How to get a break in a mid to top tier Tech company?
20 YOE, current position as Dev Manager (for last 6 yrs) The posts on blind are motivating and fueling a thought in me to try my luck as IC in a tech company. I currently lead a dev team but the software is legacy one (more than 25 yrs old...) and so I am worried about my tech skills as I continue in this role. My undergrad is in CS Engg and got an MBA a few years back, although I haven't put the MBA to much use. Looking at the discussions about high TCs for SWE, I am thinking if I can give a shot at SWE or Sr. SWE openings. But I am not sure if I would even get a call for IC positions in tech companies given my current position of a dev manager....what do you think are my chances? Would tech companies such as FAANG or mid tier ones in Bay Area/Seattle consider giving me an interview opportunity with my background? Btw, Inspired by blind discussions, i am working on re-acquanting myself on DS & Algos and trying coding exercises. Thanks!
Confidence my man, it will make you rich. And leetcode
It will partly depend on how hands on you still are, but I made the switch from EM (10 YoE) to SWE so it does happen. The main thing they will care about as an IC is DS/Algo so go through EPI book and LC lots to prepare. Due to your seniority it would also make sense to brush up on system design.
Thanks! Last year I did AWS certification which actually helped me quite a bit about system design using the various services AWS has. I am also now going to start reviewing the Grokking System design material. Will look into EPI book as well.
Go see if you can solve a leetcode medium in a reasonable amount of time. You should be able to gauge your preparedness from that.
LC medium is a far fetch for me...working on LC easy for now.
Practice practice practice. Do solo prep with sites like LeetCode. Warm up for interviews with mocks from sites like Pramp.com and PracticeCodingInterview.com
Current Tc?
It seems like the path that would be most beneficial long term, assuming you were to succeed as a SWE/DE/DS, would be to take a step down and become an IC anywhere in the competency of your choice. Work hard and do well, then try and get an interview at a better company. Even if you fooled a med/top tier company, and got in the door... If you couldn't cut it, it would be pretty obvious pretty early. I think the reality of your situation is that you are getting a late start, at starting over. My two cents.
Well OP, you really gotta get yourself reacquainted, big time, with DS&algo. With your yoe you need to BS your way thru distributed systems design, too. Also you need some cover story about how you were designing and architecting earth shattering stuff in the last few years, instead of what you were actually doing.