Ask HN: Career (Down) Path for a Principal | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Career (Down) Path for a Principal

2 pointsMEXot5Xz4 comments

Posting from a new account for anonymity.

I'm currently a principal SE. The role/level has its obvious perks (recognition/influence/very well compensated/etc.).

However, I feel some fatigue/burnout from leadership responsibilities. I have been burnt before and know what an ugly place it is.

What are your advice to help bring back some balance? I have considered:

* Taking a long break (up to 6 months).

* Moving down to a senior role and just chill (not exactly sustainable long term if we still want private school for the kids).

I wonder if there are other career paths that may be suitable medium/long term. If so, please enlighten me.

I moved down a role into a larger company. It came with higher pay so it's pretty good. Generally companies with a principal role are pretty big though, so I'm not sure how practical that is.

It's not exactly less stressful as you have built habits at your current role, and a role change means building new routines and dealing with new problems.

I personally found long breaks more stressful because you're probably used to working hard and the change from work to rest and rest to work can be jarring. Another alternative is frequent shorter breaks, maybe weeks per quarter.

Short breaks sound like what I need!

Spot on about working hard there, I'd probably end up learning or writing code most days in my break anyway, just not for an employer.

I'm pretty open to moving down into another company when my time comes (I change job roughly every 3-5 years, as good things take time to materialise). I'm in Australia where there are not as many (good) opportunities at this level (compared to the US) but I can travel once the new born is flight ready.

Have you considered changing companies? Instead of taking a step down, you could evaluate a new employer entirely on the basis of the likelihood that your issues will be sufficiently mitigated.

That's a good idea.

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