Next Move: Manager or Worker Bee?

[pl12987]

I'm terribly frustrated trying to plan my future, because I am torn between wanting to be a web manager and wanting to be a web developer. In my current job I am both, which in some ways is the best of both worlds, but also the worst.

If I am the web manager or project manager, and have ownership of my web projects, it means I have to play politics with executives who don't know what they are talking about and want to tell me how to do my job....and smile and be polite while doing it (not easy). And all the while I am explaining why something is not possible or correct, I am thinking about the logic I need to be writing. (Or, in a future management-only job, the logic I wish I was writing....it would be the talk talk ALL the time.)

But if I say, okay--I'm a techie only, then somebody else will be making promises I will have to keep. I lose control....and control over my work is extremely important to me. I am very experienced, way above entry-level now, and I can't stand the thought of going back to implementing somebody else's ideas. It feels like going backwards.

I feel like in my next job I have to go one way or the other.

The only other thing I can think of is maybe becoming a trainer....anyway, I can't be the first one in IT with this dilemma. I'd like to hear anyone else's similar experiences in choosing a career path.

 

[butchrecon]

Choosing a career path like the one you described can be very difficult. VERY!!!. 5 Years ago I started working for a local PC sales shop. I started as a salesman (To get my foot in the door). After a couple of months I was a Tech. By the end of the year I was the lead tech. I enjoyed it. At the end of that year the owner told us he was selling the company and new ownership was coming in. A few months later we had new owners. One of the first things the new owner did was made me STORE MANAGER!! I was in shock. No experience or training. He told me how the old owner talked SO highly about me. Any way, after working there as manager for the next 2 years I decided it was time to move on. I was pretty much maxed out pay wise and the owner was frustrating me to hell!. So after a few interviews I had a choice of 2 places to work. Company A as their Service Manager at less than what I was making then. Or Company B as just a tech for about the same as I was making. I struggled for days over this. Finally I decided on Company B, as just a tech. It was a weird adjustment going from having near total control to having near no control. There was a few conflicts at first. But after a while I adjusted pretty well and I rather enjoy the lack of major responsibility. I do miss the managerial aspects of working, But I now do nothing but tech work. My experience as a manager has now allowed me to interact well with management as well as other employees. And now I really don't hear much from my immediate manager. He lets me be and allows me to do what needs to be done. My past management experience probably plays a role in that.

Adjusting to a change like that may not be the same with everyone. it just depends on your mentality and your drive. If being a manager is all you want to do, then don't be just a tech. If the manager part really does not matter then go ahead and relinquish control for a while. Once you have proven you can work with little supervision, managers (the good ones) will leave you be and let you work.

That's my experience. Hope this helps you some. James Collins
Field Service Engineer
A+, MCP

email: butchrecon@skyenet.net

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[Kjonnnn]

If you re-read your post, I think you answered your own question.

YOU really want management, go for it.

 

[SpiritOfLennon]

I work as a freelance consultant and possess technical skills and management skills, both of which are necessary in order to succeed on my own. If you can put up with the insecurity ( although the IT industry isn't as bad as others industries ) then I can heartily recommend it. Although I do have behave in a diplomatic manner and sometimes get drawn into politics, at the end of the day these issues do not over power my job. I would recommend to anyone with a foot in either bucket to go it alone, the rewards are much greater, the work is more varied and the sense of satisfaction gained from building up a reputation and business is well worth it. Obviously it depends on which field of IT you work within as to whether going it alone is viable, but if you can make contacts in the freelance world it is often possible to sub contract work out and achieve the same results as a larger company could do. SOL
I'm only guessing but my guess work generally works for me.

 

[LoaferMan]

It might help to hang out with managers at some other companies, just to understand the issues they have to deal with and get in their heads a little bit.

If managers always knew what they were talking about, they could never ask their technical people to achieve difficult things, because they would just say to themselves, "That's too hard."

Then, they wouldn't need tech people nearly as much. Sometimes, you just have to understand that they are not supposed to know everything.

It sounds like you might like to do some training. If so, why not figure out a way to formally or informally do some knowledge sharing with your own management. Most of the time, technology concepts are not that difficult. They are just encased in acronyms and written with a lot of what we used to call punctuation marks. If you scrape that away and talk to the management in English, they will get a better understanding of what they are asking and a better respect for you. LoaferMan - There is no practice life. This is it. (Billy Crockett)

 

[hughrivers]

I also have a foot on each side. I have a BS in Computer Science, After school I was a PRogram Manager in the telecommunications industry. When the internet became popular I went into Java programmig, then Software Development manager. The internet bubble burst I became a Project manager but was laid off. I feel that having both sides is hurting my chances of getting a job in this tough market. Instead of becoming an expert at something I become good at everything. It seems that most job opening are looking for the expert at something. I thought I was going to be more bang for the buck but I learned that as people see your resume they are looking for the either/or. Any inputs on future direction:technical,PM,
Thanks

 

[LoaferMan]

Maybe you are ready for the next step. Maybe you are ready to direct other people for a common purpose. (Your own company) The economy is starting to pick up. You may be hired soon, or you may be ready to start your own deal. People who do real well do have a general background.

I think you are on the right track with multiple skills. You are probably just upset (as we all are) with the way we have been cast aside recently. The companies still have a lot of work to do, and they are trying to do it with fewer people. When the economy picks up, they will find themselves behind and will have to sprint to catch up. It would have been nice to solidify code bases, get ample training, and rest up during the slow economic times, but few companies see that.

I would suggest finding a job for now doing project management (construction project management is big right now) or programming. Hang on and get ready to ride the next wave. Whatever you do, get some sort of work to keep the basic bills paid. We will all get through this some how. LoaferMan - There is no practice life. This is it. (Billy Crockett)

 

[elizabeth]

No matter what kind of choice you make, it seems to turn out better if you make it for a positive reason, rather than a negative one. If you really want to be in management, do it because you think you can learn from and enjoy that experience and can do a good job of it, rather than because you're afraid you'll be treated poorly if you give up the power. If you eally prefer technology, and are only interested in power in order to protect yourself, take another look. Training and consulting, as suggested above, both sound like good alternatives. Also, you might look around for a company with good management, and work for them! Or, as LoaferMan suggests, it may be also the way you're looking at things that keeps you from finding meaning and satisfaction in the management role. It is a major mind-shift to appreciate the business aspect and for a lot of techs it is a value judgement (working with technology is cool, working with people is BS) that keeps them from learning to appreciate management concerns.