Ask HN: No Path from Techie to Management?

#1

Post by seeking_gruntle » Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 3:32 PM UTC

When I was a much more junior techie I would apply for management roles in my company only to be told that I needed more experience and to upgrade my credentials. Years later I have certifications, a graduate degree and have advanced through the technical ranks. Now when I apply to management roles I am told that they are looking for a fresh perspective after hiring junior to intermediate applicants into the roles.

I am not an isolated example at my work and as a result we have lost some excellent talent. Is this happening at other companies or is mine an outlier?

Outside of this problem I really like where I work and the people that I work with but I feel that I may need to move on if I want to advance my career. I can't think of a way to address this problem with the higher ups without torching my future further.

Re: Ask HN: No Path from Techie to Management?

#2

Post by mrhottakes » Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 3:33 PM UTC

Anecdotally, in the tech industry you usually will need to change companies to move up. Certainly not true everywhere, but it's been a "feature" of the industry for a decade or more.

Re: Ask HN: No Path from Techie to Management?

#3

Post by toomuchtodo » Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 3:33 PM UTC

Find another org willing to support your professional development. "Thank you for the opportunity to grow here, but there is no longer a path forward here at this time. I am willing to entertain returning if that changes in the future." once you find your next role. Leave the door open to come back in the future when they can provide what you need, don't burn the bridge. Sometimes the only move is to leave.

Re: Ask HN: No Path from Techie to Management?

#4

Post by harwoodr » Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 3:39 PM UTC

I have seen this in many orgs. It is sometimes hard for others to see you in a role other than the one you are in, or sometimes they see you as too valuable in your role to let you leave it.

I agree with the others that sometimes the path for career advancement can be to move on elsewhere.

Re: Ask HN: No Path from Techie to Management?

#5

Post by geremiiah » Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 4:11 PM UTC

You are not popular enough at your work place or at least not with the right people. Change jobs and try again.

Re: Ask HN: No Path from Techie to Management?

#6

Post by tiahura » Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 4:20 PM UTC

MBA

Re: Ask HN: No Path from Techie to Management?

#7

Post by NishanStepak » Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 6:35 PM UTC

Learn the things that no one else is willing to do or easily has the capability to do and ask for a raise or move in position. Be prepared to move on. They will give you what you want.

Re: Ask HN: No Path from Techie to Management?

#8

Post by leros » Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 6:45 PM UTC

Advancing through technical ranks does not qualify one for management. It qualifies them for more technical stuff.

Are you taking leadership responsibilities? Leading your team, mentoring others, representing your team in broader meetings with other teams, helping with planning, etc. Doing that stuff probably means you stop doing technical stuff.

Re: Ask HN: No Path from Techie to Management?

#9

Post by seeking_gruntle » Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 7:12 PM UTC

leros wrote: post #8

Advancing through technical ranks does not qualify one for management. It qualifies them for more technical stuff. Are you taking leadership responsibilities? Leading your team, mentoring others, representing your team in broader meetings with other teams, helping with planning, etc. Doing that stuff probably means you stop doing technical stuff.

Yes. I'm currently a team lead, train or tutor more junior techies and have had great performance reviews.

I have also taken the company recommended leadership courses.

Re: Ask HN: No Path from Techie to Management?

#10

Post by seeking_gruntle » Thu, Aug 20, 2026, 7:17 PM UTC

NishanStepak wrote: post #7

Learn the things that no one else is willing to do or easily has the capability to do and ask for a raise or move in position. Be prepared to move on. They will give you what you want.

There really aren't tasks of that nature where I work.

We also have a policy of ensuring that we have no single point of failure when it comes to technical or institutional knowledge. Our tech work community is really good at ensuring that we keep others in the loop and document everything.

Non-management positions are subject to a union collective agreement. The money is good mind you but there are no raises outside the pay grids.