Sundae posted:

I will actually have to leave the company first. You cannot transfer to a higher-level position within the same company.

The way you actually get promoted here as a non-exec is to apply to another company at a higher position than your current one, stay there a few years, then get hired back by your original company at yet another higher position.

Here's our internal rules in short-hand:

#1 - You may not be promoted more than once in ten years.
#1b - You cannot receive a rating greater than "meets expectations" in your first year in a new position or promotional level.
#1c - You must have multiple consecutive 'exceeds expectations' years to be eligible for a promotion. 85% of employees will receive "meets" or lower, in a skewed bell-curve.
#2 - You must fulfill both performance, experience, and promotional-time requirements in order to reach a new position.
#3 - Internal percentages of each class of employee must be maintained. If a promotion would throw off those percentages, it cannot be done.
#4 - You may not attain a managerial position without a MBA, period.
#5 - Internal transfers may only be lateral or downward. You may not apply internally to a higher-ranked position.
#5b - You may not apply for internal transfers within your division of the company.