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As an engineer, all the good managers I've had have had their hands in the tech in the present or the past. Really confuses me why companies hire externally for

As an engineer, all the good managers I've had have had their hands in the tech in the present or the past. Really confuses me why companies hire externally for managers working directly with engineering. Knowing the tech makes a huge difference in managing expectations.

orev 8y ago
Because Engineering and Management are a completely different skill set, so most Engineers do not make good Managers.
- bsder 8y ago
  It is true that engineering and management are a different skill set. However, why is it that we simply throw people into being managers, while we realize that even after 4 years of training and engineer is still highly inexperienced. Management is a skill, and it can be taught. Why does nobody do so?
  - joshuamorton 8y ago
    In a lot of places you do. One starts as a team lead, (which is kind of a journeyman manager where you can defer to the real manager) then might move to managing a subteam of 1-3 people, and then on to a full team.
- mooreds 8y ago
  But being an engineer (or at least a recent one) is a key part of engineering management. My favorite article about that: https://charity.wtf/2019/01/04/engineering-management-the-pendulum-or-the-ladder/ https://charity.wtf/2019/01/04/engineering-management-the-pe...
- watwut 8y ago
  The trouble is that managers with non technical background do not make good managers either. It is not like they would have some awesome impressive track record.
- meddlepal 8y ago
  Most engineers don't make good managers until they get some good mentoring or training. They're not unmixable skills and it's not impossible for an engineer to become a good manager with time and dedication to that craft. I completely agree most engineers suck at it though but I think that's because most companies promote engineers into management for lack of a better career path.
- saghm 8y ago
  I'm not sure that's specific to engineering; I think most people in general might not make good managers
silveroriole 8y ago
Then again, this can really make your manager suck too. If they have the “I’m a developer!” attitude but haven’t actually done any programming for a decade, they’ll waste a ton of your time with their outdated ideas rather than just being your manager.
- eeZah7Ux 8y ago
  Some examples?

orev 8y ago

Because Engineering and Management are a completely different skill set, so most Engineers do not make good Managers.

bsder 8y ago
It is true that engineering and management are a different skill set. However, why is it that we simply throw people into being managers, while we realize that even after 4 years of training and engineer is still highly inexperienced. Management is a skill, and it can be taught. Why does nobody do so?
- joshuamorton 8y ago
  In a lot of places you do. One starts as a team lead, (which is kind of a journeyman manager where you can defer to the real manager) then might move to managing a subteam of 1-3 people, and then on to a full team.
mooreds 8y ago
But being an engineer (or at least a recent one) is a key part of engineering management. My favorite article about that: https://charity.wtf/2019/01/04/engineering-management-the-pendulum-or-the-ladder/ https://charity.wtf/2019/01/04/engineering-management-the-pe...
watwut 8y ago
The trouble is that managers with non technical background do not make good managers either. It is not like they would have some awesome impressive track record.
meddlepal 8y ago
Most engineers don't make good managers until they get some good mentoring or training. They're not unmixable skills and it's not impossible for an engineer to become a good manager with time and dedication to that craft. I completely agree most engineers suck at it though but I think that's because most companies promote engineers into management for lack of a better career path.
saghm 8y ago
I'm not sure that's specific to engineering; I think most people in general might not make good managers

silveroriole 8y ago

Then again, this can really make your manager suck too. If they have the “I’m a developer!” attitude but haven’t actually done any programming for a decade, they’ll waste a ton of your time with their outdated ideas rather than just being your manager.

eeZah7Ux 8y ago
Some examples?