If it doesn't, what could you add to make that work? I breezed to L63 and shortly after to L64 within a year. Given all that, the two things that are key to promotion are:1) Your relationship with your skip level manager. Don't spend so much time worrying about the next notch on the ladder: your goal should be to learn new things, to get something cool done and to find things to do that are fun for you.2. Calibrations are like a brick wall, even in regard to comments made about you. Grammar nitpicking is fine when it's accurate. You're cursed for life.2. But if you start when you think you are ready and work with your manager toward the goal, you'll get there. Directors are usually senior principals (level 66, 67) or at Partner level. Wonderful. There are 12 Directors in my sub and over 1000 people all scoping to one day be a Lvl 63reality, most people will leave before they get that far. After all, if you think you are already ready, and your manager doesn't, there is probably some way you can improve that you don't understand -- this is something you want to figure out.6. The estimated base pay is $243,438 per year. I thought what I did was valuable but in the end, it wasn't.The Microsoft up or out policy is the prime directive. 8,000+ Senior Director Human Resources Jobs in United States - LinkedIn I'm interested in reading your perspective and what advice you'd give to someone new to the company looking at a career path similar to your own. There were times when I was promoted more slowly than I probably could have been, but I am very happy with where I am now, and I am still growing. Eng, Go to company page I'm there. IMHO. Will a L63 have direct reports and/or manage v-? Why? . What if you and your manager are at the same level L62. * Leaving the company - oh, the all too easy escape: I have seen that mentioned in quite a few comments. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. So once again, a big part of your job is learning how to become a ninja at firguring out what your management wants from you -- even when they haven't articulated it in any kind of measurable way -- and then doing it. Even with all good intentions, they can even be ineffective mentors (although I still highly recommend the mentoring program, as long as you change your mentor every year). Managers plan out promotion timeframes far in advance. Maybe one boss likes to see a lot of code written, and another settles for less code, but fewer bugs. L7 equals L64 or L65. When someone gives you the hard advice to succeed, it's quite the gift. The person who puts you up for promotion and has promotion conversations with your skip level. I think it's important to be very up-front andto use a clichetransparents with your manager regarding your next steps and prospects for promotion. Great topic. It going to be more about survival in the current business climate. There's this sort of nebulous "first you have to perform at level current+1 for a year, then you'll get promoted. I joined Microsoft at L63 in Office and found it to be a freakshow of people NOT working together but understanding that no team work was better for getting a promotion FAR better than I did having come from the Valley. When you see a bozo who is L65 it is highly likely that he had joined MS recently at L64-L65 directly.Here's biggest difference in expectations between levels: The L62 guys are supposed to be able to lead their feature and perhaps influence couple of related features by spreading their best practices. We are all flawed, and you are lucky if people are telling you something that you can do something about. Leverage your professional network, and get hired. I am a HR manager. However good your manager is, she or he is still a human with insecurities and ego. The biggest lesson I learned here was how to work *with* other teams, even when I thought they weren't very good and even when our purposes didn't align. Mini -- you left out the most important option, which I took. Advice from anyone at Microsoft for 10+ years is great to hear, but hard to follow. If you are not at the top of your stack rank for your level, you will not get the promo. I think that the whole culture of the stack rank + fighting for scraps for their directs + a lack of visibility and input on what will justify a promotion is what scares of managers from engaging with their employees regarding career growth.Note, that I am not saying that I want a guarantee one way or the other. "I wonder whyMicrosoft: Citi Cuts Ests, Target On PC Slowdown. With this article at OpenGenus, you must have the complete idea of various job levels at Microsoft. You can each help each other.I've gone from 59 to 65 so far, but maybe what worked for me won't work for you. They are the exception that you shouldn't wind yourself up about.And I don't want to focus on them anymore in this comment stream because it's not helpful. And in my experience they are *eager* to get your skills and your lower level payroll expense! A Principal-level employee at Microsoft is someone who drives strategic efforts in their area of expertise. Level 61 - overseas. I'm not talking about "managing up" (though that helps a little if done properly) but it's all about understanding your manager and skip manager's priorities and proactively succeeding in those areas. Difference between getting promoted to L65 and joining as new FTE at L65 is HUGE. I also agree with the requests to have a discussion related to 65+.Anyway, I have seen a very healthy discussion going on here, and most of the thoughts I wanted to share have been mentioned. Or you wait until you get escorted out.I dont know what the final outcome of my situation will be but I expect in the end, I will think it was for the better.Good luck to all in your Microsoft careers, but pay attention to the levels, CSPs and how stack rankings work. Unless you're an asshat, in which case see mini's comment about slapping yourself around and listening to what other's think about you.And in those huge orgs with all the noise it is really easy for folks to rest and *ahem* vest, so you are overlooked by default.The key as mini and others have stated is finding the tech and team you love and everything flows from there (because you will be so excited you will go home and work another 4 hours every night examining customer feedback, competitive products, etc. You must ask for a promotion when you think you are ready. Obviously a key word in my advice was explicitly. i asked him if he knew the absolute most important thing for him to do to get promoted. Do you think I can find a way to do almost as well and stay here, in this job I enjoy?" you want to complete A and A requires 10 devs. We in general hire very smart people who can figure it out. Even if you don't leave, make no mistake, I'll be building a backfill slate for your role just in case. You try that in subs (who actually generate the revenue, HQ typically dont) - but the question is - do they dare push such a thing in the US? I'm a level 62 dev trying to get to 63. This past year I had what I thought was an outstanding year, was given a 20%, but not promoted to L63. I've lucked out a bit by working on a key project for our group and division, although a lot of that was due to my own contributions. Yes, "soft skills" count.I'm pleased that someone said it.There are a collection of skills that are difficult to quantify that are absolute necessities to succeeding at higher levels. If you find yourself in this spot - get a good external mentor to help you manage through it if you don't feel you can have this conversation with your manager.4. If your boss isn't banging his fist on the table for you, it won't happen. Promotion budgets of 65 and above has been kept intact.Where did you hear this? This employer has claimed their Employer Profile and is engaged in the Glassdoor community. the higher you go, the bigger deal this is - at least to where i have gotten.Finally, not everybody will be good in every role. My old boss was a 65 but his title was "principal director of engineering", new boss is the exact same level and job and his title is "principal engineering manager". Senior-level employees have the most decision-making power at a company and are meant to provide leadership and guidance to employees with less seniority. How do you get the right job/work that will make the impact. I will mis-direct and confuse you with hearsay. And to your boss. Without soft skills, you can't make 64 and certainly no chance at 65.I've seen many people transfer into MCS, level up, and then transfer out basically using it as a boost. Microsoft Software Engineering Manager Salary Levels | 6figr >> You forgot "never ask for a promotion".This is better written as "Ask what specific things you are lacking in, which are preventing you from being promoted to the next level". Popping out of the pack in peer reviews may take some time so you have to be diligent, consistent and never give up. You've told me you're not willing to have the hard career conversation with me and/or that you're not willing to do what I told you needed to be done when we had that conversation. Don't like branching strategy? Microsoft, Go to company page The L64 guys should be able to influence their skip level orgs plus one or two groups outside of the skip org. Additionally, a Level 62 doesn't really have the tools to evaluate and sell a promotion to a 63. Successful people looooove to expound upon the secret to their success. If the answer is regularly a 'yes', then this clearly is an indication that you are ready. Ask your VP, give the benefits on transparency from your perspective, and ask their opinion. But power plays are at work and I get smacked when I try and take on extra work. I am a troll. I was always righteously indignant when I encountered asshats and incompetence and I would rail against the losers to anyone who would listen, and then I would do whatever it took to drive my agenda through to completion.I focused 100% on producing vast quantities of superior quality work -- which endeared me to my management chain and opened up a crap-ton of doors at those early levels. Your commitments should already provide you with milestones to set as your goals. Great post. Might as well fire those guys. Director vs. Vice President: What's the Difference? | Indeed.com Thats what I call implicit :). Browse all Microsoft salaries . Happy hunting. It works like this: Senior (L64,63) - works on tactical efforts, writes code or works on projects autonomously, collaborates with others If you're not there yet and your boss was asked that question by your skip-level-boss, what is your boss's answer? They just plain resonate. How? What is the average promotion velocity for non-technical fields? Of course, it goes without saying that if you dont have any substance you will likely hurt yourself badly and get ignored with vengeance next time. Then I would get emails rating my abilities in these areas that I had no input into it and any replies rebutting it would go unanswered. He identified the common denominators in becoming an expert in practically any field. Please help. Strategy and Product Leader for an omni-channel team encompassing blended physical-digital experiences that combine personalized services with customer relationship strengthening across 400- centers. Risk and return are related. In fact, every boss I've had has told me that I was the most frustrating employee they've ever had, mostly because I ignore half the things they ask me to doAnyhow, here's my advice: do a good job.That's it. Say that you will understand if your manager thinks you aren't ready. If it does, are you demonstrating success at that next level already and do people know about it? Any suggestions on how to focus on this. Microsoft senior leadership team under Satya Nadella Tech Here are the most important execs at Microsoft under Satya Nadella Jordan Novet @jordannovet Key Points Microsoft's executive team. Cathriona Hallahan - Independent Non-Executive Member - LinkedIn So far, we all appear to have jobs, but man, what a shocker, I thought ours was one of the more stable teams.Not sure what happens to our Director, he seemed a bit shocked himself when he delivered the news today. Somebody help me out here. At L63 in particular you break out of the pack with expertise in the "how" you accomplish things. Kiran R, Ph.D. - Partner GM, DSaaS (Data Sciences-as-a - LinkedIn Losing focus of your target next career level will leave you with nothing but regret and wasted time, sometimes years. Take it because it plays to your strengths. There is no better investment at Microsoft for tuning your career. I /like/ OneCare. I sympathize with folks who feel they have been shafted however to quote a cliched saying: the common factor between you and all your problems is you. Only one can emerge, and not everyone can be a senior simultaneously. In the case of the latter, make sure you have the goods, because your manager now must show his/her hand on whether s/he values you. 5. The education qualifications required for various roles for Technical track are: The highest job title in management track in Microsoft is "Vice President (VP)". How you perform in interview is going to matter on whether you get proper mapping or not. If you are in office, you will have lots of experience promoting people up to 62 but after that it's a rare event. A Senior Director gets a basic salary package of $190,000, which gets as high . Oh, please. I think your comments on level 63 were interesting. How do you make sure you do a good job but not too good of a job.Also higher levels will tend to require you to do things you may not like. Don't just take a L63+ role because of the level. Biggest key for me was knowing when to leave a bad management situation and team. It's what you can offer, not what you want out of it that most teams are looking for. And if you have a manager who thinks that way, then your manager is a doofus who will never help anyone succeed. YES, there are people who are awful at all three and still succeed. VPs may well number in the hundreds at a huge place . Its usually comes down to do it and be unhappy or leave. I came from .NET (no longer there), and there were plenty of Senior IC PMs and Devs.Are you in Test, Marketing or Documentation? The job level for Technical Fellow starts at 80 and goes beyond. I suggest understanding why it is "No" first, truthfully accepting the point-of-view as pissed off as it may make you, and then having a self-directed action-plan to get on track. I made sure I was the fastest, most efficient, and best bug fixer. But the clarity I have through the rear view mirror is staggering -- I was defining myself by what a bunch of poorly skilled managers thought, in a company that hadn't moved it's stock price in seven years. Revise if needed. I've been hearing some stealth layoffs around the SQL and BOSG groups, around 70+ people were given 6(?) We have covered both technical and management track at Microsoft. If you do not market yourself well, even if you are a superstar here at MSFT, your achievements might just go unrecognized (or they might be selectively recognized). Oldest and (still) best advice I've gotten is move around a lot; no two teams' cultures or needs are the same, so you have something to offer wherever you look. Obviously, this is advice that you may not apply during the current hiring freeze, but keep it on your mind for the future.- At times the focus on the level may not be the most important strategy in the long term. Given that quite a few Microsofties are going to find themselves locked into their current group for a while, the ability to succeed by swinging on the vines to a new group is going to be rare. He himself is principal for quite sometime. more often than not it is up to the employee to use the resources, show maturity and commonsense and move up62 -> 63 is difficult and there is a reason behind it. You should leave. Next, advertise your new branching strategy in your peer groups. Candidates with evidence of effective teaching will be given preference. During the start-up boom, I considered leaving. There are tons of Principles and L64s anyone can immediately recall who are not doing anything above or beyond their immediate teams. My biggest struggle has been getting good feedback on where I need to grow. Whenever his lead would ask him to do X he would refuse and insist on doing Y instead. I am not saying the manager is trying to sabotage, but when push comes to shove will you get the impactful project. This is certainly the course that I took. YES, there are people who've been promoted due to politics. You forgot "never ask for a promotion".The one other thing that helped me go from L59 through >L64 was an absolute dedication to the strongest leaders, one level at a time. Microsoft Salaries 2023 | $164k-$4.9M | 6figr.com When I finally figured out how to play well with others and was able to show some major cross-group gains in addition to my own leet prod dev skills, that's when I became a 63.63 to 64 was a bit of a slog -- I'd say more like a full-frontal assault on lazy management, actually :). I know there are still some out there but things have improved a lot in my view. at It takes a little time to get on your skip-level manager's radar. When it comes to where you actually rank and what you get paid that part is all that matters. One of my august colleges uses the analogy of a trapeze artist. I can vouch for the efficacy of this mantra.MS definitely does a good enough job on career progression and offering diverse options. With wide-eyed wonder he asked WHAT? I said whatever the @#$% your manager most needs you to do!6. My first year I thought for sure I would sit at L61 for another year, but to my surprise I was promoted to L62 without even a full FY under my belt. You forgot "never ask for a promotion".Forgive my cluelessness, but: Why not?MSS. Think about it. I dont know why this is the case. If you're going into that comfort zone of complaining about politics and butt-kissing and favorites, do me this favor: hold your right palm up, nice and flat like you're about to be sworn in to testify in a trial, and now extend your right arm out nice and wide, and then quickly swing your right arm around the front of you in a nice arc that ends with the flat of your right hand quickly connecting to the left side of your face for a hard, resounding slap. There is a comment about reporting to someone who is the same level as you are. For example, in order to be promoted to level 62, you, as a level 61, must already perform at a level 62 level for a long time. By contrast high performers have a fairly accurate self assessment, but are slightly self critical of themselves as well as others. Well, what about everyone else? 4. I basically lost 5 years of growth due to a bad manager and my own unwillingness to own my career. It's probably true that there's more to the story and that they actually have important skills that matter. We definitely need a new thread, things are starting to happen indeed.Our 120+ person org has just been broken up due to lack of budget. Absolutely. The money losing groups hires. Candidates should have a Ph.D. in Physics and a strong commitment to undergraduate education. This 360 review is confidential and you dont have to share it with your mgr unless you chose to do so. The people around you can help with that. Answer to second question is never ever explicitly try to make yourself known to hierarchy above your manager. The way to succeed here is to find out how you make you, and your manager, and his/her leads, succeed as a team. My experience is a constant melee of *every* single person trying to influence cross-group. You almost always have to earn it. Julien Belin - Senior Director Global Supply Chain - LinkedIn Of course I ensure my manager and skip-level are aware of my contribution as a mentor, but I figure that as long as I'm in front of the wave, the best way for me to advance is to move the wave forward. Give the employee directives and start documenting when they fail so a case can be brought to get rid of them if it comes to that. Leak of Microsoft Salaries Shows Fight for Higher Compensation "Well please don't just tease us and leave it there. How do you get the right job/work that will make the impact. Any idea on when is this going to change? Sign up on LinkedIn and join the Microsoft Employees or ex-MSFT employees groups and then you'll see them posted. Eventually you have to make that leap or you arent ever going to get your hands on that other bar. Ask any old mainframer what it was like to be an IBM customer back in the day. You have to enjoy it, or else it'll come across as insincere, and you'll do a half assed job. Good luck with that. Will <