31–40 of 203 posts
I am an IC so I make sure my code is top notch, which means I need to LC for weeks before I'm ready for the onsites.
That's a pretty broad question, isn't it? Besides your age and that you used to work at startups and dislike the stress, there isn't much to go on for guidance. Who knows if you're suited for management, would be better as a code monkey, or what skills you need to brush up on?
Not to be disrespectful, but your response sounds like those arrogant Stack Overflow responses that are simply not helpful. There is enough in his question for anyone to provide a proper answer.
It's okay to be disrespectful. It's not okay to preface that disrespect with an overtly false disclaimer.
"I can still keep up coding, but should I do that, or try for management?" HN can't answer this for you. Which do you prefer?
I think the unspoken question is whether it is more prudent for a person of this age to pursue an individual contributor role or a role in the management track. Take this for what it's worth, but anecdotally I've heard a lot of programmers find that once they hit this age, opportunities as an individual contributor are more limited. So if the goal is to get a stable job at a large tech company, then the question is w…
Same age, I recently interviewed at two FAANG companies. Mostly algorithms and system design interviews. I thought I did pretty well (something like 3 very good interviews, 1 good, and 1 ok). In both cases, the conclusion was that my results were good enough for an L4 position, but they wouldn't hire me for less than L5. (Why not, I'd be happy as an L4...). Also, I found the interview process pretty random and arbitr…
>In both cases, the conclusion was that my results were good enough for an L4 position, but they wouldn't hire me for less than L5. (Why not, I'd be happy as an L4...). Can you elaborate on this? Were you interviewing specifically for L5 roles? I wonder if years of experience or even achievements can be used against a candidate by raising the bar so to speak. Maybe one is a L5 at their current company but only a L4 e…
A year later a different recruiter from the same company contacted me again to ask me to re-interview. Then he contacted the recruiter from one year ago to see if I had to retake the initial phone interview, or go directly on site. After discussing with her, he told me that they don't have currently an L5 position open, and that he would be contact me again in a few months (which he didn't).
You mention "trying" for management. If you haven't previously managed people, then you probably won't be able to get a good SDM role directly. Instead, your best path would be to be hired as an SDE, demonstrate strong managerial bones (mentorship, communication, process orientation), and then transition to SDM after a few years.
If you've mostly been an engineer, then you may want to learn more about what's expected from different levels of engineer so you can determine, realistically, where your experience will be sufficient, and where there will be gap.
That's a pretty broad question, isn't it? Besides your age and that you used to work at startups and dislike the stress, there isn't much to go on for guidance. Who knows if you're suited for management, would be better as a code monkey, or what skills you need to brush up on?
Not to be disrespectful, but your response sounds like those arrogant Stack Overflow responses that are simply not helpful. There is enough in his question for anyone to provide a proper answer.
The remaining questions regarding coding vs. management or what skills to 'brush up on' are very person-dependent beyond general platitudes. Sure, discussions can be had, but it kind of depends on what he wants.
42 at MS
I'm a Sr Manager at a FAANG company (and I started here in my 40s). My direct reports include other SDMs, senior product managers, and staff/principal engineers. You mention "trying" for management. If you haven't previously managed people, then you probably won't be able to get a good SDM role directly. Instead, your best path would be to be hired as an SDE, demonstrate strong managerial bones (mentorship, communica…
This is very true. No company I’ve interviewed with so far was willing to hire a manager who hasn’t previously managed people.
> Instead, your best path would be to be hired as an SDE, demonstrate strong managerial bones
I’ve tried this strategy a number of times and I wish it was that straightforward. Usually, even internal management roles are set aside for people who have already managed people before. So, you’ll take the time to be an outstanding IC, develop credibility with the team and good communication skills, focus on process building... then finally the workload grows to the point where you need more than yourself and you think “now is my chance!” You go to your manager and propose to hire a few people under you and SURPRISE he already hired an experienced manager who will have three reports including you! Bummer!