In this episode of the Front End Happy Hour podcast, we’re diving deep into the realities of getting promoted in the tech industry. It’s not just about writing great code or being the smartest person in the room. Jem Young, Augustus Yuan, and Ryan Burgess break down the misconceptions around promotions, the skills that actually matter, and why navigating the process can sometimes feel more political than technical. Whether you’re aiming for a promotion or just curious about how it all works behind the scenes, this episode offers candid advice and strategies for advancing your career. Plus, we discuss what to do if your manager isn’t advocating for you, and the right (and wrong) ways to pursue your next big step. Tune in to hear the honest truth about climbing the tech ladder!

Panelists:

Ryan Burgess - @burgessdryan

Jem Young - @JemYoung

Augustus Yuan - @augburto

Picks:

Ryan Burgess - Presumed Innocent https://tv.apple.com/us/show/presumed-innocent

Ryan Burgess - ChatGPT for Mac https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ai-chat-ask-chatbot-assistant/id6447419372

Jem Young - The best mouse jiggler methods https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/best-mouse-jiggler-methods

Jem Young - Atlas https://www.netflix.com/title/81012048

Augustus Yuan - Ikeryou https://ikeryou.jp/

Augustus Yuan - pwnisher https://www.youtube.com/@pwnisher

Episode transcript: https://www.frontendhappyhour.com/episodes/how-promotions-really-work-in-tech