So during the past few days I've been wondering what should I do to more quickly advance my career. I'm currently an engineer at FB, and while promotion here is something that will eventually happen, it doesn't seem like something that I can speed up tremendously, especially due to how relatively young I am. I can put even more work into my current team, but I'm unsure of how well that would pay off (I'm already performing very well). I was thinking or pursuing an MBA, however I don't know if that would help at all as no VPs or Directors really have one. I thought of pursuing an MS, but my current level and salary is already above entry level MS grads. My goal is to climb the corporate ladder as much as I can. What do you guys think? Is more schooling worth the investment? Should I double down on my current job? Would an MBA help?
Start building work relations with other people in the company. Start making your self notable.
Go work for a small company. The fastest way to rise in the ranks is to make a big splash and get noticed. That's going to be easier to do in a small company than in a giant corp like FB. I started my career in a small company. It's was stressful, but I got to do more and make a bigger impact in a month there than I have at my current big corp gig.
I’ve been asking a similar question and I️ keep getting the same answer - you have to keep switching companies to move up. Make it to at least a senior level at your current job then jump to a lead somewhere else. Then a manager somewhere else. Then an asst director somewhere else. Director. VP. Etc. If you are not getting management opportunities at your actual day job, start managing a meet up or mentoring at a high school / college level through an established organization. It shows leadership skills. Lastly network like crazy.
^ +1 - even leaving and eventually returning to the same company (ie boomerang) is a helpful strategy to advancing up the ladder. There's only so fast you can move within the same (large) company.
Do you really want to be a VP or Director? Most engineers end up hating it. If that's what you want to do, an MBA wouldn't hurt but it will go further at a non-tech company. Many tech companies still seem to have an irrational aversion to accepting that a little old fashioned business acumen would drastically improve their businessess.
Agree, that's the fear that I have pursuing an MBA. No one up my management ladder has one, not sure if it would be helpful at all.
It would be veru helpful in that it would make you much better at your job, but it wouldn't be in the sensr that people wouldn't see it as a good credential
You also need to find out if that's the path you really want to pursue. From outside it looks great but a lot of engineers do not like people role once they start working in those roles. I had that mindset and wanted to move fast on the corporate ladder. I became a director (within 6 years) in a big well known company but I started missing coding or how much I can contribute as IC. Gave up my role and moved back as IC...
I understand, honestly I don't think that's the case for me. While I enjoy coding, I find management more interesting than being an IC
If you want to climb the corporate ladder no reason you can’t do it at FB I would guess. IME at google we grow leadership internally. Seen multiple people go from L6 to VP. Just be aware of finding impact... switching teams is an option rather than leaving a company. You can also network internally.
Yeah, I get that. This entire process is just something that takes quite a bit of time and there are a lot f unknowns. Growing internally is definitely the best path to go, but it's something that naturally just takes time. I was wondering if there was something that I could do outside of work to potentially speed that up
MBA is useful for a career transition. If you want to go into consulting, investment banking, or PE then it’s worth it. You don’t need one to join senior management in tech and it most likely will not accelerate your growth
Yeah I definitely want to stay within the engineering org and I don't want to transition. Was wondering if there was a benefit of an MBA within VP level engineering positions.
Just travel my friend. Take 3 months off. Go to places that you know nothing about. Best investment that I've ever made in my life.
Be patient
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You've provided zero context of your life. Age? Current comp? Net worth? Any medical issues? Married? Planning on having kids? Do you like living in Silicon Valley? Planning on working till 60 or you gonna go for early retirement (in your 40's)? MS seems like a waste of time unless you want to study something very specific (AI or ML). MBA also kinda seems like a waste of time considering how expensive it is. Just use that money to invest in real estate or an index fund. Boom. Already beat the returns of an MBA.
+1 this is a helpful response for you OP. Will add that in case you consider an MS, doing it part time and maxing out the education budget that your company provides (typically ~12k) is worth it and also provides some tax gains. If you are an immigrant from India or China an MS could mean the difference between the EB-3 and EB-2 green card queues, bumping you up nicely.
Ok I can provide some more context, I'm 24 make 160 base, no medical issues, not planning on kids any time soon, plan on living in the valley, plan on getting married in the some time in the next 5 years and I plan to work until hopefully well over 60. Not sure about FBs budget for schooling. No visa to worry as I'm a citizen.