Hello, I'm an SDE who joined a company in July 2021 and later switched to Amazon as a Programmer Analyst in September 2022.

My recruiter promised that I would be promoted to SDE1 after 6 months, but my manager now says it will take another year and a half. This means it could take me an additional 2-3 years to become an SDE2, which is not aligned with my growth plan.

I'm considering whether to start looking for other opportunities or wait. Should I look for SDE1 roles elsewhere and repeat the same mistake? Or should I start applying for SDE2 positions, given that most companies require a minimum of 2 years of experience for that role?

I would appreciate any advice or insights from others who have experience with career growth and advancement in the tech industry. Thank you.