Ask HN: How to get past HR filter to get into management?

1 pointlifeplusplus2 comments

I've been mentoring and doing managerial duties to some capacity for few years but my title is Sr Eng. etc. HR filter phone interviews always go like oh we are looking for someone with more mgmt exp, but your sr dev.

Seems like catch22, need mgmt exp to get mgmt exp. And internal promotions aren't happening in <10 years.

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I suggest two approaches:

(1) Skip HR. Leverage contacts and contacts-of-contacts to go directly to someone with authority to hire.

(2) Write a cover letter explaining that your current title is misleading about your responsibilities. In it, list lots of specifics.

Unless you know someone in executive leadership that can file an exception, you can't (at most companies). HR processes are often created specifically to prevent exceptions, though, so by that time you've already lost. You'll either have to stick around at your current employer until they give you a chance, or start spamming resumes.

There's no magic bullet here.

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