Earlier quoted context omitted.
I prefer the term 'Human Accounting' myself.
Human Remains is one term used in the UK
"Personnel" is the older, more appropriate name.
The highest paid workers in Silicon Valley are product managers (2016)
271–280 of 365 posts
Re: The highest paid workers in Silicon Valley are product managers (2016)
#272Earlier quoted context omitted.
( was a product manager, now a project manager but could move back to my old role pretty easily) I came over to the dark side from software development. Was tired of implementing other people’s bad ideas and convinced product leadership at my company that I could be an idea guy myself (along with all the other footwork and juggling you need to do as a PM). So it was an internal transfer. I think the good PMs have str…
What made you then decide to switch to project management?
An opportunity came up and I thought I’d try it. The jury is still out but I think the role fits me better—project management seems to be more execution oriented than creative idea-generating. I’m also a big believer of being a generalist, so any opportunity to wear a new hat is welcome!
Re: The highest paid workers in Silicon Valley are product managers (2016)
#273Earlier quoted context omitted.
> I know most people will think this is extremely irrational I think that's perfectly reasonable. I find it hard to believe it would be "extremely irrational" to most people. Maybe I'm underestimating the extent to which money is fetishized in your culture (I presume the US). Also, being able to save 2/3 of your net salary is... a ludicrously privileged position, underpaid or not.
> Maybe I'm underestimating the extent to which money is fetishized in your culture I worked in the Bay Area and currently in Boston. I live in the startup culture. > Also, being able to save 2/3 of your net salary is... a ludicrously privileged position, underpaid or not. Yes! We software engineers are lucky. Even when we're underpaid (I'm paid $90k and my friends with similar experience, same education, same intere…
I can admire you attitude and I wouldn't encourage you to chase money. Many people on Hacker News lack perspective because of the bland way that Hacker News works. But I would still fear that being underpaid isn't sustainable, especially not in the US. I see people all the time online that don't negotiate, or question the terms, of their contract and then get disappointed when they e.g. get laid off without notice. Are you sure you wouldn't be negatively affected if your landlord, manager or friends decides to screw you over?
There is nothing wrong with being underpaid, but in the long run you want to make sure that it is for a good reason. It is hard to focus on more important things and ignore inequality, because inequality sucks. It doesn't matter how much attachment your have to an area, or what it means for your quality of life to live close to that workplace, when your rent skyrockets. You will most likely move while instead your landlords and their new tenants do whatever they think is important.
Maybe you are prepared for it or found some way to avoid that, but to me the US often just seem fundamentally incompatible with caring about important things without a lot of effort or money to back it up.
Re: The highest paid workers in Silicon Valley are product managers (2016)
#274Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yeah, this is something I always wonder. Every time salaries come up here the anecdotal numbers batted around as "standard" in Silicon Valley get higher, and every time I neurotically search around the net for corroborating information and find little to none. I don't doubt these high salary figures are real, but I have doubts they represent the median.
It’s almost like trolling. “The average penis is 8 inch”
*18 inches
Re: The highest paid workers in Silicon Valley are product managers (2016)
#275Earlier quoted context omitted.
Project managers having an engineering background is definitely beneficial, but should also be in their past. They should not be actively coding on the project. It's not a split role of managing and developing.
I don't think the parent implied "actively coding on the project"...at the very least, I interpreted "execute on their visions" as having been granted the authority to direct the pursuit of business endeavors that previously didn't exist. I'm also of the opinion that a technical manager who purposely relegates engineering to a forgotten past is one who is pragmatically posturing for premature obsolescence; an axe in…
I don't think the parent was implying that either. I was simply giving my 2 cents in regards to what a great vs mediocre project manager does. I was actually agreeing with it.
Re: The highest paid workers in Silicon Valley are product managers (2016)
#276Earlier quoted context omitted.
Figuring out what to do is the hardest part. Engineering is typically the least significant part of the success or failure of a company.
"I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the Earth", said Kennedy, and all the senators rushed the podium, slapped him on the back, and popped champagne, as they realized the hardest part was done.
... Yes? Kennedy got them to fund NASA at a level that's never been seen since: https://www.aaas.org/sites/default/files/s3fs-public/BudgetD...
Re: The highest paid workers in Silicon Valley are product managers (2016)
#277Earlier quoted context omitted.
...because the skill gap between “ok”, “good”, and “great” is so much bigger for some jobs (software development) than it is for other jobs (carpentry).
It's not tho. It's really not. Most of the software you use every day was developed by very average software developers. The vast majority of the work software developers do isn't terribly novel or particularly difficult. And you know what? They do just fine. Things work well. Systems stay on line. Companies make money. I've seen too many "bad" teams produce perfectly functional software over the years to think that…
A more accurate comparison is that software devs are like general contractors. I’m referring to those contractors who have experience doing plumbing, drywall, framing, finish work, etc but learned where to sub out to be more efficient for both their profit and to save customers time and money. A bad contractor can make a remodel a complete nightmare.
I should note that I’m a software dev and a family member is a general contractor
Re: The highest paid workers in Silicon Valley are product managers (2016)
#278Earlier quoted context omitted.
Project managers having an engineering background is definitely beneficial, but should also be in their past. They should not be actively coding on the project. It's not a split role of managing and developing.
I don't think the parent implied "actively coding on the project"...at the very least, I interpreted "execute on their visions" as having been granted the authority to direct the pursuit of business endeavors that previously didn't exist. I'm also of the opinion that a technical manager who purposely relegates engineering to a forgotten past is one who is pragmatically posturing for premature obsolescence; an axe in…
[deleted]
Re: The highest paid workers in Silicon Valley are product managers (2016)
#279Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't think the parent implied "actively coding on the project"...at the very least, I interpreted "execute on their visions" as having been granted the authority to direct the pursuit of business endeavors that previously didn't exist. I'm also of the opinion that a technical manager who purposely relegates engineering to a forgotten past is one who is pragmatically posturing for premature obsolescence; an axe in…
I don't think the parent was implying that either. I was simply giving my 2 cents in regards to what a great vs mediocre project manager does. I was actually agreeing with it.
I see. Thanks for the clarification.
Re: The highest paid workers in Silicon Valley are product managers (2016)
#280There are far more engineering roles than product manager roles, it’s far less stressful to be an engineer, and it’s tricky to continue along that PM career path because your knowledge gets specialized by industry. These articles make young grads salivate and plan their career all wrong.