Should I climb the career ladder as a manager, or will I regret leaving the lab bench behind?
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I am a chemical engineer with a PhD, working in the food industry. I’m at a point in my career where I need to decide whether I want a managerial career path or should stick with technical, problem-solving work in research and development.
My biggest worry is that, if I make the wrong decision, my career will go in an unsatisfying direction and I’ll regret it forever. I do not want to be in a situation where I have to spend a lot of time and energy to correct my path.
I’m looking for some guidance and resources, such as published literature or personality tests, to help me choose. I’d rather spend time considering this now than spend the rest of my career kicking myself for not being more thoughtful in my decisions.
You’re not alone. The transition from technical roles to management is a common theme in the careers of scientists and engineers who work in industry. Deciding whether, when and how to make the move is a serious undertaking.
