Travel Writer / Photographer. Currently driving around Africa for 2 years. Leaving my desk was the best decision I have ever made.
how do support yourself? money from previous job or do you have some passive income?
Ask HN: What job did you leave IT for?
51–60 of 111 posts
Re: Ask HN: What job did you leave IT for?
#52> little to no concentration and a very low level of comprehension This might sound like a flippant response but it's not: could you move into management? You don't need to know the finer details, but you'd have the experience required to empathise with the developers in your team.
As Elon Musk put it, ~"Managers receive the greatest distillation of all the problems. They have the worst job"
They are the ones expected to solve the hardest problems. If someone can't figure it out, it gets pushed up the chain.
Re: Ask HN: What job did you leave IT for?
#53farmer
Re: Ask HN: What job did you leave IT for?
#54> little to no concentration and a very low level of comprehension This might sound like a flippant response but it's not: could you move into management? You don't need to know the finer details, but you'd have the experience required to empathise with the developers in your team.
I think this may backfire even more. Sure there are stories about how one can get by as a manager without knowing much or doing much, but that's rare. As a manager you have to answer to your boss and make sure team delivery is met. You will need to do budget and stay current with what's happening at work, so that you don't become clueless in meetings. This can be stressful at work since politics is inevitable.
I didn't really mean, "not doing much", but more like being the type of manager that lets the team get on with the work by removing as much of the day to day business nonsense as possible.
Re: Ask HN: What job did you leave IT for?
#55Honestly, depending on your age you should think about applying for permanent disability (ssdi).
That sounds a little more realistic than a jump to management or skilled trades for someone with the difficulties the OP describes.
Re: Ask HN: What job did you leave IT for?
#56> little to no concentration and a very low level of comprehension This might sound like a flippant response but it's not: could you move into management? You don't need to know the finer details, but you'd have the experience required to empathise with the developers in your team.
As Elon Musk put it, ~"Managers receive the greatest distillation of all the problems. They have the worst job" They are the ones expected to solve the hardest problems. If someone can't figure it out, it gets pushed up the chain.
Managers generally solve no problems. Not engineering ones anyway. They are responsible only for applying the proper resources to get problems solved.
Re: Ask HN: What job did you leave IT for?
#57> little to no concentration and a very low level of comprehension This might sound like a flippant response but it's not: could you move into management? You don't need to know the finer details, but you'd have the experience required to empathise with the developers in your team.
Disclosure: Am manager.
Bad idea. Managers need to know a different set of finer details, not none at all. While individuals on a team have to get deep into the details of what they're doing, managers need to work at the edges - where what Team X is doing integrates with V, Y and Z; and longer term, how what all of those teams are doing now fits in with the work lined up 6-24 months down the road. That's a full time job, even before we've actually done any managing of our individuals. Maybe this gives you some insight, but that's actually why (in my opinion) the first things to fall off with poor managers are 1x1s, meaningful coaching, etc.
Managers also have the stresses of accountability and expectations. There are days where I wish I was still an individual contributor.
Re: Ask HN: What job did you leave IT for?
#58I would open a bar on beach or become a surf instructor. Or write novels or something. Becoming an artist is also a good idea.
How is someone with "little to no concentration and a very low level of comprehension" supposed to write a novel?
Re: Ask HN: What job did you leave IT for?
#59What illness does this?
Speaking from personal experience, something as simple as a concussion can create such symptoms. For that reason, I find it very easy to believe any illness which could impact your brain physically (such as with fevers or inflammation) could have strong negative impacts on your mental capabilities.
Re: Ask HN: What job did you leave IT for?
#60Writing and directing movies