advertising information

CNN.com
 MAIN PAGE
 WORLD
 ASIANOW
 U.S.
 LOCAL
 POLITICS
 WEATHER
 BUSINESS
 SPORTS
 TECHNOLOGY
   computing
   personal technology
   space
 NATURE
 ENTERTAINMENT
 BOOKS
 TRAVEL
 FOOD
 HEALTH
 STYLE
 IN-DEPTH

 custom news
 Headline News brief
 daily almanac
 CNN networks
 CNN programs
 on-air transcripts
 news quiz

  CNN WEB SITES:
CNN Websites
 TIME INC. SITES:
 MORE SERVICES:
 video on demand
 video archive
 audio on demand
 news email services
 free email accounts
 desktop headlines
 pointcast
 pagenet

 DISCUSSION:
 message boards
 chat
 feedback

 SITE GUIDES:
 help
 contents
 search

 FASTER ACCESS:
 europe
 japan

 WEB SERVICES:
COMPUTING

Think beyond money when planning your career

December 4, 1998
Web posted at: 4:30 PM EST

by Margaret Steen, InfoWorld columnist

From...


(IDG) -- Should I choose a technical or management career path?

"I am currently managing an IT department of five people. The compensation that comes with managing the department is great. The only problem is that I really enjoy programming," a reader wrote to me recently. "I have been wrestling with the idea of which career path I should stick with: managing, where the money is great and the work is OK, or settle for less and go back to programming."

Every IT professional who makes it to the senior technical ranks will face the decision of whether to move to management. It isn't a decision that anyone else can make for you. This reader has correctly identified one key issue: money. You can generally earn more as a manager than as a nonmanager. (For more on the financial rewards of long years of technical experience, see "Does experience pay?".)

A related issue is that management skills seem to be longer-lasting: If you stick with programming, you'll have to be absolutely certain to keep your skills up to date or you could find yourself struggling with job searches. Management doesn't change as fast as technology, so although it's important for managers to stay current, it isn't as much of an effort.

On the other hand, not everyone can be a manager: There are many more staff-level jobs than there are positions for managers. So as long as you make sure you know the latest technology, you may have an easier time finding jobs as a technical specialist than as a manager.

MORE COMPUTING INTELLIGENCE
  IDG.net home page
  InfoWorld home page
  InfoWorld forums home page
  InfoWorld Internet commerce section
  Get Media Grok and The Industry Standard Intelligencer delivered for free
 Reviews & in-depth info at IDG.net
  IDG.net's personal news page
  Subscribe to IDG.net's free daily newsletter for IT leaders
  Questions about computers? Let IDG.net's editors help you
  Search IDG.net in 12 languages
 News Radio
  Fusion audio primers
  Computerworld Minute
   

This reader raises another point that's even more important: Not everyone wants to be a manager. It's nice to make money, of course, but after a certain point extra money doesn't make up for having a job you don't like. So consider what kind of challenges you enjoy.

If you like the creative aspect of hands-on technical work and are energized by constantly learning new technology, then you probably won't feel like you're stagnating on the technical track even if you reach a plateau in your salary, title, and responsibility.

On the other hand, if you enjoy solving business problems and feel most rewarded when you are given increasing responsibility for business decisions, then you will probably be happier as a manager.

One wild card in this decision is that the workplace is changing -- and no one knows what it will be like in five or 10 or 20 years. This means that the skills you'll need and the benefits you'll gain, whichever path you choose, are in flux as well.

For example, it's likely that in the future, everyone will need more of the skills that are today associated with management. Being able to make a presentation to a group is increasingly important for IT professionals at all levels. (See last week's column for more on this.) Solid communication and project management skills are also growing in importance. In other words, sticking with technical work won't exempt you from having to develop some skills that have traditionally been in the realm of management.

It's not clear, either, that taking the technical track will always lead you to a career dead end. Some companies are beginning to create senior positions for technical staff members, allowing the best technical people to continue to progress in terms of salary, responsibility, and title without becoming managers of people. (See "Does experience pay?" and "Career paths for programmers".)

Finally, remember this: It's great to think several years ahead when you're making job decisions and to make sure what you're doing today will help you achieve your goals tomorrow. But as the reader I quoted earlier is pondering, it is possible to return to technical work after working in management. The decision you make today isn't written in stone.

Margaret Steen has edited InfoWorld's Enterprise Careers section since its inception and has worked as a high-tech journalist since 1994. In a career quandary? Send your Career Currents questions to margaret_steen@infoworld.com.

Related stories:
Latest Headlines

Today on CNN

Related IDG.net stories:

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window Related sites:

External sites are not
endorsed by CNN Interactive.

SEARCH CNN.com
Enter keyword(s)   go    help

  
 

Back to the top
© 2000 Cable News Network. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.