After several years in the industry it's hard not to get a network of pals. If you're lucky enough, some of them will make it into management. Their information

After several years in the industry it's hard not to get a network of pals. If you're lucky enough, some of them will make it into management. Their information about how hiring and promotions actually work is indeed indispensable. For the asocial folks like me who are incapable of making any friends at all, there are recruiters. Most of them will happily discuss what "a typical number for a person of my level" should be.