Dear Bob ... I wish I had Catch-22's problem. Despite being hired as an individual contributor on every job I've had so far, I inevitably end up filling some management vacuum once I get there. Now that I have the dreaded "M" word firmly entrenched on my resume, it's virtually impossible to get anyone to take me seriously in my real love, engineering. Most firms prefer to promote from within (how I got in this Dear Bob …I wish I had Catch-22’s problem.Despite being hired as an individual contributor on every job I’ve had so far, I inevitably end up filling some management vacuum once I get there. Now that I have the dreaded “M” word firmly entrenched on my resume, it’s virtually impossible to get anyone to take me seriously in my real love, engineering. Most firms prefer to promote from within (how I got in this mess), so the management track really isn’t available, either. I’ve tried lying on my resume (“lead” instead of “manager”) and I get good interviews, but they always find out while checking employment history. I get promoted to manager because I’m good at engineering (also a dumb idea in my mind, kind of an accelerated Peter Principle), but my chequered past is always a deal-killer, so now the resume is honest and I just wait for the phone to ring.Nobody made me do it, but if I hadn’t, they’d have gotten someone worse, and now I’m paying the price. If hindsight, etc. …– I’d rather be solo Dear Hans …So try the same tactic in reverse: Get hired as a project manager and then career-shift into engineering once you’re in. It should be even easier – just pick up some tasks that aren’t getting done during a project. Then let the powers-that-be know that you had more fun doing that than managing the project, so how about letting you become and individual contributor where you can do that full time?– Bob Dear Bob …Got a chance to see that up close and personal. One of the managers on a high-end program at a former employer wanted out. He’d worked for me in the past, and I knew he was very good, so I took him on. When rack-and-stack came at review time, I couldn’t get him the time of day. The Big Bosses’ attitude was, “What’s he want that we haven’t already given him?” He ended up going to a small start-up where the top guys were coders. Not many of those around these days.– I’d still rather be solo Dear Still Hans …That’s what you’ll get in some organizations. Others will be happy to oblige, with this caveat: The salary will generally be a bit lower, and probably capped besides.– Bob ——– Technology Industry