> I might not get hired by startups or FAANG for being in cruising mode
There is “One Weird Trick” to getting hired at FAANG as an old guy. Don’t try to get in as a software engineer. Amazon, Google and Microsoft all have cloud Professional Services department where they value a combination of technical knowledge, leadership, and communication skills and you don’t have to do the leetCode grind. They are all full time positions working directly for the companies with the same (but usually about 20% lower) compensation packages with cash + RSUs.
They are positions like Solution Architects, Account Managers, Engagement Managers, Sales, and billable consultants.
That’s how I got into AWS at 46 (no longer there) and until last year at least, Google/GCP was hiring former and current AWS ProServe employees like crazy. I ignored their outreaches because at 51 I would rather get an anal probe with a cactus than ever work at BigTech or any large company again and definitely won’t be going back into an office.
Don’t get me wrong, I have no issues with business travel (been there done that).
While I am still officially an IC these days, I spend most of my time either leading implementations, doing discovery sessions as a post sales architect and some hands on work when necessary.
There is “One Weird Trick” to getting hired at FAANG as an old guy. Don’t try to get in as a software engineer. Amazon, Google and Microsoft all have cloud Professional Services department where they value a combination of technical knowledge, leadership, and communication skills and you don’t have to do the leetCode grind. They are all full time positions working directly for the companies with the same (but usually about 20% lower) compensation packages with cash + RSUs.
They are positions like Solution Architects, Account Managers, Engagement Managers, Sales, and billable consultants.
That’s how I got into AWS at 46 (no longer there) and until last year at least, Google/GCP was hiring former and current AWS ProServe employees like crazy. I ignored their outreaches because at 51 I would rather get an anal probe with a cactus than ever work at BigTech or any large company again and definitely won’t be going back into an office.
Don’t get me wrong, I have no issues with business travel (been there done that).
While I am still officially an IC these days, I spend most of my time either leading implementations, doing discovery sessions as a post sales architect and some hands on work when necessary.