As a New Yorker, when someone is as positive and encouraging as I just was, I ignore them. It’s generally a good rule. For credibility sake, let me inject some context as to why I left and make my one criticism. I left to finish a PhD. Thus, I am not saying you should move to Jersey while I take up residence in New York. Summit is New York in that metaphor! Had I not been invested in school, I would have positioned myself for a long Summit career.
My one cautionary comment will only manifest once you take the job. That is, the structures they have in place, to put you in control of your career path, do not always follow the same timeline as the company’s growth. Let’s say they hire you and you’re consulting your “you-know-what” off. You take on goals at the beginning of the year, and meet them by the end of the year. Well, that will correspond with a bonus and, sometimes, a promotion, but the real opportunities for advancement come when the company takes on new work. New work emerges out of long bidding process, track record, and relationship building. The business development process isn’t always salient to the employee. However, have faith! While Summit may be able to figure out a better way to align company growth with an individual’s goals, Summit is lean, efficient, smart, and diverse. The work will come, as those qualities are rewarded. Good luck.
