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Job opportunity versus enjoying what you do. by Jake_Dragon
Started on: 11-21-2024 12:00 PM
Replies: 16 (153 views)
Last post by: Zeb on 11-29-2024 09:43 AM
Jake_Dragon
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Report this Post11-21-2024 12:00 PM Click Here to See the Profile for Jake_DragonSend a Private Message to Jake_DragonEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
I have been working in IT for 25 years now. Its been a rewarding career just not always as lucrative as I would have liked.
Transitioning to management I do not get that same reward. There are perks and the money is nice but end of the day I have always been an engineer. I do enjoy working with the team and passing on what knowledge I have gathered in those 25 years. But some days its just not the same.
My management want me to start taking a broader role in the organization. But 100% that will be the end of my technical support role and will move me into managing the technicians that now fill those roles and appoint leads to fill my current role.
Its a great opportunity, I do enjoy the work but I miss getting my hands dirty and fixing things.

I'm already 80% in the role now, not much of a path back to where I was.

I know some of you have had to make the same choice, just looking for some like minded people and perhaps some positive feedback.
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Report this Post11-21-2024 12:44 PM Click Here to See the Profile for RWDPLZClick Here to visit RWDPLZ's HomePageSend a Private Message to RWDPLZEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
I'm actively trying to avoid it, been offered twice now. I've noticed at least where I work, great engineers make terrible managers. If you have to take the management path, make sure it's where you can continue to move up the corporate ladder making more and more money to make the frustration worth it.
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Doug85GT
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Report this Post11-21-2024 01:34 PM Click Here to See the Profile for Doug85GTSend a Private Message to Doug85GTEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
I am in a similar situation. I have been coding for nearly 20 years. I have a lot of institutional knowledge and do my job well. My managers want me to move into management. I know that if I do I will a few hundred more a month but I will never be able to touch code again. I don't want to do that. I get a lot of satisfaction from making things that work and are easy to maintain.
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Jake_Dragon
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Report this Post11-21-2024 02:34 PM Click Here to See the Profile for Jake_DragonSend a Private Message to Jake_DragonEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Thank you!
When I first started as a supervisor it was a working position, I still got involved in the day to day work and first hand mentoring of jr people on the team. I enjoyed that the most.
But evolution is a real thing and now I'm a manager and instead of managing IT equipment I now manage IT people. Its a lot harder to turn them off and back on.
The role requires a lot of trust unless you plan on sitting on your team, I do not manage that way.
It would be nice to have a good nest egg when I am ready to retire.
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Hank is Here
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Report this Post11-21-2024 05:17 PM Click Here to See the Profile for Hank is HereSend a Private Message to Hank is HereEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Look at the plus side. Your role changes from the "what" [provide support] to be able to influence "how" support is delivered in a more efficient manner. You can influence the and select tools and methods used. Try to not look at it as managing people but partnering with them on how to make the techs work life better.
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blackrams
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Report this Post11-21-2024 06:03 PM Click Here to See the Profile for blackramsSend a Private Message to blackramsEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
If, the Peter Principle ever comes into effect, you'll wish you had stayed where you were. But, while working that direction, one can benefit from the economics. This is obviously a decision one has to make based on their individual goals.

Having been in management most of my career, I can only say there were good times and bad times. One thing to remember is, if there's ever a leaning of the workforce, the workers will normally be last on the list to go. Mid-Level and higher are frequently the first to go.

Rams
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maryjane
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Report this Post11-21-2024 10:54 PM Click Here to See the Profile for maryjaneSend a Private Message to maryjaneEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
just looking for some like minded people and perhaps some positive feedback


There's a reason there is always a shortage of 'managers,' especially 'junior or assistant managers' and it isn't because they all climb the corporate ladder into middle or upper management leaving vacant spots behind.
You already know, that Anyone can be a manager. If a little more $$ is all you want to get out of the deal, then there's probably more wrong than what $$ can buy.
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Jake_Dragon
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Report this Post11-22-2024 01:26 AM Click Here to See the Profile for Jake_DragonSend a Private Message to Jake_DragonEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by maryjane:


There's a reason there is always a shortage of 'managers,' especially 'junior or assistant managers' and it isn't because they all climb the corporate ladder into middle or upper management leaving vacant spots behind.
You already know, that Anyone can be a manager. If a little more $$ is all you want to get out of the deal, then there's probably more wrong than what $$ can buy.


We have been through some managers. That is a fact I am very aware of
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cliffw
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Report this Post11-22-2024 10:10 AM Click Here to See the Profile for cliffwSend a Private Message to cliffwEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
I always sided on the enjoying what you do side. It's not work if you like to do it.
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TheDigitalAlchemist
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Report this Post11-22-2024 12:20 PM Click Here to See the Profile for TheDigitalAlchemistClick Here to visit TheDigitalAlchemist's HomePageSend a Private Message to TheDigitalAlchemistEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Some great responses here.

I think that you need to really think about yourself - your career thus far, how you currently spend your workweek, your current pros and cons... and ideally, how you want to spend the majority of your workweek moving forward?


I have turned down several opportunities over the years due to the culture or ethics of the company.


Would being a Manager (or being "in Management" make you happy(at at least "content")? Do you feel anything 'negative' when thinking about being one?


There was one point where I considered it, but the upper management folks did not like any of the ideas I had, so I would just be frustrated middle manager.


As AI advances, there's less need for managers.


Unless my salary doubled, I wouldn't want to leave where I am, because my life would not change much.

Even though there are some things I rarely do on a regular basis (Image machines, build rigs, etc.) I still do them SOMETIMES. I don't enjoy managing others, unless I get to set the rules - like " you work a 4 day workweek, but you get paid for 5, as long as everyone pulls their weight on the 4 days they are working". That's not that mind-blowing of a concept.


I spend 40-50 hours a week working, and about 10 hours commuting. If I didn't 'enjoy' it, or at least be able to "do my side stuff", I wouldn't do it.

We have bills. Extra ones due to 'reasons'. I'd do side gigs if I had the energy. But my day job is ok, I am respected and treated well and have some friends and such.


I hope you choose wisely, and enjoy your life.



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TheDigitalAlchemist
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Report this Post11-22-2024 12:32 PM Click Here to See the Profile for TheDigitalAlchemistClick Here to visit TheDigitalAlchemist's HomePageSend a Private Message to TheDigitalAlchemistEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post

TheDigitalAlchemist

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quote
Originally posted by blackrams:

This is obviously a decision one has to make based on their individual goals.


One thing to remember is, if there's ever a leaning of the workforce, the workers will normally be last on the list to go. Mid-Level and higher are frequently the first to go.

Rams



I have watched 8 sets of managers get fired during my career at different places. I have watched 3 sets of support staff get let go. see whole departments get the boot. Was laid off twice due to the whole company folding or downsizing. but mostly, I've seen groups/teams of managers get let go when there is a merger...


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Report this Post11-22-2024 08:04 PM Click Here to See the Profile for fieroguruSend a Private Message to fieroguruEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Through my career, I have bounced back and forth between engineering and management.

The management side has provided the $$$, but in some of the roles I wasn't allowed to scratch my engineering itch. This is why my Fiero hobby grew to the point of becoming a hobby business. It was my creative outlet when my day job wasn't intellectually challenging.

I am currently back in an Engineering Manager role and while I have several engineers reporting to me, I also take on some projects myself because I enjoy the work. It is nice being able to pick and choose which projects to focus on vs. which ones to delegate and support.

So basically, I followed the money, but still needed my engineering outlet. Sometimes that was accomplished through work, sometimes it was accomplished outside of my day job.
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82-T/A [At Work]
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Report this Post11-22-2024 09:26 PM Click Here to See the Profile for 82-T/A [At Work]Send a Private Message to 82-T/A [At Work]Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by Jake_Dragon:

I have been working in IT for 25 years now. Its been a rewarding career just not always as lucrative as I would have liked.
Transitioning to management I do not get that same reward. There are perks and the money is nice but end of the day I have always been an engineer. I do enjoy working with the team and passing on what knowledge I have gathered in those 25 years. But some days its just not the same.
My management want me to start taking a broader role in the organization. But 100% that will be the end of my technical support role and will move me into managing the technicians that now fill those roles and appoint leads to fill my current role.
Its a great opportunity, I do enjoy the work but I miss getting my hands dirty and fixing things.

I'm already 80% in the role now, not much of a path back to where I was.

I know some of you have had to make the same choice, just looking for some like minded people and perhaps some positive feedback.



I made that leap a few years ago already. You CAN go back, it just takes significantly more effort to do so since you end up behind the technical curve. As a manager, you're able to rely on the experience you've gained from all those years... but if you don't make a concerted effort on your own time to keep pace with the latest and greatest, your technical knowledge will get stale.

But, there's nothing wrong with it... another member on here once told me...

"Would you rather be Todd that tries to do everything, or would you rather manage a bunch of Todds and help guide them to successfully do more than you can by yourself?"


I obviously don't look at my employees as Todds, haha... but it was a good point.
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blackrams
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Report this Post11-22-2024 10:40 PM Click Here to See the Profile for blackramsSend a Private Message to blackramsEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by Jake_Dragon:


We have been through some managers. That is a fact I am very aware of


As I said previously, I've spent most of my career in management after leaving the military. I've seen the biggest turnover in lower and middle management although, I never worked in any AI or Computer Tech positions. When dollars are in short supply, senior managers generally look to where they can save money and then normally turn to reducing the lower management first followed by middle management while promoting others at lower paying salaries and then spreading the load of 5 or 6 positions to 3 lower new managers. Have seen it several times. Luckily, I survive all but one of those cost saving moves.

If I really wanted more money, then I'd shop my skills and services out to other opportunities. But, I'll say this, the happiest I ever was in a job was when I was in charge. I liked being the person responsible for failure or success. 99% of the time it was success. Not everyone is cut out to be "in charge" and not all managers can relate to what it's like not being in charge. I've filled both positions.

My recommendation is, do what's best for your family. Seems like that always worked best for me.

Rams

[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 11-22-2024).]

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Jake_Dragon
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Report this Post11-23-2024 11:48 AM Click Here to See the Profile for Jake_DragonSend a Private Message to Jake_DragonEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
I appreciate everyone that took a few minutes to post, this is some good feedback.
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Raydar
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Report this Post11-24-2024 12:39 PM Click Here to See the Profile for RaydarSend a Private Message to RaydarEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
I have never been in any sort of management/supervisory position. Never really wanted to.
I enjoy my "hands on / nuts 'n' bolts" work. I like to solve technical problems and fix stuff.
I even moved out of some tech roles because everything was scripted. It was automated and dumbed down to the point that I didn't even have to think. Got boring, really quickly.
It's why I left desktop support and went back to telecom.

In my last job (basically a NOC, on steroids) we did everything - mostly by remote control.
Transport - basically fiber optics, telecom, SCADA and smart-metering, and other circuit stuff; Network - routers and switches, etc; Systems - Windows and Unix servers; and Mainframe.
If we couldn't fix it remotely, we would open a ticket and send it to the appropriate group.

We used to kid our team leads, and especially the supervisors, that they had "sh!t magnet" jobs. (They got to deal with all the flack, when something big broke.)
It was pretty thankless work, even though it was 1-2 pay grades above where we "worker drones" were.
People usually used those jobs for stepping stones to other positions, outside our group.
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Zeb
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Report this Post11-29-2024 09:43 AM Click Here to See the Profile for ZebSend a Private Message to ZebEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
If you make the upgrade, can you back out gracefully? That's an unusual request to make of the guy promoting you. BUT, if it doesn't work out, from your perspective or his, can you go back where you came from? Or is The Door the only exit?

How will this look from a retirement planning perspective? A lot of the guys here, myself most of all, won't be working much longer. What will this job do to your retirement savings? SSI income rating? If you don't like the work, can you stick it out for the money? Five years you can do. Twenty years? Not so much.

Will you have the authority to do what you deem best in this management role? Or will you be restricted by corporate policy, upper management, or budgets? You may have great ideas for Your Department and Your People, but if you can't DO any of them, and just spend the days shuffling paper and babysitting workers, you'll be miserable.

If The Worst happens, and you don't work out in the new position, or aren't deemed a "Team Player" any longer in your old one, what's the job market in your area? Some times, the best job is with another company.
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