You’ll get better at estimating things as you build more experience on the system. Until you get there, I would suggest this equation:

**If you have done similar thing before:** just give that number if you’ve done it before.

**If you have not done it before:** Set up an investigation work ticket. Let the task estimation itself be the task, and drive the design and investigation first, then estimation comes in. As for how much an estimation should take… just x2 on how long you think you will take. E.g if you think it will take 2 days give it 4.

- multiplier can decrease as your task estimation skill increases ( better overall knowledge around the context ) - basically have the multiplier be in the inverse relationship in relation to your confidence level.

Mid-Level Software Engineer at TikTok

Seoyoon Jin

After getting a foothold in the industry, engineers become mid-level. Most engineers stay at this level for quite a while as they navigate the senior engineer promotion (L4 -> L5 by FAANG leveling), which generally requires becoming a tech lead.