message that performance is good while giving less than target bonus is just not good management at all. Should I start looking externally given that my promo chances here look bleak?
It doesn't mean you aren't performing up to expectations, but you're below average and that means zero promo chance. Either wait until everyone better than you has been promoted, or figure out what management wants, while interviewing elsewhere.
Guess I need to start applying & interviewing. I was looking at having a promo conversation next quarter as they have been telling me I am doing great! And now they decide to give me this big shock during the rewards discussion instead of telling me months ago.
What’s the difference in bonus payouts for below target/target and top performers?
I am Ex-microsoft. It does not mean that you are below expectations, it does mean that your manager is not too keen to retain you.
Yeah - with this there is no risk - given manager doesn’t seem interested in retaining you , feel free to apply for other internal positions - atleast you can.
Agree with others. Doesn't mean you aren't doing your job, just means that in comparison with your peers, they did a better or more visible job this year. Ive had one year in my MS career with below 100% rewards and it was because my big bet didn't pan out. Manager had a frank conversation with me that I appreciated. He said to keep doing what I was doing and eventually I'd find the next homerun project. I did, everything was fine the next year end and I never looked back.
Many people, myself included, have had less than stellar years, and been fine. It does NOT mean your manager does not want to retain you. Its quite possible they put you up for higher rewards that got downgraded as your impact was compared with others in your level band up the org. That is a key point. You were being compared with l62s as well. It's very easy at your level to recover and be promoted next year, but you and your manager need to be on the same page. Go have a frank discussion with them about concrete steps and expectations to get to 62. One of the tenets of promotion is that you already must be working at that level to get promoted. There isn't any reason to go looking for a different job if you like the work, team and org. Even if you decide to look it certainly isnt a reason to look outside MS. Most places have differentiated compensation (which is a good thing. Imagine how it would be if everyone got paid by tenure), so there will be comparison with others. Good luck whatever you decide to do.
Lvl61, how many levels in total?
80
Is that a global thing ? Not just msft