[ale] Technical Career Paths

[Raptor]

Related to this discussion.

I am having trouble developing my technological skills in my company
because of the same situation being presented here.  While I am not at
the "management" level, I still feel I'm being guided toward a
non-technical path.  I am worried that my skills are suffering as a
direct result of being guided away from the technology and more toward
the business.

What advice could anyone give to a budding Java developer that wants
to stay technologically oriented, but keeps being given tasks
unrelated to technology in general and unrelated to the technology
that interests him or her?

Thanks for any tidbits of wisdom,

RVB

--

/*
 ****************************************************
 *    Raptor
 *    <on a constant quest for technological enlightenment>
 *    Atlanta, Georgia, USA
 ****************************************************
 */

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On Mon, 6 Sep 1999 16:58:41 -0400 (EDT), you wrote:

>This is kinda of any topic, but I just wanted to get a bead on what
>other folks are running into.  My basic question is, how many of you
>work at organizations that have a defined career path for technical
>personnel that doesn't require moving into what has been historically
>called "management"?
>
>I hold a fairly high position at a large company here in Atlanta.  Our
>company gives lip service to a career path for techies, but the growth
>actually stops just short of manager.  Though the company indicates a
>technical lead is equivalent to a manager, they aren't.
>
>Recently some activities occurred where all management was invited, but
>not a single person traveling a technical career path.  Made a few of
>us a bit angry and got me thinking.  How many businesses out there
>actually consider career paths for their technical persons.  After all,
>many of us don't want the typical managers role.
>
>My boss keeps wanting me to take a "promotion" to manager because
>actually I already do the work.  I've got a dozen developers reporting
>directly to me as it is.  I keep pushing for an advance in the
>technical path above my current. but don't see it coming.  Guess I'll
>have to accept the "promotion".
>
>What are some of your experiences.  How many of you want to stay
>technical in your jobs and how easy/hard have you found that.
>
>Just throwing out for some discussion.
>
>Thanks,
>
>JEM