career advice
13 August 2004, 01:27 PM
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career advice
currently software developer in quite a senior role in a project team at a software house.
i have two opportunities to progress at the same company (im happy there but want to progress). there is a research position going. this sounds really interesting to me and would enable to do a doctorate or similar while working (very keen on this). the other opportunity is a development manager role. this also sounds interesting to me. i am more likely to get the research position if i go for it than the manager role as i have no management experience but am very technical. trying to go for both roles i think would do me no favors, as the company would probably assume i dont know what i really want (which isnt going to get me far).
my worry about the research role is the ability to progress my career after that. as there's no people management in that role, or project work, would it limit my future progression? i am also a little concerned about the isolation from others (altho id work alongside project teams), and there aren't really any solid deliverables that u can be assessed on a la working on a project.
if i dont get this particular development manager role, then i would certainly get one in the future when others come up, if thats the path i wish to take. but the research role is more likely to happen sooner.
both have the same salary - but am i right in assuming the development manager has more scope for career progression PLUS more scope for salary progression?
has anyone on here been involved in research for a software company in the past, and if so, what are you doing now? have u been able to progress your career further?
suppose i wanted, in 10 years, to be technical director or similar of a large software company. would either of these career routes get me there, or does coming out of development and into research work leave u at a dead end?
any advice appreciated
i have two opportunities to progress at the same company (im happy there but want to progress). there is a research position going. this sounds really interesting to me and would enable to do a doctorate or similar while working (very keen on this). the other opportunity is a development manager role. this also sounds interesting to me. i am more likely to get the research position if i go for it than the manager role as i have no management experience but am very technical. trying to go for both roles i think would do me no favors, as the company would probably assume i dont know what i really want (which isnt going to get me far).
my worry about the research role is the ability to progress my career after that. as there's no people management in that role, or project work, would it limit my future progression? i am also a little concerned about the isolation from others (altho id work alongside project teams), and there aren't really any solid deliverables that u can be assessed on a la working on a project.
if i dont get this particular development manager role, then i would certainly get one in the future when others come up, if thats the path i wish to take. but the research role is more likely to happen sooner.
both have the same salary - but am i right in assuming the development manager has more scope for career progression PLUS more scope for salary progression?
has anyone on here been involved in research for a software company in the past, and if so, what are you doing now? have u been able to progress your career further?
suppose i wanted, in 10 years, to be technical director or similar of a large software company. would either of these career routes get me there, or does coming out of development and into research work leave u at a dead end?
any advice appreciated
13 August 2004, 01:32 PM
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The research role is a good leg up towards the consultancy side of things and quite possibly far more money than dev manger if you have the right specialisation.
13 August 2004, 01:39 PM
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Originally Posted by milo
yes i changed jobs in march. i am happy where i am now for sure.
On topic:
I would tend to agree with you that the Development Manager prob has slightly better prospects if only because you will get to be in charge of people. This generally tends to play better as a career prospect.
If however the prospect of working with other people and telling them what to do and discipline them etc fills you with dread, then go for research.
13 August 2004, 01:39 PM
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Depends on the size of the company.
I have always resisted any move to managerial side, as it frequently means the absolute end of any technical involvement...you spend all your time worrying about appraisals, budgets, holiday rotas, pay rises, pointless reports for higher up the food chain, and petty office politics.
I have seen far too many techies go the management route, and not been able to cope with the back-stabbing, and frustrations that do not exist to the same extent at techie level. Many get "promoted to the level of their own incompetence", and have a horrible time, and never get to go back to what they were actually good at, and enjoyed)
Not sure what are of s/w you are in, but is there progression at technical architect type roles? Of course if the s/w manager you talk about is more of a team-leader, this may not be the case (semantics...semantics)
Cant really advise other than to say it may be easier to get into team leading/management role than to get back to a technical one
Good luck
SB
I have always resisted any move to managerial side, as it frequently means the absolute end of any technical involvement...you spend all your time worrying about appraisals, budgets, holiday rotas, pay rises, pointless reports for higher up the food chain, and petty office politics.
I have seen far too many techies go the management route, and not been able to cope with the back-stabbing, and frustrations that do not exist to the same extent at techie level. Many get "promoted to the level of their own incompetence", and have a horrible time, and never get to go back to what they were actually good at, and enjoyed)
Not sure what are of s/w you are in, but is there progression at technical architect type roles? Of course if the s/w manager you talk about is more of a team-leader, this may not be the case (semantics...semantics)
Cant really advise other than to say it may be easier to get into team leading/management role than to get back to a technical one
Good luck
SB
13 August 2004, 01:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Scumbag
Depends on the size of the company.
I have always resisted any move to managerial side, as it frequently means the absolute end of any technical involvement...you spend all your time worrying about appraisals, budgets, holiday rotas, pay rises, pointless reports for higher up the food chain, and petty office politics.
I have seen far too many techies go the management route, and not been able to cope with the back-stabbing, and frustrations that do not exist to the same extent at techie level. Many get "promoted to the level of their own incompetence", and have a horrible time, and never get to go back to what they were actually good at, and enjoyed)
Not sure what are of s/w you are in, but is there progression at technical architect type roles? Of course if the s/w manager you talk about is more of a team-leader, this may not be the case (semantics...semantics)
Cant really advise other than to say it may be easier to get into team leading/management role than to get back to a technical one
Good luck
SB
I have always resisted any move to managerial side, as it frequently means the absolute end of any technical involvement...you spend all your time worrying about appraisals, budgets, holiday rotas, pay rises, pointless reports for higher up the food chain, and petty office politics.
I have seen far too many techies go the management route, and not been able to cope with the back-stabbing, and frustrations that do not exist to the same extent at techie level. Many get "promoted to the level of their own incompetence", and have a horrible time, and never get to go back to what they were actually good at, and enjoyed)
Not sure what are of s/w you are in, but is there progression at technical architect type roles? Of course if the s/w manager you talk about is more of a team-leader, this may not be the case (semantics...semantics)
Cant really advise other than to say it may be easier to get into team leading/management role than to get back to a technical one
Good luck
SB
I used to be a very good DBA/Programmer.
Couldnt tell you the last time I wrote some code. In technical terms i have definitely gone backwards, the people i have trained up are now better coders than me! I feel out of touch and dont have time to maintain my skills.
On the plus side I do make good money and am now considered 'real' management in the company and get involved in all sorts of company business outside of the IT Dept.
Frenchboy (IT Manager - former grunt)
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