Hired by large prestigious company to do web development. Understanding at the outset, I was not a web developer, just wanted my foot in the door with the company. 2 days after orientation, I am placed on a $20 million contract expansion with 3 other developers. All new to this contract. So: new language, new technologies, new team, no leadership, no mentorship. 2 months later after a month of asking for help, I'm asked why I'm not delivering solid code by the project exec and moved to the testing team. Testing team lead introduces me to people on the contract and answers questions or tells me vaguely where to loom. Spend last 4 months building a professional fuck you by making myself a yes man to everyone and their mother. Left the contract and have been getting regular hours with them since (including developing for them). New contract loves me and despite the project execs attempt to torpedo me, I have an excellent reputation and am positioned for career advancement already.

I couldn't give him the finger, but I made him regret lettimg me go. Original team lead has since been released for unrelated HR complaint.

Career advancement in today's time.

You know.. it's funny and sad at the same time.. that in this industry you have to either play the office politics game.. or at a minimum not play by the rules and deviate to your own advantage.. because if you play by the rules, 1) That limits your progress tremendously and 2) lets you be controlled by others, including your career

How often should career advancement/raise happen and how much money should It be?

Is It fixed? I heard something like "every year level++, which means money+5%"