How to transition into EM as an IC
Posted by Budget-Length2666@reddit | ExperiencedDevs | View on Reddit | 12 comments
I am a senior software engineer at a big tech company and got fed up with AI. As I no longer do the parts of the job I enjoyed most, I no longer get any passion from the IC role and I think I would like and find a new challenge in engineering management.
I have been reading more books on the matter and have been enjoying the soft parts of the job more recently and would like to transition into the role sometime in the future, but I have no EM responsibilities on my team where I could train the EM muscle nor to valid my hypothesis that I actually would like the job. Formally, the only realistic way of becoming an EM at my company is with an internal transfer into some other org and I think for such an "external EM hire" I would need to show experience in the job upfront. So how do I go about this and make the transition from IC to EM? How do I prepare and get ready for this?
filius@reddit
Just tell your manager you’re interested in gaining the experience. They might give you a junior to manage or something a bit softer like mentoring opportunities. Either way they might be able to give you a taster of management.
ninetofivedev@reddit
Mentorship isn’t management.
HatesBeingThatGuy@reddit
Yes but really good mentorship can naturally transition into management. This was my path.
Teh_Original@reddit
Sorry mate, need a Jira story for that. (This is a bit tongue-in-cheek, but this feels like the reality at my current place.)
SnooTangerines4655@reddit
AFAIK EMs will be replaced sooner than ICs.
I'm seeing a trend where many managers are moving back to IC roles.
pm_me_your_js_lib@reddit
And do you think EMs are not being pushed into using AI?
Budget-Length2666@reddit (OP)
i don't care, I am just not happy with the AI in an IC role because all the moat of an engineer is gone and we are more replaceable then ever and the things in an IC role that were enjoyable vaporized.
Jolly-joe@reddit
Everything you said applies to EMs as well. There is always going to be more ICs than EMs at any company. EMs are becoming more endangered than ICs because of AI, Meta and Rainforest had huge cuts this past year focusing on eliminating manager roles.
dkribeiro@reddit
Since you are already reading, let me list some books I have read and helped me a lot in my leadership positions:
• The staff engineer’s path • The phoenix project • An elegant puzzle • The manager’s path • The surprising science of meetings
Leading_Yoghurt_5323@reddit
start acting like an EM before becoming one… run small projects, mentor juniors, handle ambiguity. that’s what hiring managers look for
Wide-Pop6050@reddit
You have to find small opportunities to start managing. Lead a few projects that involve collaboration with other teams. Develop a niche that makes you the go-to for a certain type of work. Offer to manage interns or a junior. Find opportunities to step up, not for your company's sake, but for your own growth.
advizzo@reddit
Moving from IC to EM because you got fed up with AI is not going to work. Leadership is going to push you to have your direct reports use AI and if you’re not bought in - then it’s going to be too much friction.
You don’t need the EM title to have EM responsibilities. Start by asking your boss to lead standup, retros, project planning, etc. Every time you take something off your managers plate you will build muscle.
You need to identify what “soft parts” of the job you enjoy. Can you coach others, can you give direct feedback while mentoring, can you make hard decisions, can you work with different egos, can you work well with other managers? Are you comfortable being in meetings > 20 hours a week?