Ask HN: Why did you leave the tech industry?

#1

Post by PirxThePilot » Wed, Apr 15, 2020, 10:33 AM UTC

What's your story? What do you do now? Any regrets? And how come you still follow HN?

Re: Ask HN: Why did you leave the tech industry?

#2

Post by 6nf » Wed, Apr 15, 2020, 11:57 AM UTC

I turned 40, so they took me out the back and shot me. As is tradition.

Re: Ask HN: Why did you leave the tech industry?

#3

Post by Holmes » Wed, Apr 15, 2020, 12:14 PM UTC

Mainly the grammar.

Re: Ask HN: Why did you leave the tech industry?

#4

Post by alexilliamson » Wed, Apr 15, 2020, 12:18 PM UTC

Didn't leave I just went out for cigarettes.

Re: Ask HN: Why did you leave the tech industry?

#5

Post by smoyer » Wed, Apr 15, 2020, 12:24 PM UTC

6nf wrote: post #2

I turned 40, so they took me out the back and shot me. As is tradition.

I'm 55 but so far they haven't noticed! I guess HR can be as disfunctional with mandatory executions as they are when they present us with coding puzzles during the hiring process.

Re: Ask HN: Why did you leave the tech industry?

#6

Post by reuben_scratton » Wed, Apr 15, 2020, 12:30 PM UTC

Not actually left yet, but at age 48 I certainly want to. The trouble is it's all I'm good at...

Re: Ask HN: Why did you leave the tech industry?

#7

Post by _davebennett » Wed, Apr 15, 2020, 12:31 PM UTC

I haven't left, but I'm thinking about it (despite still being early in my career lol). For me, it's the frustration of "nothing really matters." I value helping people, and building software actual people will use is one of the ways of doing that. Unfortunately, I have not had that opportunity. I've had to work on multiple projects that served no real purpose. It's extremely annoying.

Re: Ask HN: Why did you leave the tech industry?

#8

Post by mehta_rohan » Wed, Apr 15, 2020, 12:31 PM UTC

Are you planning to leave and looking for some suggestions?

Re: Ask HN: Why did you leave the tech industry?

#9

Post by freppa » Wed, Apr 15, 2020, 12:36 PM UTC

_davebennett wrote: post #7

I haven't left, but I'm thinking about it (despite still being early in my career lol). For me, it's the frustration of "nothing really matters." I value helping people, and building software actual people will use is one of the ways of doing that. Unfortunately, I have not had that opportunity. I've had to work on multiple projects that served no real purpose. It's extremely annoying.

This!

I feel exactly the same. I’ve had a great career within web development and UX design, in pretty significant ways, but it’s still not fulfilling and I’ve lost purpose in it.

I’ve turned my UX interest towards city planning, and I focus more on nature, farming, exercising. Whatever energy I have left I spend on a few startups.

Also, I’ve gone through all the medical and psychological steps to be a helicopter pilot (old dream) and I’m applying to schools at this very moment.

Looking to make the switch more permanent soon, I still have a day job as frontend developer.

Purpose and intention is all.

Re: Ask HN: Why did you leave the tech industry?

#10

Post by snuusnuu » Wed, Apr 15, 2020, 12:40 PM UTC

I haven't left but I'm trying to figure out something else to do with my life.

I've been doing customer projects for the last 8 years and it has been horrible experience. 99% of the things you're building are the same thing all over again (CRUD apps and various integrations) and pretty much 100% of the problems are caused by people acting stupid in different ways. It all just feels so pointless.

I wish I could come up with something else, but currently this is all I know. At least it all pays well. So golden handcuffs of sort I guess.