Loser if still an IC at 10 YOE?

Feb 11, 2021 11 Comments

I've been an IC for most of my 10+ year career. I make decent money $400k+ and am a respected IC

Most of my friends have moved on to Doordash, Facebook, LinkedIn, Uber and became managers and senior managers. These are reputed companies which also pay a lot.

When I apply for jobs, leadership recruiters hand me off to the IC recruiter who'll drill me on the usual Leetcode and system design as though ICs are inferiors and the elite 'leadership recruiter' will only deal with 'leaders' aka Engineering managers and Directors.

Internally, the Big 5 Tech companies know how ICs and Managers are at the same level and one is not better than the other. But when you go out in the world outside of these places, I feel somehow that I need to move into management aka 'leadership' roles to be taken seriously

#microsoft #management #facebook #google

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TOP 11 Comments
  • New
    _🍿🐑

    New

    _🍿🐑
    Why are all options the same
    Feb 11, 2021 0
  • Google
    lx500

    Go to company page Google

    lx500
    High level IC is always specialized. If you want to be a generalist, go for it.
    Feb 11, 2021 0
  • Wish
    Iwish

    Go to company page Wish

    Iwish
    TC is all that matters I'd rather be IC making 1 million than a manager making 300K
    Feb 15, 2021 3
  • Argo AI / Eng
    stonks up

    Go to company page Argo AI Eng

    stonks up
    Clearly you think you need to be a manager to be successful. Might as well try it out. FYI a lot of technical people tend to hate management, your friends may actually envy you while you’re sitting here thinking they’re more successful.
    Feb 11, 2021 0
  • DoorDash / Eng
    RPOne

    Go to company page DoorDash Eng

    PRE
    Amazon
    RPOne
    You want to be a manager ? Go for it
    Talk to your manager and skip and build a plan to be a manager. Smh ...
    I used to manage two teams and it was a huge pain in the ass , decided it’s not for me and I don’t enjoy it one bit - hired my new manager and my skip to replace me in the manager duties and continued as an IC
    Meanwhile a friend of mine at that company who did want to be a manager holds the title “vp” bullshit - and makes less then half then me... good for him...

    Do whatever you enjoy and will keep you relevant for a long time.
    Feb 11, 2021 0