Ask HN: anyone ever drop everything and leave software dev behind? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: anyone ever drop everything and leave software dev behind?

#51

Post by btilly » Fri, Jul 16, 2010, 5:32 PM UTC

gruseom wrote: post #46

famfam wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The irony of Peter Cooper advocating the Peter Principle is not lost on me.

Funny, but not as funny as if it were true. PP is when you're competent and get promoted to something you suck at; Peter's suggestion is the other way around. Sorry to nitpick.

But isn't it true?

If someone is succeeding as a programmer, that says nothing about how they'll do as a manager. Therefore pushing for that promotion is a good way to wind up getting promoted to something you such at. Which is the Peter Principle at work.

Re: Ask HN: anyone ever drop everything and leave software dev behind?

#52

Post by moonpolysoft » Fri, Jul 16, 2010, 5:35 PM UTC

Last I heard one of the original HBase guys quit programming altogether and went into plumbing.

Re: Ask HN: anyone ever drop everything and leave software dev behind?

#53

Post by staunch » Fri, Jul 16, 2010, 5:38 PM UTC

earle wrote: post #49

“Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar.”" -George Carlin

This is just a joke, I wouldn't take it seriously. Do you really think Carlin hated his job?

Re: Ask HN: anyone ever drop everything and leave software dev behind?

#54

Post by thejash » Fri, Jul 16, 2010, 5:39 PM UTC

edo wrote: post #28

1. What do you want to do most, what are you passionate about? 2. Do that thing, no matter what.

To second this, my martial arts instructor used to be a developer, and quit to start doing physical therapy. He loves it and is 100% glad that he changed.

So, just do what you're passionate about, and it will work out. Nothing beats doing what you love 8 hours per day.

Re: Ask HN: anyone ever drop everything and leave software dev behind?

#55

Post by anonymousDan » Fri, Jul 16, 2010, 5:41 PM UTC

Go back and do a PhD?

+'s -

   When you finish, you should be pretty marketable
   Pick up a whole new set of research skills
   Support group shouldn't be a problem in a university environment
   Potential for coding if you want to.
   Someone with industry experience will tend to have
   a good idea of what will work in reality

-'s

   You will take a hit money wise until you qualify

You could perhaps look at doing a masters as an intermediate step?

Re: Ask HN: anyone ever drop everything and leave software dev behind?

#56

Post by neilk » Fri, Jul 16, 2010, 5:45 PM UTC

I have a friend who dropped his career to go be an emergency medical tech / wilderness firefighter for about six years. He was/is a top operations guy, network guru, Plan 9 contributor, etc. etc.

Recently he got a bit tired of the firefighting life. Workplace politics mostly, believe it or not. Also, an interesting contrast: in the tech world, you can advance as fast as you can learn things. Not so in the firefighting world, where it takes years to convince others of your skills and to lobby for a good position on an elite team.

So he jumped back into the startup world and he's doing great. What he doesn't have in recent social contacts he more than makes up for in fundamental skills.

So, just a data point - it is possible to leave technology behind for a little while without ill effects, especially if you have deeper skills. If you're only good at the latest web framework du jour it's probably more of a gamble.

Re: Ask HN: anyone ever drop everything and leave software dev behind?

#57

Post by rdouble » Fri, Jul 16, 2010, 5:47 PM UTC

exit wrote: post #48

rdouble wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you have trouble returning? No. Was it hard finding jobs, getting interviews? No. Did you have to take a pay cut when you returned? No.

what kind of programming did you do?

a bit of everything

Re: Ask HN: anyone ever drop everything and leave software dev behind?

#58

Post by dRother » Fri, Jul 16, 2010, 5:55 PM UTC

NO, I did the opposite. I had a successful, promising career dong something totally unrelated, and decided I'd had enough and it was time to do something new. Now I'm a software dev.

Re: Ask HN: anyone ever drop everything and leave software dev behind?

#59

Post by dRother » Fri, Jul 16, 2010, 5:57 PM UTC

anonymousDan wrote: post #55

Go back and do a PhD? +'s - When you finish, you should be pretty marketable Pick up a whole new set of research skills Support group shouldn't be a problem in a university environment Potential for coding if you want to. Someone with industry experience will tend to have a good idea of what will work in reality -'s You will take a hit money wise until you qualify You could perhaps look at doing a masters as an inter…

Are there attractive, single members of the opposite sex involved with this? If so, just let me know which colleges I should apply to.

Re: Ask HN: anyone ever drop everything and leave software dev behind?

#60

Post by exit » Fri, Jul 16, 2010, 5:57 PM UTC

rdouble wrote: post #57

exit wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

what kind of programming did you do?

a bit of everything

:\ really no focus? even something general like, "web development" (as opposed to "game development", "financial software").

i'm curious because i wonder what fields it's easy to find work in again after a year off.