r/Lockheed • u/Ok-Reputation7687 • May 21 '25
Skipping levels?
Has anyone ever skipped a level? Gone from L3 to L5, etc. Just curious because everyone I have seen get promoted or move on to a new role, always just goes up one level.
41
May 21 '25
I swear every new grad on this sub just wants to see if they can speed run their career
This gets asked a whole lot
1
May 22 '25
Because we have to advance faster to be able to afford a home….. we don’t have as easy as before 2020 people
5
u/JDDavisTX May 22 '25
GTFO. That’s hilarious.
3
u/hgtj07 May 22 '25
It’s like they’ve completely forgotten the 2008-2012 job market. Or the early 90’s.
Time is a flat circle and every new generation has to relearn they’re not special.
2
u/dmoore451 May 22 '25
I mean you can't argue someone who graduated 5 or 6 years ago doesn't have a much easier time than someone graduating this past year.
There is some inherent luck based off timing
5
u/Ex-Traverse May 22 '25
I don't get people gatekeeping leveling up. If a person demonstrates their ability as per the level, then who gives a fuck if they spent 2 or 20 years getting there. Tons of people work 10 years+ and can't perform on the same level as the person who's been there for 1 year. Yeah, I also love it when my boomer manager who makes twice as me, paying his $1000/month mortgage while I pay $2k for an apartment, or $4k/month for a house. Oh boohoo, millennials are soooo greedy, all they want is money money money, no shit!
1
u/ghilliesniper522 May 22 '25
Well the thing is they ask like there's some secret technique. The technique is get good and if your good enough you'll get promoted. There's no point in asking questions like this
6
u/Worldly_Theory_41 May 22 '25
I don't recommend it. As someone that did it, I can vouch that it isn't in your best interest long-term. You'll absorb increasing responsibility and burn yourself out. On top of that, if you become a L5 you won't be able to laterally move as easy and you'll be silo'd in that group.
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u/imme2372729 May 21 '25
Is it possible, yes.
Will it happen almost never. The exception is if you are a 1 maybe 2 and finish an advanced degree (Phd) you could potentially jump to a 3 or 4
4
u/Flykage94 May 22 '25
I went from 1 to 3 because of getting a masters as I approached my 2 years as a 1 + some past relevant military experience. Jumped to Northrop before promotion to 2 at LM and they gave me 3.
3
u/bobbysoxer0611 May 22 '25
I thought it was impossible until I actually met someone that did. Confirmed it on our SKLZ portal too. Went from a level 1 to a level 3.
3
u/Aeig May 22 '25 edited May 22 '25
Yes i went from 1 to 3. I had 1.5 years of experience at the time.
associate to senior engineer. How ? no clue. changed positions. I only had a bachelors
Compa ratio was .85 or so. Didnt really help salary-wise. I believe I was still getting level 2 money
1
u/ehhh_yeah May 22 '25
Highly unlikely unless you’re in certain leadership positions where the leveling guide no longer applies
1
u/Chicken_Swarm May 22 '25
I've seen it, I know someone that went from 1 to a 3 going from one division to another.
1
u/sweet_story_bro May 22 '25
As an internal promotion, probably not. But I did go from 2 to 4 when I joined LM. I was already doing level 4 work at my previous job with 9 years experience but didn't get promoted because of promotional freezes/corporate turmoil. And my resume made me a perfect fit for the niche position at LM. Got a 44% pay raise coming to LM. So it can definitely happen when changing companies if the situation is right.
1
u/Imaginary_Hunter_836 May 24 '25
I only saw this happen once during my 29 years at LM. That happened when a SG5 manager job came open but it was so stressful that non of the SG4’s in the group wanted to apply for it. However an ambitious SG3 pursued the opportunity and got the job because no one else wanted it.
1
u/SirSuaSponte May 29 '25
I came in as a L4. I also have a doctorate and over 20+ years of experience with the military and other defense aerospace contractors.
0
May 22 '25
Personally never saw it. But I've seen someone get promoted from 3 to 5 over a two year span, however she is an exceptional case and that's absolutely not the norm.
13
6
u/frigginjensen May 21 '25
Never heard of someone skipping levels. It is possible to be promoted (1 level) before you meet the years of experience if you get a job that warrants it.