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Ask HN: How to Move into Management Role?

3 points by abright ↗ HN
I've been a software developer for eight (8) years now and while my programming skills are decent I think I've developed a much better sense of how teams function (or don't) and processes that help or harm the operations of a team.

All of that to say, the management track seems like the entry-level job paradox. You need management experience to get into the role so there's no way to get that original experience. I'm also coming at this from the perspective of someone who is currently under a manager who simply got the role due to seniority and only plays the manager role when absolutely necessary and I believe that my "team" has a ton of untapped potential because of the lack of true leadership.

4 comments

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tboyd47
1) Start doing as many management- or senior-level activities as possible without being asked and without asking permission. You may encounter some resistance from above, but just be polite and persistent. Have the mindset that this is just part of your job.

2) Try to negotiate a team transfer with your boss's boss, saying you need a new challenge.

3) Whenever you get transferred, ask your new boss for a promotion right away and list all of the things you used to do on the old team.

abright
Thanks, #1 has been what I've been doing so far. I'll have to think about how #2 and #3 would work in my context (fairly small company).
tboyd47
You can always start floating out your resume. Replace #2 with "transfer companies."

Honestly, smaller companies are not the best places to get into management because there aren't that many people to manage.

The key point is that you create a conversation between two people about your management potential. That way it becomes a social fact, as opposed to just a thought in one person's head, who may or may not act on it depending on how much they like you or want do to you a favor.