Stage 8 · Lesson 1 of 7
Setting goals with your manager
Once probation is behind you, agree three or four with your manager for the rest of the year. Each goal should say what you will do, how success will be seen and roughly when. For example: owning a small service's by month nine.
Mix delivery goals with growth goals, such as leading a small feature or improving a skill the team needs. Review them every month or two in your , and adjust them when priorities change. Written, shared goals make your next review fair and turn growth into a plan.
Common trapvague goals like "learn more" or "improve communication", which nobody can measure and nobody remembers at review time.
A question to check yourself, an AI practice session and 1 cheat sheet entry come when you add the roadmap to your account. Add it
Resources for this stage
Start with· follow one of these
- GitHub repoFreePath to Senior Engineer Handbook
Jordan Cutler · Intermediate
A free, practical guide to growing from junior through mid-level, with the habits reviewers look for
- BookPaidThe Software Engineer's Guidebook
Gergely Orosz · Intermediate · About $30 to $40 depending on format
Gergely Orosz on the early career years: reviews, promotions, pay and switching jobs
Keep handy
Also worth your time
- Soft Skills EngineeringGo deeper
A free podcast answering listener questions about exactly these first-job dilemmas