[wbill]

The commonality that I see with three jobs I'm familiar with.... CTO, Sr. HW engineer and Lead QA Engineer .... is that they take 15-20 years to get there. Probably lots of job satisfaction once you've arrived, but it's a long, long haul.

Others, like "Executive Chef" and "Construction Manager" would need a good bit of time in the business to reach as well, I'd think.

Articles like this make me wonder if somewhere out there, some soon-to-be college grad will read this and say "Hmmm. Maybe I'll be a CTO when I graduate. Wonder who's hiring for that position?"

Reality is a harsh mistress. :-)

[Resolute Conservative]

After 20 odd years in software I can say that I hate it and if not for money I would leave it. Too late in life to change and make the same money. Back in the 80’s and early 90’s it was fun. Frustration and layer upon layer of over complex crap written by people who read about it on a blog instead of following the KISS principle.

[MrB]

“Hmmm. Maybe I’ll be a CTO when I graduate. Wonder who’s hiring for that position?”

These people have been told throughout their educational careers that they’re “special”, and “everyone gets a trophy”.

They are in for a harsh slap in the face when it comes down to “yeah, I said you’ll start by emptying the trash”.