Hi all - I’ve been thinking about this lately. In tech we generally have the ability to find “cushy” jobs. However, sometimes it seems like other industries might be more fulfilling, even if the hours are longer and the pay is less. Have you ever left tech to pursue something like this? If so how did it go? If not why not?
Ask HN: Have you ever considered leaving tech because you didn’t feel fulfilled?
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Re: Ask HN: Have you ever considered leaving tech because you didn’t feel fulfilled?
#2I personally have not, but I've seen many posts on here over the years of people leaving for woodworking specifically. In general, I find being able to make something physical that you can touch is very satisfying. I imagine that's part of it.
Re: Ask HN: Have you ever considered leaving tech because you didn’t feel fulfilled?
#3Why would you want to work longer hours with low pay?
There are a ton of different "tech" jobs, even when just staying within software development.
You can go from writing code for the ICs in industrial machinery to controlling said machinery with OPC-UA to doing different kinds of process software for industrial use. They're all mostly 9-5 jobs with mediocre pay, but looooong careers.
I myself spent a bit over half a decade developing software for smart metering, both the meters themselves and the software that reads them. No matter how old a meter was, the person who did the software was still working there and I could just walk to their office for the inside scoop on how to wrangle it.
The pace is completely different from startups and (mobile) gaming "tech" jobs.
I'm pretty sure your current employer will love it if you go to them and say "I want to work longer hours and be paid less" if the cushiness is what's bothering you specifically =)
Re: Ask HN: Have you ever considered leaving tech because you didn’t feel fulfilled?
#4It's important to understand that "tech" is mostly a "horizontal" part of the economy. Meaning it cuts across multiple "vertical" industries. You can do tech for retail, tech for finance, tech for media. Finding a new vertical to be part of can make a big difference. As can finding the right cohort of people to work with. But otherwise, the lack of fulfillment will likely follow you to whatever job you take.
Re: Ask HN: Have you ever considered leaving tech because you didn’t feel fulfilled?
#5I personally have not, but I've seen many posts on here over the years of people leaving for woodworking specifically. In general, I find being able to make something physical that you can touch is very satisfying. I imagine that's part of it.
Most of these people seem to be the ones who have done their FAANG stint and vested mid-6, low-7 figures so they can just hop off and start dallying in woodwork without a major loss in income.
Re: Ask HN: Have you ever considered leaving tech because you didn’t feel fulfilled?
#6Considering switching towards tech because finance isn’t fulfilling. Seems like a grass greener problem frankly
Re: Ask HN: Have you ever considered leaving tech because you didn’t feel fulfilled?
#7I think the hard thing about mental work is you never feel like you've finished something. There's always more work to do and new features to build. The appeal of something like woodworking is it has a finish, and you have a tangible thing at the end. I think lifting and running scratch the physical exertion itch that the desk job leaves me with.
At the end of the day, if you have a pretty easy going role that pays well enough you can always take the big pay and fill your time with hobbies and what not that do bring you joy and fulfillment.
Re: Ask HN: Have you ever considered leaving tech because you didn’t feel fulfilled?
#8Hmm. I've had friends stating they feel like going into something agricultural.
But consider that on that idyllic countryside farm, you need to wake up at 5 to feed the cows on a fine summer day. Also on that stormy day when you have to wade through half a food of mud to the barn * . And also when the snow is up to your waist * .
Another solution is using that income from your cushy tech job to get some fulfilling hobbies?
* I have waded through half a foot of mud and waist high snow, but recreationally. That was fun, but it's a different thing when you have to do it every day because you must.
Re: Ask HN: Have you ever considered leaving tech because you didn’t feel fulfilled?
#9Inb4 "No way I am just sooo fulfilled by improving ad targeting on a social media website."
Re: Ask HN: Have you ever considered leaving tech because you didn’t feel fulfilled?
#10I mostly did, and it saved it as a passion and hobby to me. If your heart lies elsewhere, go, but dont dare ignore where and how tech increasingly steers the world.