Chapter 1 · Practice 3 of 4
Treat senior as a level you can stay at, not a waiting room
Why it matters
Many ladders have a career level: a level that most engineers are expected to reach and where many stay for the rest of their careers, doing excellent work. Dropbox's promotion guidelines say it expects all engineers to grow to L4-level impact or greater over time, and that L4 will be a career level for many engineers.
The same guidelines give typical time in level for individual contributors:
| Level | Typical time in level |
|---|---|
| L1 | 1.5 to 2 years |
| L2 | 2 to 3 years |
| L3 | 2 to 4 years |
| L4 | 4+ years, a career level for many |
Two lessons follow. First, early promotions come at a fairly predictable pace if you grow, so there is no need to panic after one year. Second, the steps above senior are different in kind, not just harder; nobody is behind for staying a strong senior engineer.
Do
- Set expectations for pace with your manager using your own ladder
Avoid
- Comparing your level with friends at other companies, where numbers mean different things