Currenly, I’m a Manager at Pinterest (managing a team of 3) and I’ve been offered an IC role at Google (non-tech). I love my team, I love my manager, and I love my work — However, I don’t love my salary. I’m making 85k. Wondering if it’s a smart move to move into an IC role (feels like it would be a backward career move) where i would get a 45k salary pay increase and have the opportunity to work at a FAANG company. Additionally, if I take this job, it would mean that my family would move out of the city to the burbs– which doesn’t seem like a bad idea. Just a lot of changes. For context, I have 3 years of tech experience (non-tech) and I also have a family to support. My partner makes less than me so, financially, the pay bump would be helpful as we think of educational costs for our growing kids.
I would move. Managing teams isn’t a step forward or backwards. Once you have FAANG branding on your resume you can go anywhere and your TC will continue to rise
Isn't Pinterest pretty high up though? I feel like at that point he'll have a leg up anyway
He will have a leg up, yes. But it isn’t still a FAANG. With a lot of work exp it matters less but w little work exp then branding gives people a good foundation. With that said, you can still get great jobs coming from non-FAANG. You’ll just be surprised how ppl give you the benefit of the doubt when you come from FAANG. Also the relationships you build at FAANG can go along way. Large companies — think of it as bschool network.
Always try your best to think long term. If all equal (i.e. salary, where you live, etc.) will staying at Pinterest in your current position or working at Google help your career? Just because you’re a manager now and go to an IC position doesn’t mean it’s a step back. Managing 3 is great but what about managing 10,30,100 etc?
Where do you live that Pinterest pats managers 85k?
Welcome to the world of us normies not in tech.
Moving in and out of management roles is a totally normal and productive way to work. You can always go back to it if you want, and the leadership experience will make you a stronger IC. Congrats on the life changing offer 🎉 that’s really exciting!
Congrats!
Congrats! What level will you be? While I managed people before google, trying to get a manager position at Google was difficult because most teams wanted someone with management experience AT GOOGLE. It was frustrating but once I got the opportunity to manage a team at Google, it was a culture shock. Managing at Google is quite different than anywhere else. Also I found that you have to be at least L5 to manage folks, but it depends on business unit and team.
Some questions - Since you didn’t have management experience at google , how did you convince your new team / manager , that you should be put in a manager role ? Also , did the fact that you moved from management to IC in order to come to google affect future management opportunities at google ? Is L5 sorta good level and L6 is the level for managers at google ? Or Does people management begin at level 5 ? What were the key differences you found while managing at google vs in your past roles ?
1) I had a great manager at google who worked with me to get management experience via hosting summer interns, managing a temp, etc. she also helped groom me to be her successor (positioning me politically, giving me exposure), but when I didn’t get her job when she left, I started to network and meet managers who are known for “taking chances on new google managers with no experience.” It took awhile before I landed a role in management. You see a lot of people within google even go from ic to manager to ic. 2) no it didn’t negatively or really positively affect future management oops. moving from manager to IC actually was advantageous because I was able to join google and really learn how to navigate it, ramp quicker, and build a really strong and large network. 3) I’ve seen L4 managers but more typical is L5/L6. In my experience, on non tech teams, you can definitely get to L5 as an IC, but it can get much harder to do as an L6 and almost impossible for an L7. For reference, PHDs come in at L4, MBAs come in between L4 and L5. 4) -You’re expected to manage a team of typically over 10 and then also have your own deliverables. -There are 10 attributes that your direct report rates you on and it impacts your performance review and rating quite drastically. -There is a ton of upward feedback and entitlement that everyone can challenge every single decision, even decisions from our CEO. - I have less autonomy, it took over a year to fire someone who was abusive and toxic, when previously I could make decisions on who I hire, fire and performance manage.
Take into consideration what you are learning at your current role and what you potentially will pick up in your new role. If the skill set that the new role offers doesn't line up with your goals, then I think alarms should be going off. If TC is the main objective, then it's a slam dunk decision.
Congrats!!
Thank you all for your advice!
An opportunity to work at a FAANG company doesn’t happen very often. With 50%+ increase in salary, I’d make the move if I were in your shoes.