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Ask HN: Has anyone started over outside of tech?

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Re: Ask HN: Has anyone started over outside of tech?

#61

Post by theden »

As someone who's tried/trying, here are some thoughts from my experience (DevOps -> Jazz Musician)

- The general pay and flexibility of a tech job is too good, it's easy to forget how privileged it is to be in a position holding a tech job. A lot of people out there are struggling, the fact that we can imagine starting over (and maybe have the time and means to do so as an option) says it all

- It's hard to escape the curse of tech. Even when I stopped working in tech, I have to use a computer and the internet everyday...and old habits come back, enticing opportunities arise, savings are disappearing...

- Money is not everything, but a day's tech work of pay equaling a week's worth of gigs or teaching really makes it easy to say no, especially when you live in a expensive city with expensive rent. For two years I working harder trying to doing both at full throttle and it drained me. I think with the current capitalistic system, by design it's really hard for people to pursuit multiple professions without a large sacrifice, e.g., for the majority of jobs you need to work full-time to make ends meet, not leaving one much focus time for other pursuits

- I felt guilt that I was "wasting" my tech skills, given tech industry really helped in my upward mobility. I don't have lifestyle creep (I'm okay with descaling), but not being able to save money for situations where I could help my parents and whatnot in the future definitely made me feel at unease

- I did learn that I was pushing myself and it's much better to only work a few days a week, or take a few months off a year (if you're contracting). Prior I would never take a day off and wouldn't think twice about it, now I get more FOMO about all the things in life I do outside of tech

- Success in some fields outside of tech is different, and in some cases arbitrary. Say in the arts, the competitive culture is very much there, and there isn't a shortage, but weirdly I didn't care and do my own thing (even just making ends meet is often considered success)

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone started over outside of tech?

#62

Post by arsome »

droctothorpe wrote: post #15

I tech fast for 25 hours a week. No computer, no cell phone, no television, etc. It's amazing how much this sustains my motivation and enthusiasm. You can "switch" right now, at least 1/7th of the time. Not exactly what you're asking for but immediately actionable.

Is that a straight period of a day or so or do you do 3.5 hrs/day? How does this work?

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone started over outside of tech?

#63

Post by csmeyer »

walledstance wrote: post #24

Teaching. I moved from a big tech company to teaching. Teaching is the hardest job I’ve ever done, and requires entire new skills. Teacher pay, depending on where you are, can be real low compared to FAANG money, but damn do I sleep well at night knowing that I help people. There is nothing like watching someone struggle and then suddenly understanding the subject. But seriously, it is a hard job. You learn quickly t…

Also moved in to teaching high school CS. It's hard but the kids are great. I've found that it's a lot less about doing a great job explaining loops or whatever and more about mentorship and getting kids excited about the topic. If anyone's interested in making the switch my email is in my bio, I'd be happy to chat.

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone started over outside of tech?

#64

Post by keyle »

SamWhited wrote: post #49

Every job I ever had in tech was basically terrible and I was never diagnosed, but I suspect was clinically depressed for the 13 years or so I was in tech. I did not have the savings to do it, but I eventually quit and became a bicycle mechanic. I actually enjoy what I do now, and the work environment doesn't have me constantly jumping back and forth between panic, undirected rage, and extreme listlessness like tech…

Oh I just read your comment and I want to tell you that I read it. I wish you better luck around the corner. I know tech depression, I wish you all the best going forward.

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone started over outside of tech?

#65

Post by throwaway6734 »

halfmatthalfcat wrote: post #30
walledstance wrote: post #24

Teaching. I moved from a big tech company to teaching. Teaching is the hardest job I’ve ever done, and requires entire new skills. Teacher pay, depending on where you are, can be real low compared to FAANG money, but damn do I sleep well at night knowing that I help people. There is nothing like watching someone struggle and then suddenly understanding the subject. But seriously, it is a hard job. You learn quickly t…

I really want to move into teaching. I learned to love programming in HS AP CS and am really considering making the move. I would love to hear more about your experience switching.

Take a day off of work and substitute teacher.

Depending on the district you end up in, it's not for the feint of heart.

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone started over outside of tech?

#66

Post by artagnon »

I used to work as a compiler engineer in the US for several years, before deciding to try starting over at the age of 30, in pure mathematics. I moved from the US to Paris in pursuit of an affordable mathematics education, and spent two years in a Masters program. I did have a considerable amount of savings, but it was very risky nevertheless: if it didn't work out, I'd be out-of-touch with compilers, and it would be hard to interview again, with a considerable career gap in my résumé.

For various reasons, mathematics didn't work out, and I was forced to interview again. Fortunately, I did manage to find a job as a compiler engineer again, and will be moving to London soon.

Now, the price of my adventure was quite steep. I uprooted my life when I moved from the US to Paris (especially because I didn't know French at the time), and the upcoming move to London will once again be difficult. I nearly halved my savings, by studying mathematics at my own expense, and will be back to earning the equivalent of my starting salary in the US.

However, I'm an adventurous person, and view my experience in positive light. I'd been wanting to study Jacob Lurie's books for the longest time, and I finally did it. I worked on a mathematical manuscript, which is now up on arXiv [1], and on a type theory project which has been submitted to LICS '23 [2]. I've had a good life in Paris, and my French is decent.

There's the larger philosophical question of "What is a life well-lived?", and for me, the answer is to pursue those things that you're truly passionate about, even if it doesn't work out.

[1]: https://arxiv.org/abs/2211.09652

[2]: https://artagnon.com/logic/νType.pdf

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone started over outside of tech?

#68

Post by CitizenKane »

Didn’t quit my tech job but I’m a (very very low level) pro Muay Thai fighter on the side. Honestly tech has quite a few benefits in terms of work though I think on its own it can seriously induce burnout.

Personally I think that having any kind of balance is a good idea. Even if engaged in another field I can imagine I’d have something to complement whatever it was.

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone started over outside of tech?

#69

Post by [deleted] »

mxuribe wrote: post #40
mcnugget wrote: post #19

You could join the resource industry, there's a labor shortage and there's all sort of vocational training. Some jobs require minimal training others more but you can be up and running in as little as 3 months for something relatively skilled. It's a refreshing feeling to have a job where the deliverables are very specific and day to day like you need to move this crap from here to there and that's it, no thinking ab…

> ...join the resource industry... Would you kindly provide some examples? Would this be jobs like welding? I just never heard this term.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone started over outside of tech?

#70

Post by Pigalowda »

causi wrote: post #9
endymi0n wrote: post #2

If you want a cautionary tale, here it is: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3134322 The coffeeshop fallacy (2011) It‘s easy to get blinded by how incredibly privileged the tech bubble is and have had a better experience so far just trying to find a great non-toxic spot in there. YMMV, good luck!

Especially if you've done it your whole professional life. The type of people who see a major tech company charging for lunches in the company cafeteria and then write articles about them trying to starve their employees would curl up and die the first time a customer screamed at them because their pizza had black olives on 60% of it instead of half.

You guys don’t have to pay for your lunches? That’s pretty cool
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