[larusso]

My title in the company is Principal, but my role encompasses a bit more. I recently helped and advocated for a promotion to Principal for one of my reports. The step from Senior to Principal is a very challenging one in our organization, as it’s not based on skill alone but also on other factors. In our organization, there is a strong focus on leveling and mentoring, and we set clear expectations that reaching the Principal level (which is the highest IC level for us) is a long journey.

Just to be clear, I got promoted when the rules and definitions weren’t as clearly defined. That doesn’t mean I’m undeserving of the title, but it does highlight how, even within the same organization, the criteria for who can hold certain titles and receive promotions have evolved over time. Because of this, I feel the experience described here can seem somewhat arbitrary given the way most companies have no shared setup / structure for promotions and skill levels. Congratulations on the promotion non the less.