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Ask HN: Alternative careers for a developer

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Re: Ask HN: Alternative careers for a developer

#31

Post by transburgh »

wooUK wrote: post #13
mechanical_fish wrote: post #4

From what I've seen, architects go to school, really arduous school, for years, after which they continue to work constantly, much more than 40 hours per week. I believe they get paid less than developers, have less job security -- and, yes, sit at a computer all day. But what do I know? All I can suggest is: Don't apply to design or architecture school until you've talked with at least three working architects or de…

I was an architect student now turned developer. The thought processes are very similar between the two disciplines however I personally find developing more rewarding. In architecture you are considered a 'young' architect if you are in your fifties. That means you spend your best years designing underground drainage systems (that nobody will see) or garage extensions for pittance and long hours and minimal job secu…

this is the exact issue I saw as an intern at an architecture firm right before I dropped out of it as a major

Re: Ask HN: Alternative careers for a developer

#32

Post by nileshk »

ilikekittens wrote: post #6
dschobel wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Including the architecture and design jobs he listed. I guess if he really hates computers he could be a manager and spend his days in meetings.

It's not a matter of hating computers but of being unable to use them much. I have RSI and can go for periods of weeks/months of being unable to type.

What helped me completely cure my wrist pain was reading "The Mindbody Prescription" by Dr John E Sarno. I was in a similar position and was considering a career change. I took over a year off of work to try and recover (eventually coming back to work part time). Once I read this book and applied it, I was able to immediately recover. It's been about 7 years now since.

The ideas it presents are definitely not mainstream. But it is fairly logical and scientific. There are plenty of other sources that talk about the connection between the mind and the body, but I've never seen anything present it in such a way that makes sense to me and gives ideas of how to directly apply it.

I'm not that great at explaining it in a nutshell. The wikipedia page seems to have some decent info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tension_myositis_syndrome

But the best summary I've read is this word doc: http://www.rsi.deas.harvard.edu/handout.doc (hit the Google cache for HTML version)

Re: Ask HN: Alternative careers for a developer

#33

Post by replicatorblog »

I am an art school grad, have been an industrial designer, UX/UI designer, and have a lot of friends who are architects. Unless you are REALLY gifted aesthetically. I wouldn't go through the time/expense of design school. You could probably transition to UI design pretty easily. ID is an interesting field, but largely shrinking. Look at the open req's at what were top ID firms (Frog/Ideo/Continuum) Very few are doing much business designing things compared to UI's or some mech-e work. As for the RSI, the average designer spends a lot of time in the Adobe suite or a CAD package so it probably won't help. That said if you are really passionate go for it.

Feel free to contact me if you want more info.

Re: Ask HN: Alternative careers for a developer

#34

Post by swombat »

mechanical_fish wrote: post #4

From what I've seen, architects go to school, really arduous school, for years, after which they continue to work constantly, much more than 40 hours per week. I believe they get paid less than developers, have less job security -- and, yes, sit at a computer all day. But what do I know? All I can suggest is: Don't apply to design or architecture school until you've talked with at least three working architects or de…

From what I've seen, architects go to school, really arduous school, for years, after which they continue to work constantly, much more than 40 hours per week. I believe they get paid less than developers, have less job security -- and, yes, sit at a computer all day.

As I spend a lot of time working with architects, I can confirm that.

Architects spend all day in front of the computer, they click much more repetitively (a 12-hour CAD session will do wonders for your RSI), and they get paid less and find it harder to find a new job.

Then again, they do get to design cool buildings. Well, some of them do, anyway (a relatively small proportion, however).

Re: Ask HN: Alternative careers for a developer

#36

Post by aminuit »

ivyirwin wrote: post #22

I am always surprised at the way in which architecture as a profession is romanticized. I blame Mike Brady... I went through the process of getting my Masters in Architecture. It is a long and very arduous process and something you shouldn't do without being passionate or dedicated to the discipline. The crazy thing about it is that you will end up spending most (if not more than you already do) of your time in front…

I blame Howard Roark.

Re: Ask HN: Alternative careers for a developer

#37

Post by webwright »

Sales engineering or sales both pay really well and have a less technical component.

I've REALLY enjoyed woodworking and home remodeling. Impressive output that wows people, creative problem solving, etc.

Medical stuff isn't going anywhere, though you better like working with old folks. Nursing is fairly approachable.

There are probably some areas of law that aren't repulsive.

Re: Ask HN: Alternative careers for a developer

#38

Post by loudtiger »

I'm in sort of the same boat. Developing things and creating software is a means to an end for me. Do I enjoy working for myself? Sure. More so than working for the man. But in the end, it's also so that I can be free from the ties of money.

One thing that I (and some of my other fellow CS graduates) have contemplated is going into teaching. It can be rewarding to teach Math or CS at the local high school, assuming your kids aren't too rowdy.

If you have an interest in photography, that could be a good break. I know several wedding photographers who charge what I would consider a very generous amount - they do a good job, and get tons of business. Personally, I've been interested in photography for a long time, but I'm afraid that I'd start hating it or getting bored of it if it becomes my job. Unfortunately, they spend lots of time in front of the computer editing photos.

Have you thought about anything in the financial field? Data modeling, trends, stuff like that?

Re: Ask HN: Alternative careers for a developer

#40

Post by petesalty »

loudtiger wrote: post #38

I'm in sort of the same boat. Developing things and creating software is a means to an end for me. Do I enjoy working for myself? Sure. More so than working for the man. But in the end, it's also so that I can be free from the ties of money. One thing that I (and some of my other fellow CS graduates) have contemplated is going into teaching. It can be rewarding to teach Math or CS at the local high school, assuming y…

I was a developer (programmer, architect, team lead, CTO, etc.) for about 20 years before I decided to give it up and pursue photography as a career. I was a studio photographer specializing in food. I did it for two years before coming back to development.

Photography is a tough career choice. If you're doing commercial work expect to be told exactly what to do (food is brutal this way - highly controlled). Unless you're at the absolute top (think David LaChappell) people come to you with ideas, expecting you to execute, and are rarely interested in your ideas. You also need great post production skills, so lots of computer work, unless you want to outsource this which is costly.

I've never done wedding photography but know a few and it's a tough business, highly competitive, very stressful (think freaked out brides and mothers) and very seasonal.

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