Ask HN: Is it worth it to join a great company in a "lowly" position?
Say I get an offer to join an awesome company. Problem is, I'm overqualified for the position, but the reason I applied was to see if I could get in, and then grow within the company. I'm hoping if this will open doors long-term (having, say, McKinsey on your resume is essentially a rubber stamp to success in your future career path), but I'm also worried about the short-term implications.Have any of you been in this position?
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Is the position "lowly" in a relative sense or in an absolute sense?
The most important part of career development is making sure that you're being challenged and learning new things wherever you are. Sometimes that means taking a bottom-rung software engineering position at Google, and sometimes it might mean being CTO of a startup. The answer depends a lot on what you've already done before, what you want to do in the future, and what specific skillsets you've identified as needing practice.
I've found that in general, it's harder to blaze a trail than it is to follow in other really smart people's footsteps. OTOH, there's something intrinsically educational about that difficulty itself. A lot, too, depends on whether you find yourself stagnating because you can't identify areas where you could do better (a big problem for big-fish-in-a-small-pond) or whether you find yourself stagnating because you're too overcome with inertia to change your behavior (a big problem for small-fish-in-a-big-pond).
BTW, I've also noticed that many people who think they're overqualified for great companies when they get their offer find that they're not overqualified at all once they get in. The public face of any great company is a tiny fraction of everything that goes on inside of them...that's how they got to be great, after all.
The most important part of career development is making sure that you're being challenged and learning new things wherever you are. Sometimes that means taking a bottom-rung software engineering position at Google, and sometimes it might mean being CTO of a startup. The answer depends a lot on what you've already done before, what you want to do in the future, and what specific skillsets you've identified as needing practice.
I've found that in general, it's harder to blaze a trail than it is to follow in other really smart people's footsteps. OTOH, there's something intrinsically educational about that difficulty itself. A lot, too, depends on whether you find yourself stagnating because you can't identify areas where you could do better (a big problem for big-fish-in-a-small-pond) or whether you find yourself stagnating because you're too overcome with inertia to change your behavior (a big problem for small-fish-in-a-big-pond).
BTW, I've also noticed that many people who think they're overqualified for great companies when they get their offer find that they're not overqualified at all once they get in. The public face of any great company is a tiny fraction of everything that goes on inside of them...that's how they got to be great, after all.
Relative sense.
While I'm at a somewhat decent level at my current position, I don't see growth opportunities, at least in the way I want to grow. I'm wondering if starting again at a lower rung, but hopefully, in the right path, would be worth the "demotion" so to speak.
I hope you're right about the "find that they're not overqualified at all once" bit.
While I'm at a somewhat decent level at my current position, I don't see growth opportunities, at least in the way I want to grow. I'm wondering if starting again at a lower rung, but hopefully, in the right path, would be worth the "demotion" so to speak.
I hope you're right about the "find that they're not overqualified at all once" bit.
Take the job and attempt to grow within the company. Best case: you reach the position you want at a great company. Worst case: you leave in ~ 1 year and you have a great company on your resume.
"So, why did you leave Great Company"?
A better option might be to take a higher position/pay at a lousy company. At least then he will have a savings cushion to fall back on. There is no sense in trying to "climb the ladder"; some positions are so low that you can't possibly climb out of them. Try to grow from testing into lead dev, if you don't believe me.
A better option might be to take a higher position/pay at a lousy company. At least then he will have a savings cushion to fall back on. There is no sense in trying to "climb the ladder"; some positions are so low that you can't possibly climb out of them. Try to grow from testing into lead dev, if you don't believe me.
That's exactly how I'm looking at it. I'm pretty optimistic of growing rapidly within the company if/once I take up the offer, but then again, who knows how internal company dynamics actually work!
It depends on how lowly. For example, I would never think it would be worth it to be a secretary at Google over a programmer somewhere else. However, coming in as a regular developer when you've normally had senior or lead roles is fine. People do it and if asked about it later they will understand why you took that step, in order to get experience within that company.
Most of all, talk to the people giving you the offer. Make it clear that in a career sense this is a step down but you are considering it because that's how much you want to work for the company. Ask specifically what the growth path is or growth opportunities are for you there. I wouldn't expect them to make any guarantees but you can phrase it as: if I were to perform exceptional, then... You just want to make sure they know they aren't hiring a low level code monkey who will be happy doing the same thing 5 years later.
Most of all, talk to the people giving you the offer. Make it clear that in a career sense this is a step down but you are considering it because that's how much you want to work for the company. Ask specifically what the growth path is or growth opportunities are for you there. I wouldn't expect them to make any guarantees but you can phrase it as: if I were to perform exceptional, then... You just want to make sure they know they aren't hiring a low level code monkey who will be happy doing the same thing 5 years later.
Per nostrademons, shoring up your skillset by going into related areas (whether of technology or ops environment) is a good way to secure your career. However, it could also work against you if you ever intend to start your own company. Broadening your skillset helps to make you a master technician (a la Gerber's E-Myth) but often does not prepare you for higher levels of management. This isn't to say "don't do it" but to manage your career by a goal instead of letting things happen by accident.
Take it. Find interesting problems and challenges to solve so that you expand your responsibilities over time. People will notice, and with the right networking, you should be able to move up/ be promoted.
Edit: a job, even if below you, allows for savings and retirement matching, both of which allow you greater flexibility in the future.
Edit: a job, even if below you, allows for savings and retirement matching, both of which allow you greater flexibility in the future.
Yes! The hardest part is getting in the door. Once in, it is easier to move up. But be realistic.. you're being hired for a specific role and aren't going to be promoted to CEO in one week.
I'd like to here how you got in and at what post.