The right combinations of personality, tech area, and SPE sometimes lines up and they have a great time.

At least until the wrong SPE shows up.

I've been in this area long enough (2 decades long enough?) that I know what I can decide and what needs to be escalated.

People automatically assume that I throw the SPE under the bus because I can't handle the job. When I showed the director all the documents from 3 SPEs ago, that SPE is now sitting in a room staring at the wall 8 hours a day with no examiner to manage. That's considered "success" because that person is no longer my SPE.

There's an easy way. Anyone looking to prove themselves, you're welcome to transfer in. There is a huge need because they lost a handful of primaries recently.

That's going to be a great big hell no.

The only success they've had recruiting are attorneys who practised in this technology, and impressionable kids straight out of school.