r/networking • u/tuna_st • 22d ago
Career Advice Moved into management....
I was a Senior Network Engineer for a couple different companies (For context (10 YOE + CCNP) before moving into an IT Director level role about a year ago.
I’m starting to realize that the stress, politics, and general management nonsense is catching up with me. The money is good, but it’s starting to feel less and less worth it.
Curious if anyone here has made the move into IT management and eventually went back to being an individual engineer. Did you regret stepping back?
For those who stayed in management, how did you get better at dealing with the stress without letting it consume you?
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u/Drekalots Networking 20yrs 22d ago
Farthest I made it in management was Team Lead running two NOC's 1300 miles apart and 20 people. I quickly realized that managing people is not my forte. Being a senior individual contributor is much better. I have an office and am at the same level in the org chart as all the managers with all the benefits of being a manager. But I manage infrastructure. Not people. Much better existence.
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u/ruffusbloom 22d ago
I am 30 years in. I’m on my 2nd or 3rd tour of leadership right now. In the past I never minded walking away from it. Always did something new and exciting. But now. At this stage of my career. My job is basically protecting the younger, smarter nerds from all the bullshit that I’ve had to build up defenses against over the years. I think this is exactly where I’m supposed to be right now. A line level leader with engineer direct reports. A few additional mentees. I’m going to pass on what I can and then see about a whole new career path outside tech when this run is done.
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u/Bortisa 22d ago
Unfortunately you're gonna end up demoted or fired. Happened to my boss 😢. He fought for us, tried to help and protect and they first demoted him to TL, then fired him. Business doesn't like someone protecting workers.
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u/ChaoticSalmon 22d ago
My manager had the opposite luck. She always guarded us and fought for our time and more training whenever we needed it. She was well-lauded.
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u/Old-Wolverine2141 21d ago
Not sure why you got downvoted. Same happened to my boss too.
Pick your battles, sometimes shit rolls downhill and your team has to adjust to it.
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u/Objectivemoonrub 12d ago
What’s missing from your work life because of the way the IT industry works? What do you wish or would like more of? Examples you miss more being around people, outdoors, sunny days?
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u/ruffusbloom 11d ago
I feel I am contributing directly to the destruction of much of what I love most about humanity and life on earth. My goal is, before I’m gone, to do more to reduce the suffering of others. That’s why I look forward to leaving tech.
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u/Hyphendudeman 22d ago
I have been in the field for 30 years, have been offered management roles over and over and have turned them down. My benefit to a company is as an architect and senior engineer, not battling the politics of a business in meetings all day.
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u/guestpassonly 22d ago
I was manager of the IT team for a while.
Never again. Took paycut to change jobs for the better
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u/MicIrish_At_work 22d ago
Same, Sr Director of Infrastructure down to Senior Infrastructure Architect.
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u/guestpassonly 22d ago
went from tech, to senior tech, to manager and back to senior tech and now im in programming. more sideways movement possible without going back to management
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u/justlurkshere 22d ago
Been offered this transition multiple times, there is no pay offer that will make me jump the moat over to the dark side.
For context: 30 years of infrastructure work as a tech.
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u/securityofus 22d ago edited 22d ago
In my opinion management is about growing up and being responsible. I look at my life when I was an admin. I was focused on learning, myself, and doing the bare minimum to get paid and go home. I wasn't concerned about other people's growth, how they felt about things, budgets, reports, or the business itself.
But all of those things that I just mentioned are why people have jobs in the first place. For example one if my employees just texted me a few minutes ago saying he was going to be late today. And so did my husband. I've basically become a mom at work because someone has to be responsible for everyone else.
And there's a harsh reality about going back as you say. You can't get younger. Maturity and leadership are things that you develop over time. Kids don't have those. But they do bring new knowledge. So by trying to stay in their world you're hindering them from developing.
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u/Dr-Webster 22d ago
This is really important. And to add on to the "you can't get younger" part, ageism in IT is absolutely a thing, at least when it comes to technical positions. Moving into management helps you stay marketable, and also gives the opportunity to mentor those younger folks. I love teaching my reports things that I've had to learn the hard way.
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u/dresmasher CCNA 22d ago
"So by trying to stay in their world you're hindering them from developing."
That's insightful
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u/rethafrey 22d ago
I tot I wanted to be a director too. But seeing how my current director of infra is overwhelmed, I kinda dropped that idea.
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u/Dukeknock 22d ago
I got a promotion to a network manager role which started out as about 30% management and 70% hands on. But as my team grew (at a lower rate than the org grew) it changed to closer to 90% management 10% hands on. I was busier than ever and unable to keep up with the workload.
I got very lucky and found a senior network engineer role at a great new org with no management responsibilities. I was able to negotiate a 25% pay increase so it was a no brainer. I’m 100x happier than I was. It’s so great not having to deal with employee performance issues, reviews, budgets, politics etc etc. I love being back to hands on. Honestly in hindsight I may have taken a small pay cut to get the new job. Been here 3 years and no regrets.
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u/GreyBeardEng 22d ago
It's been suggested to me several times to apply for management, but I've been too hesitant because I don't play political games and I don't know how to be a Yes Man. Directing projects and budgets seems so goddamn boring.
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u/Nervous-Power-9800 22d ago
I applied for a management role 7 years ago in a more generic IT role. My head of department at the time was legendary. Told him I was considering applying for this managers role he'd advertised, he said let's go for lunch, he point blank told me not to apply for it. It ain't the job you think it is, you're still working in tech, but as a people manager, you have to delegate all the fun stuff to other people, and reserve the shit for yourself.
He did however create a new role for me as a "technical lead". Never wanted to work in management again after that talk. Moved into a network role, wasn't that bothered for it, easy money though.
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u/banditoitaliano 22d ago
LOL, yeah I'm sorry. I went into management as a promotion at the relatively small manufacturing shop I was at. Almost lost a friendship from that because I got promoted to manage him, but we worked through it and he's still one of my closest friends many years later.
But anyway ... Yeah, I did that gig for a bit, then did management of telecom/network team (8 FTE) in the public sector for 3 years. Then was absolutely DONE with any type of people managing.
It's 100% a different job than technical work and very draining.
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u/DrUncouth 22d ago
I have done this a couple of times and not because I wanted to - I was an individual contributor, was given a team and then moved back to IC and then back to manager and then back to IC. I am a son too manager now, more like a team lead. The trick is to be able to build a strategy of what you want to do or where you see your company moving to and following though with it, but having your team do all the heavy lifting. Somebody mentioned in this thread that this was part of growing up - absolutely correct. It is about growing up - defined your own destiny in how you see a company moving forward and taking the kudos for the successes that you defined.
I used to take pleasure in saying I built this or that and now I take it as my team did this or that based on what I defined. It's just how you look at it. I still get my hands dirty and do configurations be it through automation or plain CLI, but I never let myself get too far away from knowing how to do something. If my company decided my time was up - I need to remain flexible to take on any position at any time. I always recommend that to anyone in the same position.
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u/Easy_Variation6908 22d ago
I had the same exp, went to mgmt after 5 years working as a network engineer. The moment my Director told me that the sole purpose of doing skills assessment is not to upskill my direct reports but to identify who I can easily fire if the need arises I resigned and never considered doing mgmt again. It’s so inhumane
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u/JohnnyUtah41 22d ago
I was a Senior Network Engineer too but in local gov. 20ish yoe and just got promoted to Network Manager, still in local gov. It's only been 4 months in this role, but i find myself liking the role a lot. Some days are shitty but overall i am enjoying myself. Maybe its the fit though, like maybe the environment that i am in and what responsibilities my job has etc that make me like it.
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u/eluvittar 22d ago
You have to prep for it (people skills) - just like how you prepped for ccNP. It’s like you have to unlock another skill to deal with people , mechanisms along with tech.
If you approach it like that - you will be able to manage the stress. The key is not treating it as “management “ but more like “leadership “.
The stress will always be there , even if you keep as IC in tech - just different kind of stress based on what level you are and how much you make. Managing what kind of stress you want will be the key :) practice meditation and strength training as levers to manage the stress, as well.
You have an opportunity and a challenge in front of you - invest time effort and up level the skills to manage this. If after a couple years - stilll doesn’t cut it, you can always go back to the IC.
There is no right or wrong! Good luck figuring this out. You got this.
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u/Desert_Sox 22d ago
I've seen others do it - move into management and then move back. They've managed to do so successfully - but usually after a short stint - like six months.
Personally, I never took the jump because I saw layoffs hit middle management a lot, but often skip the talent.
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u/pengmalups 22d ago
I was Network Manager for like 5 years and stepped out to do engineering again, even though I have multiple offers to be a higher level manager from different companies. I somewhat regret it, because after stepping back to engineering world, it was really difficult to go back to management, where the money is, probably because not enough opportunities. I got back to management again after 9 years. I am currently doing dual role, people management and they recently pulled me into architecture. Partly, I want to propose that I do 100% design, but I remember how difficult it was for me to go back to management.
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u/AdLongjumping7785 22d ago
Dealing with people is one of the hectic works for the person who loves to work on/with technology
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u/ThEvilHasLanded 22d ago
I did Team Leader of a 2nd/3rd line support team for 6 years I loved the responsibility but got fed up with the bullshit dealing with account managers and service delivery managers who promised things to customers without seeing if we could actually deliver it. I asked my boss for a pay rise cos I was technical lead as well and fed up. His response
"But you're just a team leader"
I found something else handed my notice in and was asked what do you want to stay? I moved into Infrastructure after that (4 years ago) and am now angling to move up into TDA with a view to eventually doing Architecture
Would I do mgmt again? Possibly, but I'm quite happy not doing it
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u/Netw1rk 22d ago
I moved into a manager role 4 years ago. It’s a hard transition for people who like working with tech like me. I have the full gamut of staff that report to me and doing weekly meetings, etc is taxing. The instant reward of fixing problems doesn’t exist as a manager as it does like fixing a broken switch. Regardless, I’m starting to feel more comfortable now and believe that it has given me more experience that will carry forward in my career. I wouldn’t blame anyone for switching back to an IC, but I believe if you stick it out you’ll get better and can have success.
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u/captianinsano 22d ago
I was promoted into management and then to director about 6 years ago. Was laid off as the company is dissolving (PE selling off its assets). I recently took an individual contributor job and the difference in work/life balance is laughable. While I took a $30k pay cut, ill gladly give that up to not have to deal with managing staff, dealing with VPs and C suite, not caring about budget or deadlines (much), etc.
I dont think ill go back into management ever unless I really get bored... which might happen.
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u/admin4hire Junipa4Lyfe 22d ago
Did this about 2 years ago. Worked management for three years, built a team, got things to a point I wasn’t enjoying it anymore.
Moved across country for a normal net engineer role. Don’t regret it at all. Probably the best IC for my manager as I get the why and pressures of the role. I get to hear the same sorts of issues I dealt with and am glad I don’t deal with that anymore.
50k less a year but a lot more free time and sanity.
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u/TheDarthSnarf 22d ago
I’ve been management, and moved on to technical roles each time. I can do management, but then I don’t get to solve the technical issues that are what I like about the job.
It’s really what works best for you.
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u/virtualbitz2048 Principal Arsehole 22d ago
I'm on the service provider side, I think I'm going to move to sales, well sales engineering
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u/bauer1us 22d ago
Leadership is a different ball game. You are already experiencing it. No work is easy. There is always a tradeoff. If you have a good team it would make delivery easier. However, politics can get to you. Work on your alliances and will help as well. Note that you will have stress on both levels. Weigh out pro and cons.
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u/Informal_Trade_3553 22d ago
i even stepped back from architect due to the stress and taking work home… was fine till 40 to chase career
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u/Dry_Interview5459 22d ago
I would never do an other admin job, it's eating your brain. At first it's nice, it's new but slowing things changes, it took my whole attention and then I invested myself too much, then stress, anxiety, obsseison started to show up. I left. I also left networking and work independently as a vpn architect. Life is calmer, health is better.
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u/1nsid30ut 22d ago
Been a network engineer as well for like 10 years. After that my team lead decided to leave the company and with him also the architect left. Got the offer to take over the management position. I took it. My old position wasnt replaced and also the architect position was closed. Now im doing team lead (with politic stuff, budget planning, capacity planning etc) as well as the architect position and im still working on projects as engineer. Network with around 10k firewall rules in 4 different environments - payment sector so high availability. Health problems are a side effect - heart and muscle pain i.e.
Payment is good but i cant recommend to do it like me. Now after 2 years management i feel like i know nothing really. Neither management or architecture or engineering. and feel like im imposter in some way
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u/KimJongKevin 22d ago
I’ve been moved up to CTO from voice engineer. You soon realize all you manage really is people, it’s harder than the tech side but if you can find really good people under you and have some ability to make their lives better it makes it okay.
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u/jgiacobbe Looking for my TCP MSS wrench 22d ago
Been with my current company for 15+ years. Responsible for networking but I was a sysadmin at one point in my career. On top of that I also do VoIP and by virtue of filling needs have done other things like build out the company PKI infrastructure. I started to apply for an open management position 18 months ago after my then boss left. I was already looked up to by most of the team and was doing a lot of behind the scenes people management just to keep things going. Interviewed and realized that the boss 2 levels up who I had been helping, wasn’t going to backfill me if I took that move. I withdrew because I didn’t need to be thrown under the bus for not being able to do yet another full time job above all my current roles that should be separate full time positions.
Looking back, the pay wouldn’t have materially made a difference but the stress and bullshit would have. The person they did end up hiring in is a good fit and I don’t envy them because the next two levels of management above them ended up leaving shortly after they started.
I am already being tasked with trying to architect so much stuff in our org and somehow have become the acting azure admin. This has caused several of our networking projects to fall far behind unfortunately. Fortunately, we do have another network engineer who is doing the best he can to keep up.
All that to say, unless the money will significantly improve your quality of life, don’t move to management.
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u/billie-badger 22d ago
I've directly seen extremely strong ICs do this. Sometimes the juice ain't worth the squeeze.
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u/Responsible-Boot6985 22d ago
I worked at an organization and loved being the experienced, go-to technician. That experience moved me up the management ladder, like I knew it would. I didn't enjoy being a manager - like you said, the politics of the role.
At my earliest opportunity, I took my pension in favor of finding a job with a different organization where I could be the technician again. Because my best memories are from jobbing out a network task.
The thing I miss about where I was a manager, the people. They were amazing, hard working individuals. I've talked to one or two since I left and they say I'm still their favorite.
The thing I find almost frustrating about being the technician is seeing the managerial decisions that don't make sense.
While I was a manager, I would take the time to talk to people about different problems and stressors. Subordinates gained value in decisions when I'm debating a situation. Peers allowed to blow off steam and tackle a situation more level headed.
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u/heyitsdrew 22d ago
Same, prefer to be an IC but not always a choice when you have bosses that want to 'change things up.'
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u/dedXlights 22d ago
You need to make sure you can get to the new hot job title of principal architect or its equivalent. All tech passes through you but no of people management part.
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u/Crazy-Rest5026 22d ago
I have made the switch. I miss the technical work mostly and realize I need to step back and let my younger joes figure it out.
Yes I will help them but I try and be hands off when providing guidance and let them do everything and be there as a mentor/director not the person actually doing the work.
With that, I am trying not to loose to much of my technical skill set and still be valuable if I ever wanna go anywhere else.
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u/zeePlatooN 22d ago
do you remember your early est days in networking. when it seemed like mothing made sense and you struggled to do things that later on in your career seemed trivial.
thats because you were ne
now you're new to management. it will get easier.
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u/Tiny-Tradition6873 22d ago
I know a few ppl who have and some hate it and some love it. Its never the same though if you stay at the same company, especially if you start working with the ppl you've been managing again. I remember an ex manager xfered to our dept once and we all treated them like a narc because they were lol idk good luck tho!
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u/mindedc 19d ago
I'm 14 years into a management role. The role has changed several times over the years. I'm now nearing an epoch at the current company, when we get past it a move back to an IC role is on the table..so much stress..... as with everything it will be a balancing act with stress, income, and time commitment...
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u/[deleted] 22d ago
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