91–100 of 112 posts
The traditional career progressions for software developers are management, entrepreneurship, and carpentry.
I feel seen. Jokes aside, carpentry is an amazing complementary hobby for software related work. There's something about drawing on a piece of paper and using your hands to make it a reality that scratches a lot of itches. Sadly, entrepreneurship doesn't leave much free time for carpentry.
I was in your position with web development and went back to uni to get a mechanical engineering degree. Started at 38 and graduated at 42. I’ve been working at it for 10 years now and specialise in designing data centres funnily enough. There’s much less ageism in “physical” engineering work which is positive but I also took a very large hit in seniority and compensation to switch. In hindsight, moving sideways into…
This was my plan too, until I realized I'd start at 40 and finish at like 45 or 46. Would any company/engineering firm hire a mid-life intern with no engineering experience?
I'm probably projecting here, but I wonder if you're having a bit of an existential crisis. I.e., "Why am I even doing this? It's ultimately not important." I don't really have any advice on the matter. I just thought it might be help you locate the kernel of your discontent.
They've got some money, but debts weigh them down, A ledger of losses in a life nearly drowned. They cherish their family, yet silence prevails, Words left unspoken, love hidden behind veils.
Their wives look away, where passion once burned, Cold beds and long nights where affection's adjourned. Their children reach out, but only for gold, A transaction of love that's grown bitter and old.
They enter the office with silence in tow, Leaving with burdens only they know. They rage at the world, but keep it inside, A secret despair, in shadows they hide.
Life is a balance of wants and regret, A dance in the dark, with a past they forget. They carry on, in the weight of their plight, Hoping for dawn in an endless night.
Split the difference and try a new stack/specialty.
I remember being burnt out and tired of all the shit and I decided to try a new stack/language and development got fun again. Then, I was able to get to company that also treated folks better. It didn't happen over night, but it really made me happier and in the long run I ended up making a lot more money.
If you can hang on for a while longer, try transitioning to a backend stack, to data engineering, to data science, to something else. Maybe even just doing full stack with a different framework at a better company.
I was in your position with web development and went back to uni to get a mechanical engineering degree. Started at 38 and graduated at 42. I’ve been working at it for 10 years now and specialise in designing data centres funnily enough. There’s much less ageism in “physical” engineering work which is positive but I also took a very large hit in seniority and compensation to switch. In hindsight, moving sideways into…
This was my plan too, until I realized I'd start at 40 and finish at like 45 or 46. Would any company/engineering firm hire a mid-life intern with no engineering experience?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
This was my plan too, until I realized I'd start at 40 and finish at like 45 or 46. Would any company/engineering firm hire a mid-life intern with no engineering experience?
Not just that but, if you need to finance that degree, you need to also consider how long you're going to be paying it off.
I'm sure you are capable of switching careers and skillsets more successfully than I was, but for me, metaphorically speaking, after peering over the hedge, I came to be content with the color of the grass on my own side.