---
aliases: ["Promotion Packet"]
tags: [pm-skills, skill]
skill: promotion-packet
description: "Build a promotion case that proves you're already operating at the next level. Use when asked to write a promo packet/case, prepare for a promotion committee, or make the case for a level-up or title change. Produces a promotion packet — the level-up thesis, evidence mapped to each next-level competency, scope/impact highlights, peer-quote slots, and the gaps to close before submitting."
---

# Promotion Packet Skill

Promotions reward demonstrated operation at the next level, not potential or tenure. The committee asks
one question: *is the evidence that they're already doing the next-level job?* This skill builds the
packet that answers it — mapping your work to each competency at the **target** level, surfacing the
scope and impact that prove it, and honestly flagging the gaps so you submit when you'll actually win.

## Required Inputs

Ask for these only if they aren't already provided:

- **Current level → target level**, and the **ladder/rubric** for the target level (the competencies it requires).
- **Your evidence** — accomplishments with impact (a [`brag-doc`](../brag-doc/SKILL.md) is ideal input).
- **Scope** — the breadth of your influence (self → team → multi-team → org).
- **Supporters** — peers/stakeholders who can vouch, and for what.

## Output Format

### Promotion Packet — [name], [current] → [target]

**1. Thesis** — 2–3 sentences: you are *already operating* at [target], and here's the through-line of evidence. Promotion = recognition of current reality, framed this way.

**2. Competency evidence** — the core of the packet; one row per target-level competency:

| Target-level competency | Evidence (specific, with impact) | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| e.g. Drives multi-team initiatives | Led the X program across 3 teams → [outcome] | multi-team |

Every competency needs **at least one strong, recent, evidenced example** — gaps here are what sink packets.

**3. Impact highlights** — your 3–4 strongest wins, quantified, framed at the target level's expected scope.

**4. Peer/stakeholder support** — who will vouch and the specific thing each speaks to (leave quote slots).

**5. Gap analysis (private, pre-submit)** — competencies where the evidence is thin or stale, and a plan to close them. Submitting with visible gaps wastes a cycle; this section decides *whether it's time*.

## Quality Checks

- [ ] The case is framed as "already operating at the next level", not "ready for / deserves it"
- [ ] Every target-level competency has at least one strong, recent, evidenced example
- [ ] Impact is quantified and framed at the **target** level's scope, not the current one
- [ ] Named supporters are mapped to specific competencies they can speak to
- [ ] A private gap analysis honestly flags weak spots and whether to submit now or next cycle

## Anti-Patterns

- [ ] Do not argue from tenure or effort ("I've been here 3 years", "I work hard") — committees reward demonstrated scope and impact
- [ ] Do not leave a target competency unevidenced — one unbacked competency is the gap reviewers latch onto
- [ ] Do not frame it as potential — "could do the next level" loses to "is already doing it"
- [ ] Do not pad with low-level wins — they signal you're operating *below* the target level
- [ ] Do not submit with known gaps to "see what happens" — a failed packet is costly; close gaps first

## Based On

Engineering/IC ladder promotion practice — operate-at-level evidence mapped to a competency rubric.

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