For those who are VPs or Senior Directors at FAANG: What was your career path?
I’m a lowly SWE and say my goal is to be a FAANG VP in 5 -10 years. What did you do right that I can follow? - Grind leetcode to get in FAANG as SWE, then move up tech ladder? - Get into engineering management no matter which company? - Get into product management? - MBA? (God I hope not) - Join a series A/B startup (or start my own) and hope it skyrockets/get acquired by FAANG? I think I’m equally good (or bad, depending on how you look at me) at SWE/EM/PM. Did a bit of everything in previous jobs. Tc 260k Yoe 7
you really think VPs troll around blind and that theyll identify themselves?
This (a) isn’t a troll question, (b) VPs have id’ed themselves in other threads before, and (c) many successful higher-ups like guiding newbies. Evidently you aren’t one of them.
Get off of Blind...
Found a company.
Redefine your goal. Your goal has to be to create massively successful products and the side effect is your promotions. If your goal is promotions your are misguided in your technology pursuits. Go be a investment banker or trader.
Where I work, I know a couple of Sr Directors under 30. Atleast based on their linkedin profiles, they do not have a track record of delivering anything “massively” successful (they might have solid references, performance ratings and such but you can’t find it on linkedin) They are eloquent public spakers and have a commanding personality. I honestly don’t know how a 26 year old walks into a job interview, convinces HM that he be hired as a Director, and gets promoted again within a couple years. Hence asking for tactical advice. It’s possible that this is exclusively a non-FAANG scenario.
Join ebay
Very unlikely that you will get to VP in 10yrs at FAANG at their current valuations and demand. Most VPs who made it in 10yrs joined in 2000-2007 when markets were down. And went with the flow of the bull market. And when FAANG wasn't the best sector (Wall Street was) If you join today when the markets are at peak it is likely you will be swimming against the tide. If you join FANG you will be probably be Sr Mgr or may be Director if you are very lucky. You can get to VP in other companies. So it is either FANG or VP in 10yrs but not both. Be realistic and open to coaching rather than demanding anamolies from people who were at the right place at the right time (luck)
Appreciate it, I had not considered the recession -> bull market scenario.
Comcast folks make 260k? Higher than I expected.
How else will they hire Senior SWEs in Bay area?
I know one who started a company and get acquired by Amazon for 400M, he didn't start in Amazon at all, and if he did he probably would be stuck at L7 for a long time.
L4 sde at a place like Amazon to VP in 10 years? Good luck with that
Why not? There are lucky ones who work hard!
Can you name one?