i had an interesting discussion with one of the folks at work today. i'm not exactly sure how we got on the topic, but basically, respective positions came up.
He was about my age and told me that he was currently a director, he had been variously oscillating between senior manager and director and how it was a challenge to maintain that level, while making sure that it was a challenge, and i certainly don't begrudge him his position or not respect him for it. i realized that it really wasn't what i was interested in.
i was a manager for about 3 months. Both of my employees left. The company. (Fun fact, it was the boom years and one just had a kid and was coasting anyway.) i've not been a manager again for about… eight years, and that's fine. i've been a mentor and senior engineer and a host of other "not-quite-guy-in-charge" positions. That's actually fine. i know i could do a good job if i were in that position again, but it's not a driving ambition of mine.
i like being in the trenches. i don't mind getting into code. i don't mind not having to haggle or worry about my future position because of some line on a resume. My title is absolutely meaningless.
Honestly, that kinda bugged me too. Look if your a director for some 20 employee startup that hit the bucket, that's significantly different than someone who was a director of a 20K employee, highly profitable company. Ideally, one looks at the accomplishments rather than the bullet points, but then, some like that sort of thing.
i make enough money to be quite comfortable, put cash into savings and have some extra for things. i've been offered high titled positions, and told them "no thanks". It's not that they weren't interesting, they just weren't that appealing.
Heh, i was offhandedly accused of not having the same level of ambition. i smiled. i guess i don't. i'm just happy being employed and continually contributing.
i guess i'm just weird.
It is one of my career goals to never be in charge of anybody but myself, except possibly for a student or two. The day I can no longer avoid being some sort of manager is when I change careers.
…just realized that maybe that doesn't not make you weird. just makes it like there are two weirdos. sigh.
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The companies I work directly for don't have "directors", but our clients do.
As far as I can tell, "Director" is the new "Manager" as that title has become increasingly diluted through overuse. Sort of like "Senior VP" is the new VP and orange is the new pink.
Oh yes, and titles are meaningless outside of rigid hierarchical organizations. "Success" is doing what you want.