Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: How did you move from IT/software to something unrelated?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

101–110 of 185 posts

Re: Ask HN: How did you move from IT/software to something unrelated?

#101

Post by latte »

I was a 4th-year student in a maths / CS programme in Eastern Europe and had a part-time job as a web developer. Over time, I got the impression that being a dev is a low-prestige job with very slim chances of moving into any position of power. So I abandoned programming entirely, enrolled in a masters' program in economics and in 3 years got a job in M&A advisory at an investment bank.

Getting a finance job was not easy (two full recruitment seasons, 20+ failed interviews - even though I graduated from the top bachelor and master programmes in the country and the financial market was booming those years), mostly due to my lack of people skills. The people's mindset and mode of communication in business are much different from what I was used to in IT and academia. It cost me a lot of time and mental effort to adapt.

Note that I was only 20 years old back then when I started doing my master's in economics but there were much older people around who also succeeded in getting into investment banking, management consulting or other business-like careers of their choice.

Now, after 8 years in finance, I became fed up with it, left the job and am currently trying to break into the IT/startup sector as a CTO/co-founder.

Re: Ask HN: How did you move from IT/software to something unrelated?

#102

Post by id122015 »

Burnt out + HR + oversaturated market + 5 in 1 requirements:

I didnt even bother to move into IT. In so many years I tried just as many different jobs. What doesnt kill you makes you stronger.

You will be fine. Start a trade: plumbing, welding, wood work. Or become a photo model if you are lazy.

Re: Ask HN: How did you move from IT/software to something unrelated?

#103

Post by Treegarden »

jansho wrote: post #82
rsyngh wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just made an account here to reply to your account .Could you please elaborate on how you got into digital learning/edtech or how can a fellow software engineer get into digital learning/edtech?

Oh goodness, I'm glad someone found this intriguing, I think I came across as a bit self-promotional before :o It was mainly accidental that I got into digital learning. I was pretty traumatised from my degree, even today I still feel irrationally reluctant to code. But I've always been passionate about design and education. I also wanted to "self-heal" if you like, to repair myself as a person and as a learner. And…

Sorry if this comes off as harsh, but do you approach eLearning with this sort of wishy washy that most people tend to have in this field(as far as I observed), or do you know what you are doing, eg. the educational psychology behind it, and basing decisions on empirical evidence?

"Many institutions move towards eLearning" - the impression I got from this topic is that its pretty much every time one of those "Ipad cases" - spend $$$ on Ipads even if they are useless, just to show how modern your institution is. Almost every time I hear about this, its some news-article over hyping eLearning that is so badly implemented that the teachers hate it.

If you know what you are doing (not the wishy washy way) then I would really like to ask you some questions.

Re: Ask HN: How did you move from IT/software to something unrelated?

#104

Post by dep_b »

latte wrote: post #101

I was a 4th-year student in a maths / CS programme in Eastern Europe and had a part-time job as a web developer. Over time, I got the impression that being a dev is a low-prestige job with very slim chances of moving into any position of power. So I abandoned programming entirely, enrolled in a masters' program in economics and in 3 years got a job in M&A advisory at an investment bank. Getting a finance job was not…

> Now, after 8 years in finance, I became fed up with it, left the job and am currently trying to break into the IT/startup sector as a CTO/co-founder.

Finance + IT knowledge is very powerful these days.

Re: Ask HN: How did you move from IT/software to something unrelated?

#105

Post by eequah9L »

shmooth wrote: post #93

I think the ESL/teaching English abroad thing is always an option. Being relatively young is def a good thing, imo. Olds are not so attractive to employers, career-switching or not. i had the chance to do project management after a long time being a dev/whatever, and it was actually really cool. also did some product mgmt and that was cool too. there are often companies looking for 'junior' folks with that stuff -- t…

Regarding the ESL, I guess it depends on where. FWIW I hear[0] that in Czechia there are so many foreigners whose only significant skill relative to locals is that they are native speakers, that the native English on its own is not enough anymore. The language schools now demand (and have for some time) an in-depth grammar knowledge and possibly relevant education as well. I would expect it to be the same in other Central/Western European countries.

[0] An online account of an ESL teacher, confirmed by two others in person.

(EDIT: grammar.)

Re: Ask HN: How did you move from IT/software to something unrelated?

#106

Post by [deleted] »

scandox wrote: post #91

The thing I regret not doing is sales. And I mean SALES. Selling plots of land in a swamp. Selling GIs suits of armour on an aircraft carrier. Selling fake Gucci jackets out of the boot of a car. I'm talking Glengarry Glen Ross shit and worse. If I had a career timeout I think that's what I might do. Bear with me here. It's like there's two ways of looking at what life is really about. On the one hand life is about s…

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: How did you move from IT/software to something unrelated?

#107

Post by custos »

sunir wrote: post #100

You write as if you are trapped in IT. You say you are burnt out. Perhaps the feeling you are trapped is coming from inside you rather than the world? Burn out comes from using willpower to force yourself to do work that you have no hope will succeed. The feeling of being trapped comes with that. The Fight Flight Freeze response. The feeling is inside you. You can fly to another industry but the feeling will go with…

"You can fly to another industry but the feeling will go with you and you will remain unsettled." I took a break from software development due to burn out, got my CDL and drove an 18 wheeler for a few months.

The experience was practically a relaxing (after training) paid vacation where I could see the country, and made feel so much better.

I was even able to go back to software development afterwards with renewed drive. So... no, the feeling won't follow you.

Re: Ask HN: How did you move from IT/software to something unrelated?

#108

Post by ransom1538 »

SALES. What fascinates me about sales is the ability to bring immediate value to a company. True value. If you walk in the door and bring in a new sale order for $100k: the company just made money. It may sound impossible todo. But it isn't. EG. Selling a twilio account to uber isn't like landing a mars rover. It is totally possible. Uber needs to send text messages and there are only a handful of players in that space. If that was your account your cut could be in the 7figures. You are now the shit.

My friend at Flurry selling mobile ads (in 2012) made over a million in one year flat. During that year - selling mobile ads was like selling drugs behind a school. If Flurry pulls in 30million from your accounts, 1million is just a write off. When I lived in a nicer area of PacHeights in SF, my neighbors with houses were in SALES: oracle, real estate, franchises , on and on. Javascript progammers? No.

Applying a new cool bootstrap theme to a website or making that node.js app is cool, but the value it adds? You are too far down the value stick. One of my sales friends told me a horrifying statement: "Once we finish signing the paperwork, everyone else is worthless." It is true. They can get new programmers, new teams, new infrastructure, new products, hell, money buys anything.

You can do what this guy does. You probably will need a suite and a smile. But I think he makes more than everyone on this thread combined. ALSO. If you passed his desk around 2pm on friday? It would be empty.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-eubanks-a775ba/

Re: Ask HN: How did you move from IT/software to something unrelated?

#109

Post by dominotw »

shahbaby wrote: post #89

As someone who has worked those type of jobs for years, the grass is indeed NOT greener on the other side. Those jobs have a much lower barrier to entry, so in addition to being paid less, employers can hire and fire much more easily. Also don't fall for the "sales is such a great skill to have!" When was the last time a salesperson convinced you to buy something? What will you have to show for the years you're going…

Like the movie officespace where peter becomes a construction worker is met with construction boss version of lumberg.

Re: Ask HN: How did you move from IT/software to something unrelated?

#110

Post by Blackstone4 »

tome_anir wrote: post #78
oblio wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you tried using a different mouse/keyboard or using one of those silicon pads to support your wrist? You could also try to change your posture while sitting.

I was awaiting that comment :). Short answer to your question: Yes, my desk looks like I will to fly to Mars any moment. Long answer: I rather not type or I will give myself more pain.

I used to be a software engineer and switched into the investment/asset management industry. I had hand, finger and shoulder pain. Turns out it was Carpel Tunnel.. I was 25... I've been using Bracoo wrist braces when typing and they've really helped. I also sleep with them on and while I still have some tingling in my hands the pain has mostly gone.

The switch into investments and the wrist braces basically saved my career...

https://www.amazon.com/Bracoo-Breathable-Superior-Ergonomic-...

Post reply on HN