(Neither options are FAANGs, these are all non-SWE roles) Smaller company reached out, offers a director role pretty badly siloed into marketing with no direct reports in the near future (not sure why they're calling it a director....). Comp is also a manager comp level. Other company (might) offer a lead role, no direct reports in the near future either but much more chance to impact, most execs are former Google/Twitter and have a good problem to solve (building ad revenue). I'm a middle manager, run a team of 4, I'm trying desperately to move up the ladder but I'm finding very few ppl manager roles with a shot at director level. YoE 7, 140tc
Good luck, first one sounds like good title second one sounds like better leadership, the former google exec company just sounds better.. all the best
It also depends on what your future goals are (beyond moving up the ladder; e.g. do you want to stay at a company and grow? Move again after a year?) and what the trajectory of the two companies look like (e.g. is the small company an undiscovered rocket ship?).
My feeling is that the "director" is a bit of a joke. It's an analytics role but I was interviewed only by marketing folks. It's doesn't add up. Plus it comes with significant analyst duties, which I don't mind being hands on at all but that clearly is not a director role. The goal is go and try with FAANG in a couple of months again. Got an on-site at Google and failed, I want to try again or grow into a proper director role elsewhere.
Why don't you stay at your current job if planning to interview in a couple of months?
I’d look at who’s working there now, who might have worked and where they landed as an indicator of potential next steps for you (LinkedIn search). The 2nd company sounds more promising based on what you wrote.
Increasing your brand with the ”Director” title won't do much for your future roles. A seasoned executive worth his salt will be able to see through that BS in seconds. Go for the other company.
Go for other company and inflate your title on LinkedIn anyways.. “Head of” of “Lead” are all BS titles to inflate to
Neither! You can’t go from a position with direct reports to positions that don’t but might later on. If they never do, you will be in the job market with no team management and recruiters will think you failed at management. Pass and look for a job managing the same org size or more.
Go for the other company. Looks like more opportunities to grow your network too. Titles hardly matter specially considering the title inflation we regularly see on LinkedIn.
Hey. I'm the Head of Engineering for my cubicle.
Haha. Got to be at least CTO of your cubicle.