Interviewing but young peer has me confused

[Anonymous]

There’s a new role that opened up which would be a promotion for me a large company (85BN market cap ish). Total comp and benefits seem great. I did a 1 on 1 with the hiring manager last week and a quick touch late last week with (who would be my) counterpart. Not much said just a quick hey and gotta run.

I looked at his LinkedIn and he’s a director and probably 30 if my math is right. Great pedigree and experience…but between undergrad/grad school he has 6 years experience. I have to be missing something because climbing the ladder that fast is unheard of.


Is this not a cause for concern with anyone else?

[Anonymous]

Nepotism?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nepotism?

I’d think that if he didn’t work at 2 other companies jumping from manager > Srm > Director. Somehow he’s getting hired this high, but I work in a heavy ‘experience matters’ industry.

[Anonymous]

Top pedigree + super relevant experience track + luck. It’s possible.
Or it could be director @ ubs which is a glorified entry level manager.

[Anonymous]

People lie and exaggerate on LinkedIn all the time.

[Anonymous]

There's always a guy who is great at sucking up to bosses, taking credit for stuff, making people look good so they talk positively about him to other people, and moving on quickly (and moving up each time) so no one ever knows that he actually knows nothing and does nothing other than talk a good game in meetings. Once in a while a woman manages to do this, but its mostly men. HBS excels at turning out "leaders" like this, who are great at "making deals" and putting themselves at the top of whatever comes out while other people do all the work. They end up rich on bonuses/company stock and retire when they are 50 and play golf while sitting on corporate boards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nepotism?

I’d think that if he didn’t work at 2 other companies jumping from manager > Srm > Director. Somehow he’s getting hired this high, but I work in a heavy ‘experience matters’ industry.

So this is his 3rd job in 6 years? Or he had 2 jobs between undergrad and graduate school, and this is his job out of graduate school? He's your counterpart, or the hiring manager? I bet he had an "in" at these companies.

I've known people who move up and around every 2 years. It's a mixed bag.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps he's not that young, but looks young and worked before his last degree shown on his LinkedIn?

[Anonymous]

Some people are just really optimized in their career moves - either because they're smart or talented or lucky or whatever. While I'm happy where I am in my career and many people would see me as fortunate, I know that I could have reached this level much sooner if I hadn't "wasted" time in various roles.

[Anonymous]

Not everyone is a lawyer or doctor where at 30 you can only have a few years experience.

My daughter who is 23 is on her Fourth job. Two internships, two years at a tech company and now at a start up as the "experienced hire" You be surprised job hoppers and people who worked in college or got good internships by 30 are really in a good place. Business you can really hit ground running. As no grad school or certifications needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nepotism?

I’d think that if he didn’t work at 2 other companies jumping from manager > Srm > Director. Somehow he’s getting hired this high, but I work in a heavy ‘experience matters’ industry.

So this is his 3rd job in 6 years? Or he had 2 jobs between undergrad and graduate school, and this is his job out of graduate school? He's your counterpart, or the hiring manager? I bet he had an "in" at these companies.

I've known people who move up and around every 2 years. It's a mixed bag.

Maybe the guy did military before undergrad 🤷‍♀️

[Anonymous]

its not about time, why do old people think you have to put in time, that is actually worthless

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:its not about time, why do old people think you have to put in time, that is actually worthless

It isn’t about time per se, but about wisdom and judgement and those things tend to develop over time with the accumulation of experiences. It’s not something you can short cut. That said, some leadership roles don’t need that level of judgement but instead need risk taking and optimism and creativity, and young people are often have those things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:its not about time, why do old people think you have to put in time, that is actually worthless

Time is a crude stand-in for exposure, complexity, and maturity. It doesn't mean younger people don't have those things, given the right circumstances, but in general, exposure to a variety of roles, projects, issues, context, etc., comes over time.

[Anonymous]

let me repeat this again, PUTTING IN YOUR TIME means nothing. If someone has the skills and abilities to deliver results it doesn't matter. You can't teach stupid.