I M A G E B Y E S B P R O F E S S I O N A L

First of all, different titles mean different things in different companies. I have been everything from VP and CTO at successful startups to CEO of my own company, but after years of having executive-level titles, I took a role without one.

If I had rejected that job opportunity because the title was lower than any that I had had in the previous 10 years, I would have missed out on one of the biggest, most life-chang-ing growth opportunities that I have ever had.

Moreover, in that role, instead of being a software engineer I was in the job category of technical program manager (TPM). I had never been a TPM before, and to be honest, it was not a role I identified with. No one would describe me as organized, and I didn’t have the background skills; I write code and lead engineering teams.

Even though the title was a demotion, and it was a job family that didn’t fit, I still took the position because of what I could gain from it.

Yes, I had to learn some TPM skills, but what was truly valuable about that job was the access it gave me. Because of what my team was focused on, I got to be in meetings with top executives who were running 1,000-plus-person teams. I was presenting to VPs who had decision-making power for a huge organization.

I had a huge scope. Instead of being siloed in one department where I was the boss, I was able to get on the radar of key leaders throughout the organization. I was able to gain influence and visibility; I saw the priorities for the whole company (not just my department), which allowed me to align myself with the most important work being done.

I got to learn, and I gained visibility. I built my network and got to know many people in the organization as a whole. Over time, I earned even bigger influence and control. And my title had nothing to do with it.

When you are looking at different
job opportunities, think about the big-
ger picture for your career. Where do
you want to be in 10 years? What is your
ultimate career goal?

This is different for everyone. Think about where you want to end up, and work backward from there. What skills do you need in order to get there? What steps will you need to take along the way?

Focusing on the short-term win of getting a fancy title or bigger paycheck is a mistake. If a job is not actively putting you into the situations you need in order to grow or make the right contacts, then it is not really the right choice. It will delay you getting where you need to go.

When you are looking at an opportunity, consider whether this role will help you level up your career. Ask yourself the following questions:

˲ What skills do I still need to build in order to make progress toward my goals?

˲ What benefits will the job afford me that maybe are not visible in the job description?

˲ Who will I meet?