Do you regret going into management?

[wheresmybacon]

Were you once a tech or sysadmin or developer who decided that, rather than doing actual work, you’d like to become a manager? If so, do you regret making the switch?

While I don’t foresee myself jumping to the management side anytime soon, the possibility for advancement in a technical role is getting smaller and smaller, at least within my company, simply because there aren’t that many people above me, and the ones who are rarely leave.

One of my close friends who’s the same level as me is going to jump to the management side. He’ll make more money than me if and when he gets the position, but I know I wouldn’t be happy doing that stuff…the management grind.

Ideally I’d love to work for myself someday; the problem is building a clientele and getting customers who’ll put you on retainer. I know I could make money consulting, it’s just a matter of making money consistently.

FWIW I’m a systems administrator working in a decent-sized (~5-6k users) org.

 

[Fritzo]

I've left every job that I've obtained a supervisor/manager position at. The reason is it's a no win job- people hate you for telling them what to do, and upper management keeps yelling at you because people aren't doing what they're told to do well enough.

It sucks. I like fixing systems more than fixing people.

 

[KentState]

I've left every job that I've obtained a supervisor/manager position at. The reason is it's a no win job- people hate you for telling them what to do, and upper management keeps yelling at you because people aren't doing what they're told to do well enough.

It sucks. I like fixing systems more than fixing people.

Agree. This is my second job in a row that I started out at a senior level and was then moved into management due to attrition. I do like the money and what it affords me in life, but I hate spending 75% of my time in meetings and 15% managing people directly. That leaves me only about 10% of my time to actual work on technical issues and maintain my skills.

 

[joesmoke]

ill follow up on this after my 3 hour lunch...

 

[mrCide]

I'm currently at a high tier on the technical side (not much else for me to go where i am) and i would never want my boss' job. No thanks.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

It takes a special type of person.


My job is almost like having a mistress or something, I enjoy what I do but generally have 60++ hour weeks. I get here at 7 and usually don't leave until 7 and am salary.


I doubt I could sustain this for 15-20 years though..

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Agree. This is my second job in a row that I started out at a senior level and was then moved into management due to attrition. I do like the money and what it affords me in life, but I hate spending 75% of my time in meetings and 15% managing people directly. That leaves me only about 10% of my time to actual work on technical issues and maintain my skills.

It sounds like you work for a larger company..

Management in a smaller company is, in my experience, "Do whatever you need to do to get the job done". I've never had issues with too many meetings or micro management from owners, and if someone isn't pulling their weight (reference to the 3 hour lunch break) then they're generally let go.

 

[Fritzo]

It sounds like you work for a larger company..

Management in a smaller company is, in my experience, "Do whatever you need to do to get the job done". I've never had issues with too many meetings or micro management from owners, and if someone isn't pulling their weight (reference to the 3 hour lunch break) then they're generally let go.

You're lucky. Most companies aren't like that.

 

[Garet Jax]

You're lucky. Most companies aren't like that.

This is why small companies are so much more agile than larger ones.

 

[wheresmybacon]

Agree. This is my second job in a row that I started out at a senior level and was then moved into management due to attrition. I do like the money and what it affords me in life, but I hate spending 75% of my time in meetings and 15% managing people directly. That leaves me only about 10% of my time to actual work on technical issues and maintain my skills.

Yep. This is exactly why I don't want to be a manager.

 

[IGBT]

whats done is done. no looking back.

 

[Pollock]

Agree. This is my second job in a row that I started out at a senior level and was then moved into management due to attrition. I do like the money and what it affords me in life, but I hate spending 75% of my time in meetings and 15% managing people directly. That leaves me only about 10% of my time to actual work on technical issues and maintain my skills.

Engineer manager or something else..?

 

[BoberFett]

I personally love being in management. But then, even when I was a developer, I was more of a big picture guy. I had a lot more fun planning projects than I did writing code. Management (at least at the small/medium companies I've been at) has put me in more of a big picture position, and I was very involved in making IT a part of the overall business strategy. I for one enjoyed working with other departments to improve their processes, decrease downtime, increase productivity, etc. I might think differently in a big company. I guess we'll see where I end up next.

And the bigger paycheck doesn't hurt either. 😉