Stage 1 · Lesson 6 of 8
Getting the expectations in writing
Your manager's view of the bar matters more than the framework alone. The bar is the standard you have to meet, and your manager is the one who will argue your case in the promotion discussion. So ask them directly: "What separates my work today from the next level?"
Turn their answer into 3 to 5 concrete expectations, with examples of work that would count. Send it back to them to confirm. that you both agree on turn a vague hope into a shared plan.
They also protect you if your manager changes. If your manager cannot describe the bar, that is useful information too.
Common trapa friendly conversation that nobody writes down, which leaves each of you remembering something different six months later.
A question to check yourself, an AI practice session and 1 cheat sheet entry come with the full roadmap. Unlock
Resources for this stage
Start with
- GitHub repoFreePath to Senior Engineer Handbook
Jordan Cutler · Intermediate
Start with the sections on what senior means and how scope grows
Keep handy
Also worth your time
- Google Software Engineer Levels Explained: L3 to L10 and the Terminal Level (opens in a new tab)Read
How scope changes from L4 to L5 to L6 at a company with a well-documented ladder
The senior and tech lead parts, with concrete expectations at each level