Why Down-leveling in Tech?
Tags: blog, softwareengineering, job, downleveling
Published: 2023-01-09 00:02:19

Take a short break from a job.

And while we're mentioning jobs, it's good to discuss changes that can happen when switching jobs in IT. 

After all, it's entirely okay to want another job, perhaps more fulfilling, with a better position, money or lifestyle balance (WLB = Work Life Balance).

But what to do with a problem called down-leveling?

<h3>Josh got a new job!</h3>
A senior <a href="https://codingforspeed.com/what-is-literate-programming/" title="What is literate programming?">engineer</a> at a tech company, let’s call him Josh, got a new job. And even though the pay is better, he lost his senior title and thinks this is not okay. 

Down-leveling is quite common.

More often than not, there's a financial or a title upside, but not both. Why is it happening?

<h4>Titles in different companies have different responsibilities</h4>
It's not the same as being a senior employee in a Big Tech <a href="https://codingforspeed.com/do-you-need-objectives-and-key-results-okr-or-is-it-just-a-current-fancy/" title="Do you need Objectives and Key Results (OKR), or is it just a current fancy?">company</a> or a small agency. 

In other words, a <a href="https://codingforspeed.com/tips-to-boost-your-dev-career/" title="Tips to Boost Your Dev Career">senior</a> in a smaller company probably does not have the same level of experience, especially when it comes to more significant projects.

So perhaps responsibilities, even with the same title, do not match, and the employee is levelled down.

<h4>Different tiers of companies have different pay</h4>
Compensations between tiers of companies can differ significantly.

This means that switching from a lower tier to a higher tier company can bring a pay increase, even with a lower title.

<h4>Interview results</h4>
Down-leveling often happens when people doing the hiring process are unsure about a particular candidate and their performance, so they offer the candidate a lower-level position.

This is common in Big Tech, where expectations are high, and onboarding takes time. Big Tech companies search for employees who raise the bar and often think they are willing to accept a lower-level position.

<h4>Switching to a company with a different field of expertise</h4>
Let's say that our engineer Josh worked in a <a href="https://helloacm.com/cloudflare-unexpected-high-usage-of-api-requests-how-to-avoid-surprising-billing/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">cloud computing</a> company before switching to the healthcare industry.

Because of the different areas, his new employers might think that Josh cannot have the same title (or the same pay) due to his lack of experience in that field.

<h4>Is there a solution?</h4>
Down-leveling has a negative note, but it could be more positive than you think.

For example, switching to a higher-tier company with a lower-level position and bigger pay could open more doors than working as a senior in a smaller agency.

Sometimes you just don't have the skills or experience for that level in another company, so this could be an excellent opportunity to acquire those skills and move upward.

Maybe you are bad at <a href="https://codingforspeed.com/ace-that-interview-tips/" title="Ace That Interview (Tips)">interviews</a>. Skills needed for an interview usually differ from skills you will employ on the job. The interview is almost marketing. Presenting yourself in the best light.

Lastly, if you're not satisfied with the decision, try challenging it by showing why you deserve a different level.

Do you have a down-leveling story you would like to share with other readers? Just comment below!

Reposted to [Blog](https://codingforspeed.com/why-down-leveling-in-tech/)