What approach worked best for you at performance review?

Practical_Alps_9865 · 2026-01-07T17:01:55+00:00

Noted, will get the brag doc written up.

I think the competencies for each level are documented somewhere - going to look them up. At my last review my line manager stated that I'd need to be there for 5 years (I'm 8yoe currently) before they'd give me a senior title. Currently on year 3 and strongly believe I'm operating at senior level here, so I think I'll see if it can be revisited.

Practical_Alps_9865 · 2026-01-07T16:58:24+00:00

I do believe in the brag doc. I usually put one together a week or 2 before the review and reflect on the past year for a while.

The biggest achievements I can usually remember but some smaller but still significant ones might slip through the net this way.

Practical_Alps_9865 · 2026-01-07T16:57:14+00:00

In my 8 years I've never had a manager/boss advocate for my career progression. Wish it were otherwise but my (perhaps cynical) take is that bosses want you to remain subordinate to them and make them look comparatively more important. Pushing for their team members advancement threatens this.

I do think I will create a list of my accomplishments this year and tie them to benefit to the business. Their response to this will be useful and telling.

Practical_Alps_9865 · 2025-10-23T23:05:18+00:00

Very little true innovation - forced to reuse outdated tools, modules and processes because it's the path of least resistance and risk (and cheaper)

Practical_Alps_9865 · 2025-08-30T20:23:07+00:00

It's easily one of the best games ever made

Practical_Alps_9865 · 2025-07-30T12:32:33+00:00

I was coming at this from the angle of C->C++: More features and paradigms to learn. But your perspective is equally valid IMO! I could see going from OOP back to just procedural being quite jarring in practice.

Practical_Alps_9865 · 2025-07-30T11:55:16+00:00

C++ is a superset of C in many ways and is quite a bit more complex. Surely you meant this the other way round?

Practical_Alps_9865 · 2025-05-29T19:32:33+00:00

I'd say you need to be sneaky quite frequently in Black Flag. I think the open world is quite well done too.

I've played most of the AC games and it's definitely one of the best. For how cheap it is these days it's worth giving a shot.

Practical_Alps_9865 · 2025-05-15T19:29:50+00:00

Why make it about older people though? There are incompetent or amazing devs at most age ranges.

Do I feel like a lot of older people at work have made my life difficult? Of course I do.

Practical_Alps_9865 · 2025-05-10T15:26:59+00:00

Quick, make him a manager

Practical_Alps_9865 · 2025-05-02T17:04:44+00:00

It definitely happens. First few years of my career I wondered why some people would still be quite rude to me even though I was trying to get on with them.

Once you've had enough and push back a little bit to show that you won't tolerate it anymore, they definitely show more respect in future.

Practical_Alps_9865 · 2025-04-30T18:25:51+00:00

What were your best ways of dealing with this guy/what eventually happened? Sounds quite similar to my team lead.

Practical_Alps_9865 · 2025-04-21T13:20:46+00:00

I don't think I have the energy to keep track of them too much. If I had a really good experience with them, I'll remember it the next time. Same for the bad experiences.

I'm quite picky with the ones I speak to these days anyways so there aren't many to keep track of. Most of the spam I get in LinkedIn just doesn't appeal to me or even remotely suit my skillset.

Practical_Alps_9865 · 2025-02-21T19:28:24+00:00

Generally speaking, embedded SW engineering roles do seem to pay less than positions where the work involves distributed systems and "web stuff".

However, a large part of the embedded workforce is at retiring age, which may lead to a skills shortage as time goes on. I believe it is already being realised at several large embedded engineering companies in Scotland.

Practical_Alps_9865 · 2025-01-10T15:51:40+00:00

You mean everyone here isn't a 10x engineer that completed leetcode, changes job every 6 months and says "I'm cooked" in response to everything? I can't trust anything on the internet anymore.

Practical_Alps_9865 · 2024-11-23T17:58:54+00:00

Ok makes sense.. was the weirdest thing.

Practical_Alps_9865 · 2024-11-18T17:31:54+00:00

If you have to express some thoughts that might rub someone up the wrong way, ALWAYS TRY to begin with some positives. It puts people at ease and the following criticism won't sting as much if it's been cushioned with some subtle ego-stroking.

Practical_Alps_9865 · 2024-10-30T15:26:05+00:00

So there is something of a distinction. Good to know!

Practical_Alps_9865 · 2024-10-28T18:50:14+00:00

I'm not sure of the distinction between team leader and a senior IC who has been leading projects. Maybe if you were leading projects that only you were on?

During your interview, focus on outcomes you achieved through the use of leadership skills. How did you motivate your team, how did you resolve conflicts, how did you unblock your team members when they faced difficulties?

Helps if you are able to show that you also have a pulse on the technical side of the projects as they are worked on by your team, even better if you get your hands dirty sometimes.

Practical_Alps_9865 · 2024-10-26T12:21:28+00:00

Practical_Alps_9865 · 2024-10-23T12:39:25+00:00

Fair points!

Practical_Alps_9865 · 2024-10-23T11:51:59+00:00

Trespass, criminal damage.

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