Leveling at Google is supposed to be based on impact and the type of work you do. It isn’t about leadership. Going from L5 to L6 doesn’t make you a manager.
This is just a cost cutting measure as we all know. (Former googler)
This is just a cost cutting measure as we all know. (Former googler)
Even L4->L5 promo is more than just demonstrating technical impact or ability. It involved being basically the key contact and coordinator on some project(s), "owning" some area and doing a bunch of cross-team collaboration. Being the loudest guy in the room for some thing, really. The impact that needs to be demonstrated from L4->L5 is in large part organizational/political, not technical.
I understand that L4->L5 was "fixed" after I left to leave a lot more room for immediate manager opinion/involvement. That's probably a good thing, because L4 to L5 was bullshit, especially at a smaller site where impactful work was hard to get.
Anyways, it's all stupid perverse incentives. People shoving each out of the way to grab the impactful work rather than cooperating. All over the place.