Recently I’ve been contemplating moving to a manager role in a big tech company. I was wondering which type of team is typically more favourable for an IC with a data science background. Have you found any barriers when managing a team mainly made up of engineers vs managing a team where the composition is mostly data scientists ?
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Did you have prior experience directing people at a firm, or were you always IC? It’s practically impossible for an outside hire in the FAANG I work for to get from IC to manager in Big Tech. Additionally, the nature of the position will determine your ability to manage engineers as opposed to staff members from other disciplines.
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feel that in order to enter FAANG management straight away, you need to be fairly senior, even as a manager.
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I’m talking about an internal move from IC to manager
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Definitely. Then, it truly depends. whether the position is highly technical, you will be evaluated based on whether you possess a more robust technical background than the majority of your direct reports, or whether you have expertise coaching and developing junior subordinates and colleagues.
Relationships have a big impact on a management position that is business-centric. Hiring decisions will be influenced by a number of important aspects, including having the proper team, the right stakeholders, and a reputation for making important judgments. In those situations, I would speak with the recruiting manager over coffee and learn about their company plan. This should ideally be carried out within the context of previous cross-functional team initiatives you have worked on, reaching out to the managers and skip in question.
There isn’t really a “formula” because both will rely on a combination of your interpersonal and technical abilities, with less emphasis on your degree.
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After a year, I moved back after completing it. It uses an entirely different kind of energy and is night and day. If you have any questions, DM me.