Engineering manager or individual contributor: Which path is right for you?

As an engineer, you’re probably working on climbing the career ladder. But are you thinking about which path you’re on – and whether that’s actually where you want to go?

For many developers, career growth happens by accident. As we become more skilled, the company wants to reward and retain us, so we get promoted. At first this isn’t a problem: advancing from junior engineer on through senior is a necessary progression. But what happens after senior?

Unintentional career growth often leads to the management track. Becoming a manager is often presented as the natural next step after senior – but for many developers, it can be a huge mistake that makes them (and their team) miserable.

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