Chances of L6 Staff SWE from a L64 with 14 yoe

Microsoft / Eng
discordFan

Go to company page Microsoft Eng

discordFan
Mar 31, 2021 29 Comments

Senior @ MSFT 4+ years. Have been through several reorgs and manager churns that I missed out on the Principal promo every time.

I've had great connects, rewards. However, bad luck, stuck in a principal heavy org where someone has to leave to create a 'promo slot' (I know it's BS, but that's how it works, may be it works as a counter offer, idk) & I'm not politically savvy tbh. Not sure if moving to a different org helps, basically I'm starting over.

I'm doing the work of a L65+ own a critical cross org v1 feature. Received a few pre-ipo offers at 375k+, but with 14 yoe I'm looking at staff/principal roles and quite confident with the interviews. How do I convince the recruiter to slot for a staff role and if I were to be slotted, does the candidate's packet go to HC with my current level and will that weigh me down?

Looking at you. F, G, Uber, Snap :)

255k
#tech

68 PARTICIPANTS SELECT ONLY ONE ANSWER
VOTE VIEW RESULT

comments

Want to comment? LOG IN or SIGN UP
TOP 29 Comments
  • Microsoft / Eng
    discordFan

    Go to company page Microsoft Eng

    discordFan
    OP
    And for those who vote do not disclose the current level, LinkedIn gives away my title and its an easy guess for recruiters. How to navigate that?
    Mar 31, 2021 6
  • Microsoft / Eng
    discordFan

    Go to company page Microsoft Eng

    discordFan
    OP
    The poll has progressively answered that my chances are likely <10%. For those who voted <10%, could you chime in to say why you think so?

    1) Historically that's the trend
    2) Goog is in general hard to crack and so is L6 (immaterial of where I come from)
    3) Pre-conceived notion that a L64 should not level to a L6, since we know how MSFT works
    4) something else

    May be I'll add a new poll if there is interest, suggest other choices if any.
    Mar 31, 2021 5
  • Google / Eng
    โ™ฅ๏ธ๐Ÿฅœ๐Ÿงˆ

    Go to company page Google Eng

    โ™ฅ๏ธ๐Ÿฅœ๐Ÿงˆ
    Here's what I'll suggest. Talk to your recruiter at Google and if they ask for level, tell them you're on track for 65 in x months and therefore only interview for L6. They may come back and tell you that 65 maps to L5 (true) however, given your yoe, you might be able to convince them to give you an L5/L6 loop. In this case, depending on your interview performance, you have a non zero chance of landing L6. I'll be honest, it's difficult but it's worth a shot.

    Edit: How long have you been at MSFT out of that 14yoe ?
    Mar 31, 2021 6
  • Amazon
    smoothly

    Go to company page Amazon

    smoothly
    I mean - itโ€™s possible theyโ€™ll have a recruiter buddy at msft and they can look you up on who โ€” but just donโ€™t reveal your level - if they ask just pivot to a question to them.
    Mar 31, 2021 3
  • Amazon
    vUfk52

    Go to company page Amazon

    vUfk52
    If youโ€™re getting a 60% salary bump at 375k, why are you not taking it??
    Apr 1, 2021 2