Fellow Blinders, would you stay at your current role to get a “we will try to promote you” in the next cycle or would you start looking now? Org politics could mean that I would be passed over even though I did everything right. I’ve already been here long enough to keep my resume from looking bad if I decide to move on. I don’t have a ton of RSUs that I would leave behind either. Second question, how much would you discredit applicants if you saw eBay on it?
Maybe usually means no. I try to look at more than just by whom a candidate was employed.
I've seen some extremely talented engineers come from the most obscure places I've never heard of or if I had I wouldn't have thought they would have even decent engineers let alone great ones.
Do or do not, there is no try. ~Yoda Manager is bullshiting you so you'll stay. He/she has no intention of promoting you. Same shit happened to me, so I'm on my way out. Start leetcoding.
It is BS. You should prepare leave. In the meantime time, as you have nothing more to lose, try to use this as a stage to practice managing up. Go ask the manager for specifics goals to target, and that he/she can commit to promoting as long as they are in control. Who knows there are may be other changes around the same time to make it beyond their control. Also, if they can't promote you, you would have still achieved a targeted set of goals, you can use that to get a significant raise or other rewards. Worst case, you leave on a high note!! Goodluck
Leave.
Always go with what Is over what May Be; 11 times out of 10.
If the next cycle is like 3 months away, just stay for a bit and see what happens. But start preparing to leave
I have realized that managers won't tell you exactly what you need to achieve in order to promote you. They give you vague goals that can't easily be quantified to allow them to change their expectation of your achieved goals. You could have achieved what you thought were agreed upon, but they will always create new areas to attack you. Like, you did x well, but x requires y to come along to make the whole package more complete. Remember, any company will want to keep expenses low. They want maximum output with minimal expense.
First if you really think you will stay if you get a promotion then ask your manager why does he say "maybe", ask him what you need to do to get a confirm promotion? Maybe improve in some area? If he still says Maybe then it is a No. Look around if that's the case
I’m told my manger doesn’t have the power. I also don’t think she will fight hard to make it happen either. I guess I should just start interviewing and see what is out there.
My manager says she wants to put me up for a promotion, but it isn’t her choice in the end. It’s an org decision which is out of my bosses control. I said maybe because it won’t be a sure thing, and even if I did everything right I can get passed over.
Then you've answered your own question. More than likely you'll hear something like "I tried my best but ...". There are things that are worth waiting around for (stock vesting, for example). "Maybe" from a manager usually isn't one of them.
Take your time and get out
I am in a similar situation. I think you should wait till the next cyle, keep it cool with your manager and keep working hard so that they dont have a reason not to promote you. It doesnt hurt to wait for another 6months. Again thats my strategy