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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?

#121

Post by MrBuddyCasino »

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…

my brother did something similar - quit tech because he was burned out, went to the next best bicycle shop and asked if they'd like to hire him, now he owns the place and has ~80 employees

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

#122

Post by siva7 »

dogtorwoof wrote: post #83
boosting6889 wrote: post #7

I would actually like to be a doctor but it’s not really feasible starting down that route in my 30s

What’s interesting to read about this is I’m a doctor who wants to transition to tech.

Send me a mail if you want to discuss

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

#123

Post by toyg »

bshipp wrote: post #90
artagnon wrote: post #66

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…

I like this response very much. I'm in my mid-40s now and worked in many different sectors and positions before ending up in my current career. Even negative experiences, such as washing out as an air traffic controller after 2 years, have been beneficial in my current position. First, they provide some humility and empathy toward people who are struggling and, secondly, they give me alternative lenses toward viewing…

> First, they provide some humility and empathy toward people who are struggling and, secondly, they give me alternative lenses toward viewing problems

... and third, they give me a kick in the backside when I feel whiny and complacent. "Oh, so you're pissed because your bonus was 2k instead of 2.5k? Well, if you were still washing dishes like back then, there would be no bonus at all..."

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

#124

Post by freetime2 »

pelagicAustral wrote: post #14

No, but I increasingly feel like becoming a farmer or just work picking fruit or something like that. I would like something different... maybe tourism, wine production... literally just anything but computers and especially code.

After so many years behind a desk, working outside sounds fantastic. But it depends very much on the nature of the work. Physical labor in hot weather does not sound nice to me.

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

#126

Post by efficax »

boosting6889 wrote: post #7

I would actually like to be a doctor but it’s not really feasible starting down that route in my 30s

i almost went to med school until i found out about the grueling 24 hour residency shifts. absolutely pointless torture that hurts patients and doctors alike. makes being on call for prod look easy

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

#127

Post by bilsbie »

MrBuddyCasino wrote: post #116
artagnon wrote: post #66

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…

I'm not sure I follow. Me, an interviewer: "so you know compilers, great start on monday" Also me: "so you know compilers and have studied math on top, sorry son thats a no from me"

Tech interviews expect esoteric minutia to be on the top of your mind and easily recallable. You also must be able to talk about past projects in great detail as if you worked on them yesterday.

If you take more than a few months off interviews become insanely hard.

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

#128

Post by barefeg »

bshipp wrote: post #90
artagnon wrote: post #66

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…

I like this response very much. I'm in my mid-40s now and worked in many different sectors and positions before ending up in my current career. Even negative experiences, such as washing out as an air traffic controller after 2 years, have been beneficial in my current position. First, they provide some humility and empathy toward people who are struggling and, secondly, they give me alternative lenses toward viewing…

Sounds like an interesting path you’ve taken. Do you have any memoirs or blog post about it?

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

#129

Post by Agoreddah »

My girlfriend had a small coffeeshop. As time passed I found a passion to help her out with wares, logistics and even ideas. We bought small coffee roaster and started our own small local coffee brand recently. I feel a great motivation about it, but still stayed as an part time tech advisor for 2 startups/friends.

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

#130

Post by User23 »

mabbo wrote: post #47

The greatest such story I've ever read is this one from a GitHub issue comment: https://github.com/docker/cli/issues/267#issuecomment-695149... > Sorry I missed your comment of many months ago. I no longer build software; I now make furniture out of wood. The hours are long, the pay sucks, and there's always the opportunity to remove my finger with a table saw, but nobody asks me if I can add an RSS feed to a DBMS, s…

> the opportunity to remove my finger with a table saw

This is a solved problem. SawStop will reduce the injury from amputation to somewhere between laceration and a pinch.

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