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Ask HN: Non-tech professionals on HN?

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81–90 of 223 posts

Re: Ask HN: Non-tech professionals on HN?

#81
Mechanical enigneer in transport & logistics. I like keeping abreast of the tech industry and I'm a nerd at heart with an interest in a lot of things posted here. I get more out of it from interest's sake than from a career perspective. I think like several others here that had I pursued this hobby as my career, I'd enjoy it a lot less and probably wouldn't even post here.

That said, occasionally there's some nice cross-over content that gets me thinking, generally in the deeper soft-skills such as the contrast between the consequences of systems and process management in tech vs my industry. One particular example for me is the criticisms of perceived bureaucracy and red tape in tech (particularly in start-ups), and the idea that it is the scar tissue of former corporate mistakes. That example is interesting for me because the criticisms often levelled from the tech scene are frequently benefits in my industry - slowing down and forcing multiple checkpoints hinders iterative process, but it's really important when making a mistake results in a multi-fatality and the cost of rectification is going out and modifying thousands of assets rather than pushing a new code update.

I think there's value in general in taking off the blinkers and looking over the fence at other industries. It's a healthy way to ensure the groupthink isn't being too blinding.

Re: Ask HN: Non-tech professionals on HN?

#83

Currently unemployed. I was studying python which somehow lead me to here. Normally I surf Reddit but I find hacker news to be less toxic in the comments.

"Stay for the empathy" which really is "how does that make you feel" versus "intellectual curiosity". Little surprise.

Re: Ask HN: Non-tech professionals on HN?

#89
post #77

Student in civil engineering. It's been several years now and still no end in sight. My decision on this profession wasn't very well thought out because I wasn't able to back then. Right now I'm in the position of a gambler who invested a lot and can't really jump of the train. I want to learn coding, but haven't been able to start for quite some time now. But I have interests in tech stuff and that's why it's intere…

If it's an undergraduate degree just get it done, you can do all kinds of things with a civil engineering undergraduate degree. It seems you might imply you picked your major when you were young and had no idea what you actually wanted. The same thing happened to me, and from the UG student perspective it seems like your degree type will define you, but reality is with something as broad as civil it won't. You could…

It is an undergraduate degree (bachelors). I appreciate the reply, but "just get it done" is easier said than done for me - but you couldn't know:) I do what is possible for me. Sooner than later things get sorted out by themselves when I either make it or they kick me out. I don't know what's next then either way.

But you're definitely right, civil eng is quite broad and I have done jobs within it that I was good at and where I had fun. Bachelors thesis will be something about printing concrete.

Re: Ask HN: Non-tech professionals on HN?

#90
post #72

Underground mining engineer, working in the Canadian far north. I've always been a computer geek, even did some internships as a developer, but I realized needed a career that would pull me out of screens. Still a hobby programmer and love tech. The tech industry has a dynamism and pace that contrasts even modern mining sharply. I'm not sure when I stumbled upon HN but I was hooked immediately. Also helps that HN is…

Wow that’s awesome. Is there any blog which you have where I can learn more about your work and experiences

Hey thanks that was nice to hear. I don't have a blog myself if that's what you're asking (but do check out my latest project on YouTube "LED Dreamcoat").

If you mean about mining in general, any blogs or information sources for mining engineering information online tend to be exclusively commercial in nature. I wish it were otherwise but I feel it's a symptom of the amount of practitioners being relatively small compared with other professions. I have been thinking about creating a forum or Wiki lately, could be a fun project.

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