Hi all, I've been a Data Science Manager at a large well known tech consulting firm. For the last 2 years, I have worked with several clients (Fortune 200s and big 4), last of which was Meta. Currently, I have two offers on the table, a full time Lead IC role at Meta, or a Senior DS Director role at TIAA, a large financial services company. Compensation-wise both amount to similar levels. I can confidently say I am stronger on the technical side compared to peers on the same level (M1/M2) at Meta. The TIAA leadership team hiring all have ex-big tech background. Do you think taking a 2-step jump to senior director is a good move? Or do you think I should take the Meta tech IC role now? My goal is ultimately getting back to big tech in leadership position but I do not want to halt my continuous learning. I have plenty of learning opportunities in consulting but that comes at cost of poor WLB and being second class on the client side. Would appreciate any input! Thanks in advance
If your senior DS manager role translates to an IC offer at Meta, what do you think your senior DS director roles would translate to later? Or in other words: lots of people who have difficulty entering leadership or climbing the leadership ladder at tech companies end up going to these legacy companies for exactly the reason you describe: it's easy to jump multiple levels. It can be difficult to translate this jumped level experience back, though.
Thanks for your feedback! So the backstory is missing; I didn't really apply for any roles in big tech yet, this one is kind of just coming along with laid back interviews because the client knows me and the said M2 manager that is weaker in technical skill is able to deliver high quality work to her leads in a hands-off fashion off my deliverables (huge multi stakeholder projects). She is trying to keep me around by opening this position under her... To be honest, I didn't have interest in applying to it but did with comp curiosity. I am way stronger than this M2 in technical and leadership skills both. Would I not have a chance in big tech at bare minimum M1/M2 if I rigorously applied?
Sure, frame your resume in a strong way and you should have a shot. Doesn't hurt to try!
Share the numbers for the offers to be evaluated