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This is a great discussion. Good managers can insulate you from bad companies and bad managers can ruin your experience in a great company. I would go as far as
by m348e912 2y ago
This is a great discussion. Good managers can insulate you from bad companies and bad managers can ruin your experience in a great company. I would go as far as to say the person you work for is more important in some cases than the company you work for.
Here are some thoughts.
Companies aren't always clear on who you would be reporting to during the hiring process. This isn't always intentional, but org structures are sometimes in flux as teams grow.
You should at least ask who you're going to report to or who you could potentially report to and ensure you have a conversation with them.
Also when looking for jobs, instead of searching by company or job openings, look for managers you have gotten along with or would like to work for and literally contact them and tell them you're looking for a new gig and would love to work on their team. Manager's who may not be hiring right now generally are open to the idea of bringing a known quantity onto their team who want to work for them specifically, so if something opens up you jump to the top of the list.
- hinkley 2y agoPeople don't quit bad companies, they quit bad managers.
- robertlagrant 2y agoYep. I did this.
- apple4ever 2y agoSame here, multiple times. But for good ones, I've ridden through tough times.
- steveBK123 2y ago> I would go as far as to say the person you work for is more important in some cases than the company you work for. Exactly why you never want to take a job unless you have clarity on reporting lines and speak to your future manager (and also their manager if possible) during the recruiting process.
- ineptech 2y agoAgreed, unless you're desperate it's madness to accept a job without having had a discussion with your prospective manager. And not just to make sure they're not a big jerk, this is your chance to find out what kind of team you're joining. Ask probing questions: What happens when there's a disagreement about how to implement something? What happens when it becomes clear that a major milestone is going to be late? Has that happened recently? What goal are you currently working on for modernizing your tools, and are you making progress on it? etc.
- yodsanklai 2y ago> it's madness to accept a job without having had a discussion with your prospective manager In a big company, you may change manager frequently. They may not even know who your manager is at the time they hire you. And it may take more than a discussion to know if they're a jerk.
- SoftTalker 2y ago> org structures are sometimes in flux At one point I went for nearly two years reporting to nobody. My previous boss left, and I basically was not on anyone's radar, but still got paid.