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Ask HN: Former devs who can't get a job, what did you end up doing for work?

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Re: Ask HN: Former devs who can't get a job, what did you end up doing for work?

#11

Post by francisofascii »

ecshafer wrote: post #8
redleggedfrog wrote: post #4

Not me, but my buddy got out of software development and learned to be, as he describes it, "a bog standard electrician." He had money for trade school, and then apprenticed under an experienced electrician. Dude is in his 40's, so late career change. Makes double the money he did doing remote coding.

Certified electricians can make really good money, especially union. But that's really hard to believe. Is this somewhere like NYC or something that there is an edge. A remote software developer is typically in the $100-200k range in the US. I know union certified electricians in that range, but none in the $300-400k range.

There are plenty of developer gigs in the US with salaries less than $100k, or with contract hourly rates less than $50/hour. Especially if the job is remote or in a low COL area.

Re: Ask HN: Former devs who can't get a job, what did you end up doing for work?

#12

Post by anonzzzies »

bertjk wrote: post #6
anonzzzies wrote: post #2

Doing up houses, doing electrics for houses in the town and making wooden doors. I do it for fun, but the latter two would make me bank; there is a massive shortage, most people suck and even when paid well they don't turn up anyway as someone pays more.

Did you need licensing / training to take on electrical work? Do you market yourself as an electrician or more just a handyman that does minor electric jobs?

I got my license in my gap year before uni a long time ago; it's not valid here, but in my country I got trained with a lot higher standards than where I live now so I can do anything besides actually hooking stuff up to mains. I helped some people out and they told others. Like said; there is a massive shortage of handy people and as this is not my day job, I have to say no a lot.

Re: Ask HN: Former devs who can't get a job, what did you end up doing for work?

#13

Post by Gooblebrai »

redleggedfrog wrote: post #4

Not me, but my buddy got out of software development and learned to be, as he describes it, "a bog standard electrician." He had money for trade school, and then apprenticed under an experienced electrician. Dude is in his 40's, so late career change. Makes double the money he did doing remote coding.

> Makes double the money he did doing remote coding.

Yes, but I presume at a high physical cost in the long-term? (I mean, more than the physical cost of sitting in a chair)

Re: Ask HN: Former devs who can't get a job, what did you end up doing for work?

#14

Post by itsoktocry »

Gooblebrai wrote: post #13
redleggedfrog wrote: post #4

Not me, but my buddy got out of software development and learned to be, as he describes it, "a bog standard electrician." He had money for trade school, and then apprenticed under an experienced electrician. Dude is in his 40's, so late career change. Makes double the money he did doing remote coding.

> Makes double the money he did doing remote coding. Yes, but I presume at a high physical cost in the long-term? (I mean, more than the physical cost of sitting in a chair)

>Yes, but I presume at a high physical cost in the long-term?

Why? Electricians aren't doing intense labour, and I'm 99% certain that being in a job where you move around a lot (as opposed to sitting at your desk) has long term health benefits, without even getting into carpal tunnel syndrome and other RSIs associated with being at a computer.

Re: Ask HN: Former devs who can't get a job, what did you end up doing for work?

#15

Post by selamtux »

i try to create 3d printing service with laser cutting/engraving without success.

i try to register as driver for kind of uber with motorcycle but no success.

now i am trying to develop set of applications for specific market to platform as a service probably it will end up trash can without success :)

one of my friend from another profession change his career to driver as "uber eat", (we have different brands for it) at least his doing ok.

Re: Ask HN: Former devs who can't get a job, what did you end up doing for work?

#16

Post by popularrecluse »

I never stopped developing. After getting laid off in April 2023 after 13 years as first a full stack then mobile dev, I just started working on things that interested me. I did apply and interview a few times, but I started to realize that pushing 50 and being as cynical as I now am, I'm pretty much unemployable as an IC.

So I released my application to the App Store this month, and while savings are dwindling, things are starting to finally move into the other direction now.

Re: Ask HN: Former devs who can't get a job, what did you end up doing for work?

#18

Post by yumraj »

Gooblebrai wrote: post #13
redleggedfrog wrote: post #4

Not me, but my buddy got out of software development and learned to be, as he describes it, "a bog standard electrician." He had money for trade school, and then apprenticed under an experienced electrician. Dude is in his 40's, so late career change. Makes double the money he did doing remote coding.

> Makes double the money he did doing remote coding. Yes, but I presume at a high physical cost in the long-term? (I mean, more than the physical cost of sitting in a chair)

Honestly I wonder if he’ll end up being healthier. Sitting in a chair has zero physical cost but very high health cost.

Re: Ask HN: Former devs who can't get a job, what did you end up doing for work?

#19

Post by jamesrr39 »

popularrecluse wrote: post #16

I never stopped developing. After getting laid off in April 2023 after 13 years as first a full stack then mobile dev, I just started working on things that interested me. I did apply and interview a few times, but I started to realize that pushing 50 and being as cynical as I now am, I'm pretty much unemployable as an IC. So I released my application to the App Store this month, and while savings are dwindling, thin…

I have heard this a few times from different people/places, but why is it the case that at 50+ it is harder to find work? Assuming a regular retirement age, there are still many more years left in the career than a typical tech employment lasts.

Re: Ask HN: Former devs who can't get a job, what did you end up doing for work?

#20

Post by lm28469 »

francisofascii wrote: post #11
ecshafer wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Certified electricians can make really good money, especially union. But that's really hard to believe. Is this somewhere like NYC or something that there is an edge. A remote software developer is typically in the $100-200k range in the US. I know union certified electricians in that range, but none in the $300-400k range.

There are plenty of developer gigs in the US with salaries less than $100k, or with contract hourly rates less than $50/hour. Especially if the job is remote or in a low COL area.

Unless we only talk about big tech companies there are more devs under 100k than devs above 200k, for sure, not even close. 300k as a dev you're in the lucky top 10%
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