Updated September 2026: in May 2019 I learned I had received the top rating for the second year running, and colleagues and former teammates told me promotion was surely next. I have rewritten it into advice on making the most of a top rating at hike and promotion time.
Hearing about my rating, I could hardly contain my excitement. A colleague who messaged me could not believe it was the second year in a row, and former teammates wrote to congratulate me. By the company's norms, even one top rating was supposed to lead to promotion; two in a row looked like a clear route.
Does a top rating guarantee promotion?
Not by itself. Promotions usually depend on a mix of rating, tenure, available budget, open positions at the next grade and a manager's recommendation. Unwritten norms, like "one top rating means promotion", are often true on average but not guaranteed for any individual. Confirm what the formal criteria are rather than relying on what colleagues say.
What should you do after hearing your rating?
- Thank your manager and ask directly whether you are being put forward for promotion this cycle.
- Ask about timing: when promotion letters are issued and whether anything else is needed from you.
- Get your achievements written down, so your manager has them if they need to argue your case.
- Keep celebrations modest within your team, where ratings are compared.
How can a top rating improve your hike?
Many companies link increments to ratings through a fixed band, but managers sometimes have discretion within it. A top rating strengthens a request to be placed at the upper end. If promotion is delayed, ask whether a larger increment or a one-time bonus can recognise the rating in the meantime.
What if the promotion does not come?
Ask for the specific reason and what would change it by the next cycle, in writing. Two top ratings without promotion is a strong basis for that conversation. If the answer is vague, it is also a strong basis for exploring the market, where consistent top ratings carry weight in interviews.
Should you share your rating with others?
Friends and former teammates, as in my case, can be good sounding boards. Within your current team, be careful. Ratings are often calibrated against each other, and what feels like good news for you can feel different to someone who did not get the same outcome.