Be the Boss: The job isn't always envied

Job security for senior managers and department heads isn't so bad, at least by one measurement.

In fact, a new survey from OfficeTeam, a staffing firm that specializes in administrative professionals, says for many underlings, a management job isn't really that desirable. More than three-fourths, 76%, of the respondents say they have no interest in their manager's position. And in a refreshing twist to the second-guessers of the world, 65% say they don't think they could do a better job than their boss anyway.

“Many aspects of management involve making difficult, sometimes unpopular decisions, and not everyone is comfortable in this role,” says Robert Hosking, executive director of Menlo Park, Calif.-based OfficeTeam. “Being a strong individual contributor does not necessarily equate to being an effective leader. The most successful bosses excel at motivating others to achieve great results.”

Of course, not everyone wants to sit on the bench. The survey also found that at 35%, the 18- to 34-year-old age group sought the top job more than any other age category.