How are downgrades in title perceived? I plan to leave a ~200 person startup with a 25 person tech + product org. This is my first managerial position with 2 YOE at this level, 8 YOE total. Even though my title is Director, I get to make virtually 0 decisions and am completely beholden to stakeholders and product. No mentorship from boss, and learned nothing for nearly 12 months. Not convinced I’m qualified for a true Director-level position. How bad does dropping to Eng Manager look long-term?

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Don't get caught up on title, they can call it whatever they want. Do what you love. I've gone back and forth in my career from ic to manager to director to ic to manager to founder multiple times. It's about the passion for the problem you are solving that shines through and makes you succeed.

likehelpful

I've fundamentally changed my role about a dozen times in my career at places as big as Amazon and Google, as well as startups I joined and startups I've founded. I've never chased a title - I find them to be quite toxic actually. I've always chased interesting problems and every problem requires you to do something different. Being able to adapt to what the problem needs allows you to never feel "stuck." If you solve a problem lots of people care about (that you are also passionate about), people remember that -- and I've found you have far more freedom, happiness and more than enough compensation. It's not just me. I know several people that have done this, and they are some of the most successful people I know. Once you embrace this philosophy and believe in yourself to do this, you will be much happier. It's not to say you won't have setbacks, I've misjudged several steps in my career. But, thats ok because I learned from them and never felt stuck that I had to move in a particular way, or have a particular title, to find success.

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Don’t let imposter syndrome get the best of you, you have 8YOE after all. In industry that will get you a director or SM position anywhere.

Also titles don’t pay the bill. Don’t fret, my pet. You got this.

likeupliftinghelpful

As a former VP of Engineering at a 250 person startup and now in a (by choice) IC role I’ve seen no ill effects. I’ve refused multiple asks to go into management, have loved getting back into modern web development, and am making more $ than I did as a VP (now at a larger company.) People in tech management understand why you’d want to avoid it.

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Do it—I went from VP at a tiny place where the title meant zilch, to a PM at a 20k employee company. Within a year, I am a manager and on the fast track upwards. I have a career sponsor and mentor at my company, and more personal growth to prepare me for director and beyond than I’ve ever received (including another Fortune 500 company I worked for in the past).

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Do you guys know any companies that are actively hiring during pandemic including big companies like Deloitte, Accenture and BCG?

It's all relative. Manager at a larger well-established business holds more weight. I wouldn't consider this a downgrade in title.

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