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Ask HN: Realization that i am not a "Programmer"...

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Re: Ask HN: Realization that i am not a "Programmer"...

#11
post #5

My advice: don't write off a potential career based on a few month's experience. It took me several years to decide that I enjoyed software development as a profession, and that I enjoyed it enough to develop an aptitude for it. Also, consider that it may be the environment - product, technology, team, company, existing code - that is putting you off. Even if you decide against what you're doing I'd limit the conclus…

true, i guess i enjoy explaining things to people and thought maybe I ended up in development because I'm an introvert..

You might consider product management or product marketing. Both require high technical aptitude, but then you specialize around what the hard core programming folks aren't doing. Product managers spend a lot of time on competitive research/analysis, requirements generation/ aggregation/ prioritization, etc, and help validate (or not) potential market fit. Product marketing as well is invaluable to help translate the 'magic' programmers create and the technical/strategic 'vision' into the words and programs that get people or companies to use the product - make it compelling in the language of the target market. And sometimes you do both as the 'product' guy (you get one or the other title above, but ultimately do both).

Re: Ask HN: Realization that i am not a "Programmer"...

#12
It sounds like you didn't study CS or another technical field in school or you would have known you weren't a math/logic person already. I'm curious, what got you into programming (other than that there are a lot of job openings right now)?

Regardless, it's pretty common for your first job in any field to be less than ideal, so I wouldn't write off programming just yet. On the other hand, if your company is large enough to offer opportunities to work in other areas, you might dip your toe in and find something you like better without having to look for another job. Desire for change happens to everyone after a while, even if we enjoy what we do.

Re: Ask HN: Realization that i am not a "Programmer"...

#13
Whatever you do, go deep. Be an expert in something. Learn a trade. Don't be "the idea guy." Can your ideas can be prefaced with "this detailed plan would definitely be very profitable"? If yes then...work the plan. Otherwise you might want to consider sales, consulting or meta tech stuff like documentation. Strike commentary off your list: the web is awash with tech bloggers. (Just my two cents)

Re: Ask HN: Realization that i am not a "Programmer"...

#14
You may find you like product management. You have to remain reasonably technical, but the focus is on human problems (customer needs, business problems, getting the office behind a release, etc).

I still like coding, but I've found being a PM far more satisfying in my day job.

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