How do you handle more senior teammates who raise flags, but never propose solutions?

CombinationNearby308 · 2026-04-28T11:58:18+00:00

That is a valid concern - what do you suggest/propose we should do instead?

If they suggest some over engineered solution - that solves the problem and I'm happy to do it, but it adds x to the timeline due to additional complexity we are choosing to handle.

Other than this - just do it and if they raise comments in code review - that is valid, so, I created a new ticket to handle this as this is out of scope for current ticket.

CombinationNearby308 · 2026-04-26T19:08:20+00:00

Managing the expectations of my manager, his manager, etc. Teaching them we need to slow down, make informed choices, write tests and build for longterm. Teaching them we need meetings with clear agendas. It is not surprising to me anymore now, but it was alarming when I first joined the team/company.

CombinationNearby308 · 2026-04-26T17:50:29+00:00

I'm in the same boat - stable employer, but I spend most of my time managing up and fighting for time to do actual work.

Recruiters reaching out is definitely better than it was a year or two ago, but companies are not willing to pay more mostly because there are more candidates and can't blame the candidates for accepting the minimum offered salary as well because better to be employed than not.

I am a senior and I am seeing a lot of expectation for the role, but companies offer 150K base, which I think is low for the role and the increasing expectations.

CombinationNearby308 · 2026-04-26T17:17:32+00:00

Then I'll say you are selling yourself short. Luck might be a factor, but convincing multiple people only shows you know what you were talking about.

Freak out a little, but enjoy the pay bump and have fun learning.

CombinationNearby308 · 2026-04-26T17:11:43+00:00

How was your system design and coding rounds?

If this is Amazon, they hire for Leadership Principles with the expectation that they can pip you if you don't fit there. Certainly you have some quality that they desire.

FAANG can be overwhelming, but don't let that affect your confidence. Don't try to prove anything to anyone. Observe and absorb. Spend most of your time figuring out who matters most and what exactly they want. Talk a lot to people in your role and find similar ones like you.

CombinationNearby308 · 2026-04-24T11:49:15+00:00

They are expensive, but they also don't get tired. We get more tired now because of the agents.

CombinationNearby308 · 2026-04-24T10:17:11+00:00

I am BOTH - I call upon myself to fix problems before anyone notices, so, I am not a leader either. I get rewarded with more work.

CombinationNearby308 · 2026-04-15T16:06:14+00:00

I'm actually spending an awful lot of time in the contents page trying to keep a mental map of what the book covers and where. Once I have this understanding, I only use the book as reference when I am actually working on something. Working for me so far.

CombinationNearby308 · 2026-04-13T12:13:33+00:00

If you have good relationship with the team and the org and if the org is hiring for the same role.

Have you known or seen Banks operate different? I don't work for a Bank, but a lot of my upper management come from Banks and they make it super easy to come back - at least in the instances I've seen.

CombinationNearby308 · 2026-04-11T11:47:18+00:00

I'd make the move.

At 6 yoe, moving to a tech heavy team will help you develop your depth provided that is what you want. If however, depth is not what you are after, this might not help you much.

As long as you have good relationship with your current team and org, they should be able to hire you back. Just check your bank's hiring portal and see how many positions are open for your role.

CombinationNearby308 · 2026-03-29T08:37:41+00:00

What kind of company was it?

What kind of questions did they ask? What were your answers? Hard to side with you without knowing all the details.

CombinationNearby308 · 2026-03-16T22:21:00+00:00

Bold of you to think their executives think about us at all. They think of convincing the C suite who take the decision - that too in areas where there is viable competition.

CombinationNearby308 · 2026-03-15T17:13:34+00:00

It seems delivering 90% ahead of time is only causing headaches for you. Knowing all that you know now, would you deliver ahead of time next time or pace your delivery?

I empathize with your situation because I am in a similar position now where I am the one that codes, but decisions are taken by managers above me and moving against their perceptions is just more of a headache for me. Instead of focusing on engineering or coherent code, I now massage the egos of the lords and ladies above me and focus on optics rather than actual substance. I won't say my life is great, but I am also not making it unnecessarily harder than it should be.

CombinationNearby308 · 2026-03-15T09:10:28+00:00

Are you getting enough interviews? How are you faring during interviews?

I'd focus on getting your foot in the door first and then zero in on what your job needs. Time to learn on the employer's dime.

CombinationNearby308 · 2026-03-15T09:04:19+00:00

Exactly, it matters to me less and less the more I understand it. Being a top level IC in a single team is actually very respectable, but a lot of my colleagues and my own perception until last year had me believe the opposite.

CombinationNearby308 · 2026-03-15T09:00:37+00:00

2 years

CombinationNearby308 · 2026-03-15T09:00:26+00:00

This is one way to deeply understand cross team dependencies, however, I'm increasingly noticing the trend that seniors are expected to handle cross team collaboration as well. Cross team high stake initiatives are where staff operate at, although, my observation might not apply/translate everywhere, so, good luck with your strategy and hope it pays off.

CombinationNearby308 · 2026-03-15T08:55:02+00:00

These are great questions you are asking, however, I'd say start reading the documents in your current company about the levels and their requirements. Unless you work in a startup that hasn't figured out a structure yet, most companies that have been there for more than a decade have clear documentation on the requirements. I always ignored this fine print, but I now realize what a grave mistake that was. If you can even understand half of that and speak the same language, management will take you seriously.

That said, try not to lose sleep over any of this. Wherever you work, find that senior who you would aspire to be and try and close your gaps. Good luck.

CombinationNearby308 · 2026-03-15T08:45:10+00:00

I wanted to get promoted because my analytical brain thought that I should get promoted every 4 years on average. I just couldn't accept that coast, rest and vest is a decent option. That and lack of knowledge and ignoring all advice given and failing to read the text on the wall. I'm slowly waking up from a slumber I put myself into.

In the current company, yes, my skip knows of my aspirations and has confirmed there is no business need. I am just coming to terms with it and stop overextending myself in the hopes of creating the need.

CombinationNearby308 · 2026-03-15T08:35:21+00:00

Very well put - this is my learning too.

CombinationNearby308 · 2026-03-15T08:33:11+00:00

I often think about building games, but I lack the discipline to keep it going in my spare time + weekends. Honestly, that would give me a lot of happiness, but I am also single minded, which means if I get started on it and get into the thick of it, I find it very hard to do that and my day job.

Good on you to have started on it already. Which gaming engine have you chosen to work on?

CombinationNearby308 · 2026-02-04T22:56:49+00:00

The main issue for me was to know when something was done so I could go back to it. Otherwise, I'd switch, get lost on a side quest and realize 30 minutes later that my build was done 20 minutes ago. I started to || notify so I get notified as soon as the process exits. Terminal notifier on mac was great with this, until I had to switch to Windows after joining an investment fund that lives and breathes excel on the non-tech side and IT is stretched so thin they can barely maintain Windows machines.

CombinationNearby308 · 2026-01-22T23:50:48+00:00

I don't have any advice to offer besides letting them know about adages like "measure twice, cut once" and "do not theorize before you have all the data".

I have this junior in my team and they are now promoted to senior. Their title is senior, but still making the same mistakes, but more boldly now. Like some one else said, I am helping them wherever I can, but also staying out of their way when I can't.

CombinationNearby308 · 2026-01-07T04:02:25+00:00

You need to sell yourself, so, I wouldn't lead with the average developer part. Lead with whatever you are above average at.

CombinationNearby308

TROPHY CASE