Name: Junior Engineers, Avoid This Fake Growth Trap
Uploaded: 2022-03-23T22:17:36+00:00
Duration: 2 min 20 s
Description: A lot of earlier-in-career engineers believe that being a better software engineer is all about coding: If you can write

Junior Engineers, Avoid This Fake Growth Trap

What's the main change in expectations when growing into senior engineering levels?

True or false: Hustling (i.e. working extremely hard) is a common, healthy way to get promoted.

Why is it bad if you are able to get promoted to senior levels through sheer ultra-hard work and very high raw productivity?

- A lot of earlier-in-career engineers believe that being a better software engineer is all about coding: If you can write more good code faster, then you are growing.
- This is generally mostly true in the beginning, but then it quickly becomes a toxic way of perceiving growth.
- You will hit walls. There are only so many hours in a day, and you can only type so many lines of code per hour.
- As a senior engineer, you need to focus on multiplicative and deeper behaviors.
- If you are able to have the impact of a senior engineer but are working extremely long hours, you are essentially "faking" the appearance of a senior engineer. This working model is not sustainable, and once you burn out, it's a terrible situation for everyone.

A lot of earlier-in-career engineers believe that being a better software engineer is all about coding: If you can write

Almost every software engineer starts their full-time career journey here. The content here breaks down how you can start your career off with a splash and grow past this level as quickly as possible.

The clearest way a company can acknowledge your growth. At the end of the day, you can't solely interview your way to a principal engineer; promotion is the true foundation of your pay and career.

[Masterclass] How To Get Promoted Faster In Tech

Related resources:
- ["How to drive my promotion discussion with my new manager?"](https://www.jointaro.com/question/nbYTuVbu3dqGlPALRGbR/how-to-drive-my-promotion-discussion-with-my-new-manager/)
- ["What does it mean to not have enough scope to be promoted?"](https://www.jointaro.com/question/bJuagPwOEEy5vkcXKkqh/what-does-it-mean-to-not-have-enough-scope-to-be-promoted/?playlistId=eZOEUatYEe7BBAZByuha)
- [Presentation Slides](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1LceOHzKxQ12LCtZvNu9OIXIE18UH_ldvW4gGZQewunA/edit?usp=sharing)