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Ask HN: If you were to switch career, what would you do?

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Re: Ask HN: If you were to switch career, what would you do?

#21

Post by toomuchtodo »

JohnFen wrote: post #12

Years ago, the best software engineer I've ever known took a break from programming and became a long-haul truck driver. He found it a fantastic experience. He claimed that there is more overlap between the skills needed between the two than you'd think (and that he met a surprising number of other truckers who used to be software engineers). If I decided to change careers, I'd seriously investigate that.

It's surprisingly easy too, only 2-3 weeks behind the wheel to get your CDL. I highly recommend the hazmat endorsement (if you can pass the background check) to get the salary bump that goes along with hauling those loads.

Re: Ask HN: If you were to switch career, what would you do?

#22

Post by bythckr »

JohnFen wrote: post #12

Years ago, the best software engineer I've ever known took a break from programming and became a long-haul truck driver. He found it a fantastic experience. He claimed that there is more overlap between the skills needed between the two than you'd think (and that he met a surprising number of other truckers who used to be software engineers). If I decided to change careers, I'd seriously investigate that.

For some crazy reason, I am seriously considering long-haul trucking and I am wondering how did I reach here. I actually opened this post hoping to find someone mention long-haul trucking and your comment just was at the top. Weird.

Re: Ask HN: If you were to switch career, what would you do?

#24

Post by jimmyvalmer »

JohnFen wrote: post #12

Years ago, the best software engineer I've ever known took a break from programming and became a long-haul truck driver. He found it a fantastic experience. He claimed that there is more overlap between the skills needed between the two than you'd think (and that he met a surprising number of other truckers who used to be software engineers). If I decided to change careers, I'd seriously investigate that.

This sounds like a blatant "grass is greener" mirage. Guys drive trucks because it's all they can do to support themselves, not for any other reason. When I fall asleep at my terminal, I get fired. When I fall asleep at the wheel, I die.

Re: Ask HN: If you were to switch career, what would you do?

#25

Post by quickthrower2 »

I’ve though about being a tradie. Doing some home improvements has been fun and I can stay focused more easily than on screen work.

Also considering doing some freelance work which although still coding will involve some sales/contract negotiation type stuff and the chance to charge more (I’ll keep my job so it’s easy to say no to low ballers!)

You North American coders would say 150/h is meh for freelance work but if I could get that in my spare time it’d be pretty cool.

Re: Ask HN: If you were to switch career, what would you do?

#27

Post by wcchandler »

I’m currently a sys admin/sys engineer.

I’d become a farmer.

I love growing plants. I love being outside. I love being away from electronics. It’s perfect for me. If only it paid more... (but I’m working on that, in 2-3 years I hope to be able to make the transition to full-time farmer)

Re: Ask HN: If you were to switch career, what would you do?

#29

Post by Blakestr »

943_924 wrote: post #14
Blakestr wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I spent four years in college for English literature. You can do that or you can just read the book 'Self-editing for Fiction Writers' and do the same thing in a tenth of the time. The other thing you could do is to join a writers workshop, in person is always good but there's no reason why you couldn't join some remote thing. The caveat is that however big the workshop is you need to read everyone else's work and co…

What material do you recommend that is on the subject of writing compelling fiction?

Generally you need to understand the concept of showing vs. telling which is described in the very first chapter of that book.

The other thing you just need to do is read the masters. Hemingway, Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Try to find an example of some compelling fiction for yourself, something that moves you. then try to find some cliff notes or a summary regarding that's story's plot. The information is there, but the emotional reaction, the thing that moves you is missing from the summary.

There is a story called "Litost" by Milan Kindera, that in my opinion does a very good job of explaining this without breaking the mood of the story through boring exposition. At its heart the story is simply about a youth in an affair with an older woman and unrequited love. But real compelling fiction is not just the story.

It comes from a word without English equivalent. Litost is a state of torment created by the sudden sight of one’s own misery”

Try to find a copy of the story and read it. I looked for a link but couldn't find anything. Try to avoid reading literary criticism initially.

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