Recruiter asking what level I was
Hello, I’ve been going for senior level positions even though I was mid level at my previous FAANG company. Before FAANG I was senior level at a startup so I think I can handle senior again. But when a recruiter asks what level I was previously, should I tell them or should I be vague somehow like when they ask for what compensation I’m looking for?
Discussion
(8 comments)- 4
5 months agoStaff Eng @ Google, Ex-Meta SWE, Ex-Amazon SDM/SDEThe standard dodge is “based on my experience and scope of work, I am targeting senior roles. I’m sure that this level at <company x> is high, and if there is a calibration concern I’m happy to chat with a hiring manager or a screen to ensure that this is appropriate, to ensure we can all respect each other’s time.”.
I can’t blame them for wanting to calibrate a loop appropriately. It’s a lot more “expensive” and difficult to coordinate an interview loop with all senior+ people. There’s also enough bias and other factors used to underlevel folk that resisting providing them reason to calibrate you lower makes sense.
So then what? Do you say you were a senior engineer, and hope they don’t ask where? Do you just avoid it and say senior is your target? At some point if you most recently had a senior role you likely wouldn’t resist the question so much, so you’re probably telling them anyway.
Focusing on impact (team lead, tech lead, owner of complex system) that aligns with senior could help.
- 2
5 months agoThoughtful TarodactylTaro Community - 04 months agoSenior Software Engineer [OP]Taro Community
Follow up on this...does a background check reveal what level you were?
- 0
4 months agoTech Lead @ Robinhood, Meta, Course HeroThey would need to ask your manager at your previous company or something, so that doesn't seem likely...?
From my understanding, a background check is more to make sure you have no criminal background.
- 04 months agoStaff Eng @ Google, Ex-Meta SWE, Ex-Amazon SDM/SDE
If they are asking for references a company will normally share: The dates you were employed. MAYBE the job role. If the name of the role changes they MIGHT indicate level, but still unlikely. Apple buckets everyone into “associate” when they leave so this isn’t an issue, as an example.
No agencies that track data for background checks like convictions and credit would have any indication of your job level.
It seems like you’re asking because you were dishonest? I know it’s all a game, but the move is avoid, not lie. Avoiding is strategy, lying can be fraud.
- 14 months agoSenior Software Engineer [OP]Taro Community
Ok thank you and no I didn't lie, I wanted to make sure they couldn't find out even if I successfully avoided telling them
- 02 months agoSenior Software Engineer [OP]Taro Community
Answering my own question: yes background check will reveal level ...just based on what title your previous company reports back with in my case they did say the level
- 02 months agoTech Lead @ Robinhood, Meta, Course Hero
I put detailed thoughts here: https://www.jointaro.com/course/get-more-interviews-write-a-stellar-resume-as-a-software-engineer/leveling/
