Becoming a Manager vs Architect

[@leithold315]

It’s amazing to see how far your channel has come. I learned REST through your channel 7 years ago and the knowledge and skills I got from it propelled me to new heights. Now I’m in the situation described in this video, and once again, it seems the insights I got here will define my future decision. Keep doing what you do sir! More power to you!

[@sauravmohapatra1]

Thanks Kaushik for throwing light on how to decide about career path in software industry

[@venkatkumar5686]

thanks for throwing some great insights on most chaotic juncture in one's career. thanks Kaushik

[@ShinAkuma]

When I was a junior engineer I always thought what whould come next for me, do I keep coding forever now ? I love coding, but how long will I be doing it, I never saw myself as a manager, I never want to follow a path where I stray away too much from coding. Did not know about the Architect path back then and I've had the chance to collaborate with some of the architects in my company and the first time I got to know about it, it just clicked like NOW THAT'S WHAT I WANNA DO. But the road is hard, the knowledge level required for being an architect is simply next level, concepts should be on your fingertips and we should be able to design out of the box solutions to be a successful architect. The architects I worked with, it felt liike they've spent 2 lifetimes doing nothing but studying computer science in extreme detail.

[@chanduanna8412]

awesome. genuine view

[@chinmaypawar9633]

Thanks for doing this , helps achieve a lot of clarity and purpose

[@bp8592]

Genuine conversation, I liked 👍

[@435lov]

My advice to all the readers here is to go for management. Climbing the ladder in a technical stream is extremely tough after reaching a senior or lead engineer level no matter whether you are in product or service industry. You have to constantly keep learning new technologies to remain up-to-date. Conversely, on the management route, the path is quite easy. No special skills except some basic leadership or people management skills are required to become a manager. If you still are in this dilemma just because you think you will lose your hard-acquired tech skills after moving to the management stream, just keep in mind that you can always keep the edges sharp by routine maintenance (i.e. self-study).

[@ashu9893543977]

The ease of management role that you mention is also the reason the position becomes dispensable. And that’s my greatest fear while making this decision. I’m not a stellar engineer but still struggling to make this decision.

[@sayanbiswas8847]

@@ashu9893543977 Words 🌱

[@hectorflores1176]

I would say that don’t overthink about it, normally the opportunity will fit your roles, theses days these 2 roles are highly coupled

[@buddy6437]

The fact remains that both manager and architect are limited positions in any org. Where does that leave most people. Even in product companies where there are senior engineer roles, these would be 1 or 2 in a scrum team. Considering that the software jobs boomed around year 2000 mark ( Y2K hype being the driver), a sizeable chunk have reached the 15-20 year experience mark and are in unable to scale up. Also most software development for enterprise does not need high end niche skills (when I started, C, Unix was pretty standard and even for normal software it needed very good understanding of memory internals etc) and most of the routine development with cloud needs pretty cursory CS skills which can be learnt within few years. Unless AI/ML, blockchain, Etc applications pick up significantly, there is lot of pain in store when slowdown happens.

[@rasher331]

I'm a Test Manager, I also have a Masters in Applied IT Architecture but I was never a software engineer. I want to work at IT Architecture but everyone wants an Architect with a software engineering background. How do you get around that one?

[@mohammedsardar3779]

Also is it possible to switch from Architect to Manager and vice-versa? If the engineer finds If he/she finds better fit in another role later? Is it suffering to one who is technically confident 🤔

[@jashdholakia6089]

Absolutely relatable! Most of the time people become Manager or a scrum master because they are not good at technical skills and unfortunately they are the decision makers! Continues learning is a key point(or pain point for most of the developers) But I would like to know what is your thoughts on the technical product manager role ? Is it a good option for a developer as it is a techno-funtional role?

[@KumarKumar-kx4ct]

Great question and great answer but just one question I always had how do managers and directors end up drawing much higher salaries than sr software engineers if it’s not a step up in career?

[@rishisundardas4492]

How to become a good Solution Architect ? I meant how to keep yourself up to date for various new technologies and across platforms solution tech stack details?

[@amritraj2303]

Exactly..same situation.. 😅

[@cool-aquarian]

In Indian Software Job Scenario, there is not much growth beyond senior engineer. Companies prefer to get individualistic work done by less experienced by giving lesser salary. 85-90% of Engineers with more than 15+ experience are expected to become managers if they want to earn more and move higher up the career path. There is no other way to grow.

[@Java.Brains]

This might be true in service oriented companies. But in companies where actual product development is being done, there's a lot of growth for strong developers and architects.

[@mkbhd2]

@@Java.Brains Totally agree with your point!

[@Hewanliar1]

Yeah that usually happen for small to mid size company that doesn't grow much. Another thing to consider for third world country is to upgrade english skill and go for international market.

[@luna7eemmarobertse774]

hi Kaushik, Advanced courses on collections and Stream would be very appreciated

[@peruguprasad1535]

Hi, have you joined his premium membership ?

[@chanakyav6368]

Proof of parallel life exists.. 😂 .Almost everyone going through same situation

[@Himanshuuu333]

Going through same situation 😅

[@krishnendudeb2921]

Sir, I have one question apart from coding and all, r you from West Bengal? If yes then tell us about your evolution, it will inspire us and motivate to go ahead..

[@chanduanna8412]

He is indian and that's enough for you to get motivated ;)

[@ganeshradiga]

I think Lee is from West Bengal :)

[@krackr6618]

Architect has to deal with tech aspects of person...Manager has to deal with person...There is lot of difference

[@nitjigupta]

I m going through same dilemma. I played both role. Currently at architect path. Confused 😕

[@realredfox]

So... I'm a managing architect. What now?

[@Java.Brains]

Now that's new! If you weren't just joking in that comment, I'd like to know what you do. Come talk to me :)

[@realredfox]

@@Java.Brains I lead a team of architects/consultants and application/SCADA engineers in the manufacturing domain with a focus on MES/MOM IT solutions. But I'm still involved in operations as in solutioning during bid phases and project management during the project phase. I've spent the last 10 years in applied research and on the constant hunt for the leading edge in the state of science and switched to a more stable industrial ER&D position. I still have that passion to learn new things as Lee describes, but I always hated when the people in management got disconnected and didn't know what they were talking about when promising everthing to customers and left the burden to deliver on the architects, delovepers, and engineers.

[@kusztelson2947]

In your field of expertise it may be feasible. However there is a risk of splitting focus between too many things (Tech leading, managing, even Scrum Masterig). It just may be a sign that the project is understaffed with expirienced people.

[@sandeepchandupatla7832]

Great

[@pritamrp]

I would say CTO role

[@subjidealist]

If you're not passionate about people and leadership, you should never go into management. This is literally the reason for the great resignation

[@freeman37]

People are overrated 😇

[@krishnachaitanya8003]

Same situation 😂

[@amicablesandeep85]

If person is not technical (developer ,lead or solution architect who is hands on ) or not bringing business all should get fired there is no need of people manager in IT , Only Manager project manager is one who could be fresher and may be earning way less than even developer and he/she would have different skill set like scrum master , keeps track and documentation of project which does not necessarily have with senior with just more years of experience, Indian IT companies need big cleansing of non performing ppl who does not contribute technically nor in sales and person who is really good developer with strong skill set could earn more than directors also, designation should not matter much until you are into really important role where you decide companies strategy contributing overall growth of company or bringing sales for company

[@ShinAkuma]

Having a manager with no technical knowledge managing engineers is a nightmare and I don't know of any san engineer who would like to work under such a person. An example: a friend of mine used to work in Tech Mahindra, they didn't get access to youtube while using the company's vpn during work, he asked his manager to get youtube access as they needed to study for work. The manager said and I quote "Just install youtube on your laptop".

[@amicablesandeep85]

@@ShinAkuma 😀 Some point of time ppl think that with age and many year of experience they would become manage and once manager job is just manage (timesheet approve , leave approve) and no need to upgrade to himself but would get fat salary as he had 15-20 year experience but tech tech changing frequently he/she becomes fresher if he/she doesn’t keep up and these ppl are burden and absolute , companies should stop promoting people on just number of years of experience and should force them to go through technical skill upgrade otherwise show them door

[@kusztelson2947]

You are very opinionated on that topic. It may be so that uderperformance is caused by responsibility diffusion (characteristic for larger companies) rather than potential of the individual i.e problem is organisational not personal.

[@vsfintalks8825]

I believe your opinion is not that farsighted. People managers and leaders in large IT organisations are not paid fat salaries for their day to day direct contributions like in the junior level but for the organisation level decision making that is critical for the survival of the organisation. Ofcourse there are managers who don't have these skills and they won't go that much further in their career.

[@NiravPatel1989]

You lost me at : "if you hate meetings don't be a manager"🤦