Determining if a job is senior enough for you can be a crucial step in your career decision-making process. Here are some ways to assess the seniority level of a job starting from the obvious to the more advanced approaches

1. Job Description: Start by carefully reading the job description. Look for keywords and phrases that indicate a senior role, such as "senior," "lead," or "manager." Pay attention to the responsibilities, qualifications, and level of decision-making authority mentioned in the description.
2. Required Experience: Evaluate the required experience level for the job. Senior roles often require a significant amount of experience in the field or industry. Assess whether your own experience aligns with the expectations outlined in the job posting.
3. Level of Responsibility: Consider the level of responsibility associated with the job. Senior positions typically involve managing teams, projects, or budgets. Assess whether the job requires you to take on higher-level decision-making, strategic planning, or leadership responsibilities.
4. Reporting Structure (top-down): Examine the reporting structure of the job. Senior roles often involve reporting directly to executives or higher-level managers. Look for indications of the job's position within the hierarchy of the organization. Consider how far away you are from the CEO. Keep in mind that this approach is dependent on company size.
5. Team/Organization Size (bottom-up): Evaluate the size of the team or organization under you. Senior roles often involve managing larger teams or overseeing significant portions of the organization. Consider the scope and scale of the responsibilities you would have in relation to the size of the team or organization. Some would say this is a more fair approach that is not dependent on company size.
6. Budget Management: Assess the size of the budget you would be managing. Senior roles often involve overseeing larger budgets and making strategic financial decisions. Consider the level of financial responsibility and the impact of your decisions on the organization's success.
7. Salary and Title: Consider the salary and title associated with the job. Senior roles generally command higher salaries and more prestigious titles compared to junior or mid-level positions. Additionally, consider the compensation package, which may include RSUs, carry, and bonuses for more senior positions.

Extra scenarios I ran into recently for senior roles that are the exception, not the rule. This inspired me to write this piece in the first place, as the seniority was not immediately clear.

1. You are very senior - 2 steps away from the CEO in a large org, but have no budget, no team and no decision making power. Sounds weird, but if you are brought in as a consultant and are paid the big bucks it starts making sense
2. You are the sole hire, but given a green-field opportunity. Build a department. Start with a small budget and grow it. Sometimes this is called being an intrapreneur. Sometimes this is just a regular new division that a company would grow (e.g. Digital or Innovation)

Remember, determining if a job is senior enough for you is a personal decision based on your career goals, aspirations, and individual circumstances. Consider these factors alongside your own ambitions and long-term career plans to make an informed decision.

Happy job hunting!