Engineers as managers 5

[Isntbard]

In the company I work for the position as an engineer is a dead end. To get ahead, engineers must move into management. A little over a year ago I accepted a position as a manager of a new, small office. I took the position because of the location and three promises. I would have a person to do marketing, my old boss would be in the new office two days per week to help me, and I could spend one half my time working on projects. The marketing person was never hired. I was told we needed more work before we could hire anyone for marketing. I didn't really believe the second promise but thought I might get some help. I got none. Given the need to do marketing (I hate it) the lack of help I have not spent one half my time on projects. This lowered my performance appraisal because I was supposed to be 50% utilized. I requested a demotion but was told that I was intelligent and would learn to be a good manager and was promised management training (none so far).

My questions are:

Does an engineer ever learn to like management?

Are there companies that value engineers for their technical skills and not just because they might be a good manager some day?

 

[aggies21]

I've only actually be a manager for afew months. In my company I was a team leader for 3 years and there came a time when the VP of engineering asked me if I would like the title "engineering manager". The only thing that I am having a hard time with is hiring personel. Does this every become easier?

 

[SLTG]

I used to work for, what I thought, a very good engineering manager. He is not only technically sound, but also able to manage the rest of us very well. I have also worked for a manager who I think is very poor as a manager, very little engineering but he's very popular among the management level. Personally, I think every engineer is capable of being a good engineer. The problem is whether they like being it or not. Heck, I hate being a manager, but I'm the manager in one way or the other inside my house.

cheers
sltg

 

[jmw]

If you read the threads on "Engineering jobs going overseas" you would think you would have hundreds applying for every job you have on offer.
But if you read some of the comments you might discern that only some types of engineering jobs are going overseas.
Your problem would seem to suggest a shortage of appropriately skilled engineers.
What sort of jobs have you got going?

JMW

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