Based on my interview strengths should I be a manager?

Jul 29, 2021 24 Comments

Ok just purely considering my interview skills should I be a manager?

L64, 8 yoe, $300k currently tech lead in team. Always above averaging ratings but not superstar.

I have been preparing for 30hrs/wk for 6mth but still can't crack top FAANG coding rounds. By crack I mean complete 2 LC med bug free run on compile and have not seen the questions before. I've done many paid mock interviews with top FAANG. My scores:

Coding: Have done 5+ mocks. Usually lean no hire (2/4). If I've seen question before hire (3/4) but sometimes lean hire (2.5/4) because of bugs and edge cases.
SysDesign: At least hire (3/4) sometimes more. Done 4 now, this is consistently good.
Behavioral: At least hire (3/4), done 2 mocks both good.

Tldr is my system design and behavior is above average (and to be honest I'm not even preparing much for these). I spend 80% time to prep coding and most rounds are lean no hire.

I'm frustrated like fuck. I am thinking of switching to Manager simply because the LC question are easier. Manager is also L6, and I know system design and behavior is slightly overweighted at that level.

Also I like to work on big problems tech strategy and not bullshit day to day code and it's clearly reflected in my coding round struggle vs system design ease.

At the real life level I've been practicing with tier 2 companies and in half of them I am getting uplevel to Staff/Principal roles during offer stage (scope wise which means multi team impact). Usually these rounds have simple coding and more system design and behavioral. I'll concede tier 2 have lower bar than top FAANG but the data shows I can clear sys design and behavior rounds.

Blinders should I move to management? Just based on my interview skills profile. I don't care about the job, I can learn to like it. What I want in my career is to easily job hop every 4 years and get top FAANG offers.

73 PARTICIPANTS SELECT ONLY ONE ANSWER
VOTE VIEW RESULT
Amazon Meta Google
24

comments

Want to comment? LOG IN or SIGN UP
  1. TOP
  2. RECENT
  3. OLD
 TOP 24 Comments
  • Apple
    OffBy1DP

    Go to company page Apple

    OffBy1DP
    move to management, there’s more money and growth anyway
    Jul 29, 2021 6
    • Square / Eng
      Advocate

      Go to company page Square Eng

       Advocate
      Building things becomes a hobby at that point, realistically :)
      Jul 29, 2021
    • New
      riejcjeos

      New

      riejcjeos
      Not the end of world but I like to create things, more than producing them :(
      Jul 29, 2021
  • That...is not a good reason to switch to management. Not saying don't switch, just don't for that reason.
    Jul 29, 2021 1
  • Chime / Eng
    Hashida

    Go to company page Chime Eng

     Hashida
    This is such a terrible reason to switch to a managerial track. I wouldn't want you as my manager tbh.
    Jul 29, 2021 4
    • Amazon
      amzn_luv

      Go to company page Amazon

      amzn_luv
      Agree, but I guess that’s ok for internal role change where the trust is already established.
      Jul 29, 2021
    • Chime / Eng
      Hashida

      Go to company page Chime Eng

       Hashida
      Like @udwvus said, that's what makes the difference between a bad manager and a great one.

      @lifesuxx your happiness seems to be driven by TC, not by being a good manager. You gotta be someone that genuinely derives satisfaction from helping other people grow to be great at your job as a people manager.

      Do what you enjoy and spend time to get better at it. Money will follow. Don't switch tracks solely for money, it will make you miserable in the long run. More importantly, in this specific case, it will likely also make all of your reports miserable.
      Jul 29, 2021
  • Become a manager if you have the skills or desire to be a good manager. Otherwise you’ll cultivate a team of miserable people and spend your work life wallowing in their misery.

    People are weird and complicated but if you figure out how to help them thrive, being a manager can be awesome.
    Jul 29, 2021 0
  • New
    riejcjeos

    New

    riejcjeos
    Where do u get paid system design mocks with FaANg?
    Jul 29, 2021 3
    • Amazon / Eng
      wawY45

      Go to company page Amazon Eng

      PRE
      Apple
      BIO
      I'm a no-man.
       wawY45
      I think it's a waste of time. Too many Amazon employees doing the interviews who fail anyone who hasn't seen the problem before.
      Jul 29, 2021
    • New
      gLef70

      New

      gLef70
      You can specify which company. I’ve done it for FB
      Jul 29, 2021