A Microsoft engineer shares the strategy she used to get promoted 4 times in 5 years

[Hitman]

• Ritvika Nagula, a senior software engineer at Microsoft, shares her strategy for career advancement.
• After learning "the hard way," Nagula has since been promoted regularly.
• Nagula recommends setting personal goals and frequent, proactive communication with your manager.

This is an as-told-to essay based on a conversation with Ritvika Nagula, a senior software engineer at Microsoft Azure. She's worked at the company since 2019. Her employment and promotions were confirmed by Business Insider. This story has been edited for length and clarity.

I think I learned the strategy of getting promotions the hard way.

When I first joined Microsoft in April 2019 as a new college grad, I guess I was pretty nice. I did not know that I should be proactive about communicating my career aspirations with my manager. I just thought that if I consistently delivered good quality work, it would eventually naturally lead to promotions.

But it was a passive approach, and it can lead to a disconnect where your manager or the leadership thinks that you are not necessarily career ambitious.

That's something I kind of missed during my first year. Since then, I have gotten four promotions in five years.

I make it a point to frequently request feedback from my manager and not necessarily wait for the review cycle. At Microsoft, our reviews are semiannual, but that means it could still take six months to find out that you haven't necessarily reached expectations for certain things. And you don't have enough time left to course correct at that moment.

[Hitman]

పని పాట లేకుండా ఎప్పుడు manager ni గెలకడం???

[Hitman]

 

She invited herself nasty comments by sharing her photo and story publicly...

[pichhipullayya]

7 minutes ago, Hitman said:

 

She invited herself nasty comments by sharing her photo and story publicly...

ee rojullo

social media lo andaru

subject kanna controversies, photos thone ekkuva popular avutunnaru

prati daffa gallu subject matter expert la podcasts, video bytes, weekly discussions

[akkum_bakkum]

Patha rojullo pen theory workout ayyedi...marippudem paachikalu paaruthunnayo

[Jatka Bandi]

I had the same record. Infact 4 in 4. Daniki mundu ~4yrs nothing. This is a significant accomplishment as these promotions are not in software with multiple layers. An experience moulded me. Regular feedback kaadu kaani, corporations style lone metric approach vellali in goal setting phase. Nothing should be left to perspective or interpretation.

If someone doesn't stand by their word, reflect it on them. If they feel the pressure, they will let you go. Which means that you outgrew their capability and it is not good for you to work for an insecure person. But you should be smart to detect this beforehand.

Another strategy that works is having a monthly 15min 1-on-1 with your GM and asking him what is keeping you up at night and contributing in that direction.

[Yuvasamudram]

Intha chesi vaadevadino paiki thevadam deniki anipisthadi naaku.

Naa career starting ki ippatiki $50K diff pay. After taxes $30K. Maha iragapadi promotions thechukunte inko $15K perigedi. That to andaritho good anipinchukovadam not easy.  Antha stress padakunda, ayina kaadiki chesi remaining time I enjoy with kids. $30K worth anipisthadi naaku.

[Konebhar6]

1 hour ago, Jatka Bandi said:

I had the same record. Infact 4 in 4. Daniki mundu ~4yrs nothing. This is a significant accomplishment as these promotions are not in software with multiple layers. An experience moulded me. Regular feedback kaadu kaani, corporations style lone metric approach vellali in goal setting phase. Nothing should be left to perspective or interpretation.

If someone doesn't stand by their word, reflect it on them. If they feel the pressure, they will let you go. Which means that you outgrew their capability and it is not good for you to work for an insecure person. But you should be smart to detect this beforehand.

Another strategy that works is having a monthly 15min 1-on-1 with your GM and asking him what is keeping you up at night and contributing in that direction.

Nee 1:1s ki knives tho vellevadivani talk ... @jpismahatma cheppadu..

[Jatka Bandi]

1 minute ago, Konebhar6 said:

Nee 1:1s ki knives tho vellevadivani talk ... @jpismahatma cheppadu..

Mana Indians ki vunde work ethic ki koncham discipline todu avute, alladinchochu.. Year starting lo thorough goals and midyear lo comparative ga inkonni add chesukuni achieve cheste, year end manade..

[Konebhar6]

1 minute ago, Jatka Bandi said:

Mana Indians ki vunde work ethic ki koncham discipline todu avute, alladinchochu.. Year starting lo thorough goals and midyear lo comparative ga inkonni add chesukuni achieve cheste, year end manade..

Okappudu iragatheese vadini .. I have rejected promotions recently. Do not want to take more responsibilities. Its not worth unless you have passion .. My goals have changed. If things pan out, will get out of corporate rut and work for myself.

[Jatka Bandi]

1 minute ago, Konebhar6 said:

Okappudu iragatheese vadini .. I have rejected promotions recently. Do not want to take more responsibilities. Its not worth unless you have passion .. My goals have changed. If things pan out, will get out of corporate rut and work for myself.

manaki telisi matladukuneve malli ikkada chadastapu uncle lekka repeat chestavendi?

[Tellugodu]

2 hours ago, Hitman said:

• Ritvika Nagula, a senior software engineer at Microsoft, shares her strategy for career advancement.
• After learning "the hard way," Nagula has since been promoted regularly.
• Nagula recommends setting personal goals and frequent, proactive communication with your manager.

This is an as-told-to essay based on a conversation with Ritvika Nagula, a senior software engineer at Microsoft Azure. She's worked at the company since 2019. Her employment and promotions were confirmed by Business Insider. This story has been edited for length and clarity.

I think I learned the strategy of getting promotions the hard way.

When I first joined Microsoft in April 2019 as a new college grad, I guess I was pretty nice. I did not know that I should be proactive about communicating my career aspirations with my manager. I just thought that if I consistently delivered good quality work, it would eventually naturally lead to promotions.

But it was a passive approach, and it can lead to a disconnect where your manager or the leadership thinks that you are not necessarily career ambitious.

That's something I kind of missed during my first year. Since then, I have gotten four promotions in five years.

I make it a point to frequently request feedback from my manager and not necessarily wait for the review cycle. At Microsoft, our reviews are semiannual, but that means it could still take six months to find out that you haven't necessarily reached expectations for certain things. And you don't have enough time left to course correct at that moment.

I know her first hand. Match vachindi long back. She is smart but also selfish/cut throat on what she wants. 

[jpismahatma]

10 minutes ago, Tellugodu said:

I know her first hand. Match vachindi long back. She is smart but also selfish/cut throat on what she wants. 

endhi anna. niku intha history unnadhi.  she is andhra ? 

[Tellugodu]

9 minutes ago, jpismahatma said:

endhi anna. niku intha history unnadhi.  she is andhra ? 

Telugu, reddy - TG girl. If I remember correctly her mom is Ayurveda doctor.  Only daughter, so aa dad’s little princess attitude kuda undi. 

[DonnyStrumpet]

I worked my ass off for the last 9 years. I got good recognition through increments and promotions etc. In the process I lost my hair. Covering my head barely. I missed many functions in India. My BP and sugar levels are borderline. Myself and my wife barely get free time to talk everyday. Because she is very stressed as she is a manager too. We go on vacations regularly to compensate for this lost time. In the process we lose so much money. Because everything is freaking expensive these days. 
 

On the other hand my friend has always worked as a contractor. He barely works after 5 pm. No stress. He spends so much time with his family.
 

Worst part is we are pretty much close in terms of economic health. Yet his physical health is way better. Since he hits gym every frockin day. Lack of stress is something I envy about him.
 

with this AI and everything, both of our jobs are at equal risk. Yet somehow I feel he enjoyed life a little bit better. I probably garnered a bit more professional respect. It’s not worth it at the end of the day. I feel so much burnt at the age of 36 already. 
 

Final message: Don’t fall for this egomaniac posts in LinkedIn. Enjoy your life with family. Have some respect for your health.