Going down the SWE IC track is pretty straight forward => build stuff, leetcode, own some projects, get promoted, repeat. But how does one plan about if they want to become a manager? It seems like it's all up to chance (a manager position opening up im your team and you being at the company for a while) Would going from IC to M at FB or Google be more difficult due to lower turnover SWEs than Uber or Airbnb? I'm thinking about joining a hot startup for the growth and fast tracking to management. Thoughts?
@fishy: you are correct that there needs to be a manager position open for you to become a manager. However if your team is growing quickly, then those positions will be created just as a matter of your manager not being able to directly manage everyone. If you are serious about becoming a manager, I’d talk to your manager, and ask him how you can help other people grow on your team.
You have the right answer. It's just stroke of luck. Your company won't make you a manager as long as your current manager is still with the company. If he leaves they try and hire outsider unless you have given them enough grief about promoting you and they really know you will leave unless you are offered the position. No outside company will directly hire you as a manager no matter how much experience you have leading projects. They will always go for someone with the manager title. So the best you can do is wait. Or go to a company where people leave frequently or the company is hiring at rapid rate both of which increases your chances.
Tbh, being a manager is something that needs to be learnt, with reading, courses and mentorship (from your own manager and other people inside the company). If you want to be a manager in a startup, sure it is possible. But I doubt you’ll find the same support for helping you learn the role as what is available at fb.
being a manager at a startup is nothing more than becoming a human meat shield for the execs. you don’t have enough influence to actually do anything but become the face of the company to your reports
Get an experienced manager as mentor instead of asking here. Too much stuff to talk about.
Join Amazon. U can become manager in couple of years.
Become staff engineer and stay in this position during at least a year. In your resume, mention the actions you did that help your team grow. Choose as much actions related to the job of an engineering manager as possible. Reorient your resume towards the resume of a manager. Tell your manager your desire to become manager and if he can help you (unlikely, but who knows) Apply externally with the resume. Train on behavioral interviews and system design. You should be able to get a manager position this way.
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Avoid teams with only Chinese or Indians especially with a Chinese/Indian manager
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Worried that our top performer is an attrition risk. How do managers handle this?
Stop working - mgmt have no choice but promote you
Spend more time in manager room than doing actual.work