It's often unclear what tracks are available to people in technical careers such as designers, engineers, and product managers within any size organization. The path chosen by many is the management track, but what if you want to stay technical? Are there alternatives? In this talk, you'll learn: • What to think about when you're evaluating the choice between pursuing a management vs a technical track • The opportunities that are available to you if you choose to go down a technical track, what the day-to-day will be like, and how to prepare for this path

1. How to Evaluate Your
Technical Career Track
Poornima Vijayashanker
#femgineerforum
@femgineer
May 28, 2014
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2. Background
• Femgineer
• Forums
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3. Agenda
• What are the roles?
• Technical v. management track?
• How to transition?
• Breakout session
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4. Smart.
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5. Inexperienced.
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6. Falling off.
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7. Environment.
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8. Stuck.
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9. It’s too late.
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10. Get back on!
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11. Many paths.
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12. What are the roles?
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13. Technical track.
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14. Freelancer
Consultant
Individual Contributor
Technical Team Lead
Architect
Creative Director
Manager
Teacher
Professor 14

15. Take stock of projects.
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16. Side projects.
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17. Meet Courteney.
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18. 18

19. Expertise.
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20. Management track.
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21. Budget & control resources.
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22. Directions.
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23. Understand organization.
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24. Lookout.
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25. Lots of open doors.
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26. Interview them!
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27. When was the last time
someone was promoted?
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28. Do people make transitions?
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29. Understand the day-to-day!
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30. Responsibilities
&
Requirements
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31. Get Some Feedback
• Colleagues
• Friends
• Mentors
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32. Perspective.
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33. I’m not ready...
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34. Constantly learning.
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35. Training.
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36. Transition.
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37. Create a plan.
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38. The role you want.
Why you want it.
Why you can do it!
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39. Demonstrate through stories
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40. ASK!
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41. Don’t muddle the message.
“...”
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42. Do a bite-sized sale.
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43. RISK.
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44. Show progress overtime.
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45. Mitigating risk == easy decision
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46. Inaction.
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47. Review
• What are the roles?
• Technical v. management track?
• How to transition?
• Breakout session
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48. Next Forum on June 19th
Why You Should Speak at Technical Conferences
Sponsored by
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49. Want to host a forum at your company?
Contact: justin@femgineer.com
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50. E-mail Course
How to Transform Your Ideas into
Software Products
http://femgineer.com/transform-ideas
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51. Courses
Confident Communicator
Lean Product Development
Web Product Development
Visit femgineer.com/learn
Mentoring
Visit femgineer.com/mentoring
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52. Q&A
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54. Breakout Session!
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55. KEY OBJECTIVE(S) AGENDA
DELIVERABLE
BREAK OUT SESSION
Think about your track. 30 minutes Get into groups of ~5 people.
1. Introduce yourself to the group.
2. Take stock of past projects
3. What did you enjoy about those
projects?
4. What role do you think you maybe
suited to based on what you enjoyed
working on?
5. What are some next steps for you?
6. Share with the group.
Short presentation
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