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Ask HN: Those who left software development for a different technical field?

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Re: Ask HN: Those who left software development for a different technical field?

#31

Post by Nextgrid »

econcon wrote: post #25

I am a programmer but I prefer physical object business. During Corona self isolation, I started creating and selling filament: I documented the journey here: https://medium.com/endless-filament/make-your-filament-at-ho... The price of filament is still going up. Since selling filament I am working partime, mostly doing maintenance (updates/patches) existing application.

Is this viable in the long term? Why can’t the major plastic manufacturers push you out of business thanks economies of scale and lower prices?

Re: Ask HN: Those who left software development for a different technical field?

#33

Post by burntoutfire »

dvtrn wrote: post #21
rohi wrote: post #12

How about becoming a primary or a secondary school Math teacher?

I also want out of tech; I started 15 years ago as a help desk analyst, now I’m an Engineering Manager. The burn out is real, the golden handcuffs are real and I’m just tired of being in this kind of work, thoroughly sick at what I’m seeing in the tech industry from a career perspective, tired of standups, tired of sprint planning, tired of retros, scrum, “technical recruiters”, the resume skill rat race, interviews,…

Uhh my understanding is that, as a teacher, you're mostly policing a bunch of youngsters who are not happy to be in the classroom with you. If you get a couple of pupils who are into what you're teaching it's considered a blessing, otherwise it's squeezing water out of a stone.

Re: Ask HN: Those who left software development for a different technical field?

#34

Post by burntoutfire »

Gibbon1 wrote: post #7

I write firmware for micro-controllers and deal mostly with engineers, techs, other sane code monkeys, and an occasional customer. My occasional dealings with actual mainstream software developers is generally unpleasant. I would suggest firmware or some other job where software is part of the product not the product.

Looking at embedded job offers near me, plenty of them advertise using Scrum or some heavier waterfally processes. I suspect you'd be free of the bullshit only in a very small company, but that is true also for non-firmware development.

Re: Ask HN: Those who left software development for a different technical field?

#35

Post by fm2606 »

neuroticfish wrote: post #4

You and I are in the same boat, except I've grown to hate not only the culture, but programming too. I've not heard of former devs breaking into other technical fields, but I have heard of them getting into stuff like farming, construction, or trades (electrical, plumbing, etc.). I wish I hadn't spent my 20s dwelling in anxiety. I wish I had moved around, become a trail guide, or got into scuba diving, or even joined…

I left engineering at 36 and became a firefighter paramedic and I know quite a few people in their 40s who started. I just left the fire service after 14 years and now working as a programmer.

Age is just a number. Don't limit yourself.

Re: Ask HN: Those who left software development for a different technical field?

#36

Post by econcon »

Nextgrid wrote: post #31
econcon wrote: post #25

I am a programmer but I prefer physical object business. During Corona self isolation, I started creating and selling filament: I documented the journey here: https://medium.com/endless-filament/make-your-filament-at-ho... The price of filament is still going up. Since selling filament I am working partime, mostly doing maintenance (updates/patches) existing application.

Is this viable in the long term? Why can’t the major plastic manufacturers push you out of business thanks economies of scale and lower prices?

I never think about what will happen in future, tomorrow I might as well fall under the bus and die. Planning way ahead doesn't help me, I just jump into whatever I find interesting then ride the tide till it's no more.

You can also check on YouTube there is a Canadian I think? Company called ProtoPasta which also makes filament in small shop.

Filament market I think, isn't big enough for the large companies to dominate.

And other thing is logistics, I make locally I can offer cheaper rates to local buyers shipping locally.

Re: Ask HN: Those who left software development for a different technical field?

#37

Post by fireandforget »

I went from Software Engineer to Solutions Architect a few years back, and can't be more happy.

a) You are still coding somewhat, but just prototypes. It is fun to use the APIs your company builds and help customers with it b) You learn a ton about business. I would call this position more professional consultant, since in the right company, you learn about deals, how much a company pays for what and what value they get out of you

You finally work with people and not nerds who never grow up. You can touch code, but also learn soft skills and make connections. Personally, the money was equal if not better. You finally work on the profit center of a company and not the cost center. After I switched to Solutions Architect, I come here every now and then and be so happy not to do this fulltime anymore. I don't care what you build at the weekend anymore.

I am also more free after work. There is no special new tool I need to learn after the job to get a job in 3 years from now. The people skills I build with my wife, kid and friends are so much more valuable now. So socializing replaced hacking on a new project. Which also did good for my mental health.

Re: Ask HN: Those who left software development for a different technical field?

#38

Post by isbvhodnvemrwvn »

burntoutfire wrote: post #33
dvtrn wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I also want out of tech; I started 15 years ago as a help desk analyst, now I’m an Engineering Manager. The burn out is real, the golden handcuffs are real and I’m just tired of being in this kind of work, thoroughly sick at what I’m seeing in the tech industry from a career perspective, tired of standups, tired of sprint planning, tired of retros, scrum, “technical recruiters”, the resume skill rat race, interviews,…

Uhh my understanding is that, as a teacher, you're mostly policing a bunch of youngsters who are not happy to be in the classroom with you. If you get a couple of pupils who are into what you're teaching it's considered a blessing, otherwise it's squeezing water out of a stone.

Not to mention you can't just teach what you want, you have a program to follow. You will also be judged by various test results, so you can't focus on the few bright people in the class, you have to address the rather long tail of under-performers.

Re: Ask HN: Those who left software development for a different technical field?

#39

Post by larrykubin »

fireandforget wrote: post #37

I went from Software Engineer to Solutions Architect a few years back, and can't be more happy. a) You are still coding somewhat, but just prototypes. It is fun to use the APIs your company builds and help customers with it b) You learn a ton about business. I would call this position more professional consultant, since in the right company, you learn about deals, how much a company pays for what and what value they…

Did you switch within the same company? I have made attempts to apply to Solutions Engineer and Developer Advocate roles to match how my personality has changed over time, but have found that no one responds to my resume / applications, even when I have spent several years teaching, consulting, and building content and demos on the side to supplement my engineering experience and prove I can do the job. I immediately get responses and enthusiasm when I apply as Senior Software Engineer, but it seems people are skeptical of why I would want to change to Solutions Engineer or Developer Advocate when the title is not already on my resume.

Re: Ask HN: Those who left software development for a different technical field?

#40

Post by TomMarius »

isbvhodnvemrwvn wrote: post #38
burntoutfire wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Uhh my understanding is that, as a teacher, you're mostly policing a bunch of youngsters who are not happy to be in the classroom with you. If you get a couple of pupils who are into what you're teaching it's considered a blessing, otherwise it's squeezing water out of a stone.

Not to mention you can't just teach what you want, you have a program to follow. You will also be judged by various test results, so you can't focus on the few bright people in the class, you have to address the rather long tail of under-performers.

Not every teacher has a choice, but perhaps this one does. There are good schools.
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