Career/life advice requested

[Alphathree33]

Every few months I tend to write my thoughts here (I know, blog.anandtech.com) and you guys always provide really good stories from your own experience that help me make decisions.

So here's my current dilemma.

I am two years out from university now. This is my second full-time job as a Product Manager.

My first was at a big company (30,000 employees) and was challenging for about a year. Then the bureaucracy started to take over. I quit.

My current company is a startup (25 employees) that has a LOT of potential. If I stay here and we succeed, I could stand to make a big lump sum of money at the end.

But I'm bored here. The _comapny_ is exciting, but my _personal career growth_ here is not.

The executives keep telling me I "have a high ceiling" meaning I'm very promotable. But there's really nothing to be promoted "to" here until we get bigger, which might take a year or two.

So my dilemma is:
- stay here for the overall opportunity (think early-stage Google-like potential)
- leave here for more challenge elsewhere (job market is good here)
- stay long enough to build up a nest egg and then start my own business (I have the chops to do it, and several workable ideas)

Your thoughts?

 

[nickbits]

I would stay until the economy is better. While you claim that your job market is good if you do get a new job you would be first on the chopping block should things change.

 

[apac]

In this market, I'm not sure any move would be wise, but if you're dead set ...

Ask your execs for a five-year company road map, including increases in head count, market share, revenue projections, etc. If they are not expecting to increase head count or revenue in the next several years, you know you're not going anywhere. If they are, then there's your career progression. Then for the next couple years track the progress. If reality doesn't match the plan, time to move on.

 

[Aberforth]

I don't think most people here would give sound advice. My advice to you is not to limit your potential, start your own company and work towards forming it if you feel your current company is not meeting your expectations. To do that you need to make a living and work towards goals in your free time. I do this.

 

[Alphathree33]

The execs are pretty open about it since we're a start-up: we are going to grow by at least 100 people, if not more, in the near future. But it will undoubtedly take time since that's a 500% increase.

Like I said, I think the potential here is real. I'm just struggling with day-to-day boredom.

The founder of the company is really the product manager. I report to him, but tend to do the lower-level details like talking to engineers, writing requirements, doing presentations, rather than the more interesting strategic/long-term things that the founder obviously controls. I advise him, but I don't drive it. For me, it's not as intellectually challenging as I'd like and I know I would get lots more responsibility at bigger organizations.

 

[Aberforth]

Originally posted by: Alphathree33
The founder of the company is really the product manager. I report to him, but tend to do the lower-level details like talking to engineers, writing requirements, doing presentations, rather than the more interesting strategic/long-term things that the founder obviously controls. I advise him, but I don't drive it. For me, it's not as intellectually challenging as I'd like and I know I would get lots more responsibility at bigger organizations.

I do exactly the same thing, but when I come home- I work on my personal projects. I've written about 7000 pages of my software business models- yet to be implemented, but I'm waiting for the opportunity to knock my door as I know it will.

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: Alphathree33
For me, it's not as intellectually challenging as I'd like and I know I would get lots more responsibility at bigger organizations.

Two years out of school? Don't bet on it.

If you see potential in this smaller company, stick with it. You will have many leadership opportunities earlier on in your career at a smaller company than at a larger on. You'll also be able to learn things outside of your normal discipline, as small companies usually require "jack-of-all-trades" types of people.

 

[ViviTheMage]

stick it out, potential to be high up in a larger business is always good...especially if you can get your word in so the bureaucratic crap doesn't take over.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I would advise anyone against looking for greener pastures in the current economy. I have friends who are highly skilled, well educated dedicated employees who can't find work because the job market is so terrible. There is no guarantee that you fill find a better job, and you don't want to find yourself in a last-in first-out situation if a company needs to lay people off. Stay put, find out more about the company's plans for the future and figure out how to put yourself in the best position for promotion that you can.

 

[spidey07]

This is how normal work goes. Ups and downs, sometimes bored. You also are having a carrot dangled in front of you and that carrot will always be moved. For two years out I'd stick to whatever would look good on my resume and live with the boredom. Work won't always be fun and exciting - that's why it's called work and not happy fun time. And job hopping every year looks bad on your resume.

 

[Koing]

Originally posted by: spidey07
This is how normal work goes. Ups and downs, sometimes bored. You also are having a carrot dangled in front of you and that carrot will always be moved. For two years out I'd stick to whatever would look good on my resume and live with the boredom. Work won't always be fun and exciting - that's why it's called work and not happy fun time. And job hopping every year looks bad on your resume.

Indeed.

Be PATIENT! Stick it out of here for another 2yrs and if things aren't going ahead to plan stay another year if you think your really on the cusp of something great at the company or bail out somewhere else.

Depends on how much of what your telling us you really believe. I would not leave a company that was on the edge of something big in 2-3yrs.

Koing

 

[zebano]

#3. Build that nest egg and see if the market is there for one of your ideas.

 

[ultimatebob]

Perhaps you should stick with your existing job, and work on one of your ideas during the weekend? If it works out, THEN go out on your own.

Just don't work on your pet project at work... they might end up owning it they can prove that it was developed on their time. You know... IP ownership clauses in your contract and all that.

 

[ggnl]

Don't do a thing until you've found another job. Then evaluate on case by case basis whether it's better than your current job.

 

[Elbryn]

i'd say if you've got several workable ideas to begin implementing those if they can be done a part time basis as a proof of concept while you continue working full time at the small company. Find anything you can at the current job to stretch yourself and build the buisiness. when you get to the point where you have to choose, you'll have options.

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: Alphathree33
The execs are pretty open about it since we're a start-up: we are going to grow by at least 100 people, if not more, in the near future. But it will undoubtedly take time since that's a 500% increase.

Like I said, I think the potential here is real. I'm just struggling with day-to-day boredom.

The founder of the company is really the product manager. I report to him, but tend to do the lower-level details like talking to engineers, writing requirements, doing presentations, rather than the more interesting strategic/long-term things that the founder obviously controls. I advise him, but I don't drive it. For me, it's not as intellectually challenging as I'd like and I know I would get lots more responsibility at bigger organizations.

If you're struggling with day to day boredom, look for something that's broken or isn't efficient and fix it. Keeps you occupied, makes you look like a rock star, increases your promotability and puts you at the head of the line when they have the ability to promote, and adds to your resume if you do decide to switch jobs. If you're bored you need to take more initiative in what you do and working with your boss to set better goals.