Is it okay to look for opportunities just after getting an appraisal and promotion?

Is it okay to look for opportunities just after getting an appraisal and promotion?

I don't know where you are, but in the US, it's all employment-at-will. It's okay in that it's legal and I'm sure people will understand; it's just not really cool on a personal level if you get along really well with your manager and they fought hard for your promotion. You get promoted in just 6 months too, which is incredibly fast. That being said, I don't have all the context here - A promotion is far less valuable if you were down-leveled to begin with.

It's been just six months since I joined. I aim for MAANG and that's why I feel unsettled.

To be honest, most companies will pale in comparison to Big Tech, especially when it comes to compensation. It's totally fine to aspire for these companies, but for your own mental health, I highly recommend not thinking about it too much. This is especially true in this economy where Big Tech hiring is effectively non-existent.

For more thoughts here, check out this other discussion: "How much am I hurting my career by staying at a startup? (Pressure to work for big tech)"

I also recommend coming to our upcoming event: Should You Work At FAANG? - What Big Tech Is Like For Software Engineers