IC vs Management Career Path Analyzer

Pro v1.0.0 1 view

Analyzes career path fit for Senior Product Managers choosing between Individual Contributor (IC) track and Management track based on work preferences and company context.

What You Get

Get personalized IC vs Management fit scores, company IC track maturity assessment, and actionable career plans with specific timelines and decision checkpoints.

The Problem

Senior PMs struggle with IC track career planning because the IC track is poorly defined at most companies. This causes PMs to feel pressured into unwanted management roles, hit career ceilings as IC, or make job changes every 2-3 years seeking IC advancement. The IC track is relatively new in Product Management and compensation/influence parity with management is changing slowly, creating anxiety at this critical decision point.

The Solution

This skill evaluates work preferences against IC and Management indicators to calculate fit scores (0-100% for each track), assesses current company's IC track maturity, determines urgency level based on layoffs or pressure, and generates a tailored career plan with month-by-month actions, decision checkpoints, and job search strategies if needed. Includes business case templates for pitching Staff PM roles and interview questions for evaluating IC track maturity at other companies.

How It Works

  1. 1 Validate user is Senior PM and gather context about work preferences, company size/stage, existing IC roles, and urgency factors
  2. 2 Calculate IC Fit Score and Management Fit Score (0-100%) based on technical work preferences, mentorship interest, and influence style preferences
  3. 3 Evaluate Company IC Track Maturity Score (0-100%) based on IC role existence, number of senior ICs, compensation parity, and company size
  4. 4 Assess urgency level (HIGH: 3-6 months, MODERATE: 6-12 months, STANDARD: 12-18 months) based on layoffs, pressure, or company crisis
  5. 5 Generate path recommendation: Stay IC at current company, Stay IC but job change, Transition to management, Explore both paths, or Urgent job search
  6. 6 Create actionable career plan with specific month-by-month actions, business case template for Staff PM pitch, job search strategy, and decision checkpoints
  7. 7 Provide decision framework with success criteria, red flags to leave, and supporting resources

What You'll Need

  • User is a Senior Product Manager (5+ years PM experience) at advancement decision point
  • User can describe work preferences (what energizes vs drains them)
  • Basic context on current company's size, structure, and IC role existence
  • Willingness to take action on recommendations

Get This Skill

Requires Pro subscription ($9/month)

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Examples

Clear IC Preference at Company Without IC Track

Senior PM with strong IC affinity (loves technical work, hates 1-on-1s) at Series C startup with no Staff PM roles. Shows high IC fit score, low company IC track maturity, and generates 12-18 month career plan with internal advocacy followed by job search strategy.

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High Urgency Crisis - Post-Layoff Decision

Senior PM with IC preference facing 30% company layoffs and Director role offer. Shows CRITICAL urgency assessment and generates compressed 3-4 month crisis action plan with immediate job search activation and strategic evaluation of Director role as potential bridge.

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Mixed Signals - Discovery Phase Recommended

Senior PM with moderate affinity for both IC and management (enjoys mentoring AND technical work) at 400-person company with emerging IC track. Shows balanced fit scores and recommends 3-6 month discovery phase with specific actions to gather data before deciding.

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