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Are there situations where it makes sense to take a step back in ones career progression?
Have you done something similar? What was your experience?
My story:
I'm a data scientist in the Bay Area and have about 7 years of work experience. I moved from analyst to analyst role, and then made the leap to a data scientist role two years ago. I'm now considering taking a analyst role in the midwest. The role is very junior, albeit I'll be paid 120K in Detroit, which will be great. This will be a step back from a role and progression perspective, and I'm not sure if it's worth it.
Last edited by tonym9428; 03-27-2018 at 10:53 AM..
What's more important the role or the money? If the money is right, then I wouldn't sweat it. Personally, I'm money motivated. I don't care about role or level as long as my salary keeps increasing.
What's more important the role or the money? If the money is right, then I wouldn't sweat it. Personally, I'm money motivated. I don't care about role or level as long as my salary keeps increasing.
It's always about money and intellectual growth in the area of statistics/econometrics. In that regards, the role is perfect. However, I'm a little uneasy about going from a senior role to a junior one.
I also took a step back in one position. I happened to feel that my current duties did not match the expectations of the position description (which had been revised several times over a number of years), and that the job had shifted away from what was originally intended. I felt I was not achieving the intended purpose. It made me uncomfortable and anxious that someone who didn't know the history of the position would end up holding me accountable for work I was not doing in reality. The salary wasn't the issue.
It's always about money and intellectual growth in the area of statistics/econometrics. In that regards, the role is perfect. However, I'm a little uneasy about going from a senior role to a junior one.
If the job title doesn't reflect the job level, how will future employers even know that it was a lower level job?
Titles like analyst or data scientist doesn't indicate level at all.
I worked as a kindergarten teacher full time for seven years and then became a part time insurance agent. Im much happier and just connected with myself on the decision to change. Only you know what is really right for you.
One time was a step back to work at a larger organization in order to gain experience in a different part of the industry.
A second time was to gain a broader title at a smaller organization. Almost the opposite of my first step back.
Both were strategic, meant to round out my resume. Both resulted in significant career advancement within 2 years.
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