Ask HN: What's a good low profile job where I can hack at the same time?

#1

Post by streo » Sat, Jan 17, 2009, 7:43 PM UTC

I'm about to get laid off from a very nice job, but I have a couple of projects I'd like to focus on. Does anybody know of ANY job where I can sit at my desk and more or less hack away at what I really want to work on?

Jobs I've been looking at:

house sitting

night shift security

library desk

etc.

Re: Ask HN: What's a good low profile job where I can hack at the same time?

#2

Post by jws » Sat, Jan 17, 2009, 7:56 PM UTC

Interruptions = Bugs

I wonder if you might be more productive by changing your habits. Get up and hack for two hours before going to a job that does not require creativity, then perhaps hack a bit more in the evening as life permits. The advantage here is that you will have plenty of thinking time between execution periods and it will support the quality of your work.

I know an author that does just this, his problem though is that he is too conscientious and competent and keeps getting promoted to positions that require too much creativity. At that point he has to change jobs.

Re: Ask HN: What's a good low profile job where I can hack at the same time?

#3

Post by pg » Sat, Jan 17, 2009, 8:01 PM UTC

Trevor has always said that his dream job was to be a projectionist in a movie theater.

Re: Ask HN: What's a good low profile job where I can hack at the same time?

#4

Post by wicknicks » Sat, Jan 17, 2009, 8:02 PM UTC

I used to work in a video store. Not many people used to turn up, so had a lot of time to myself. You might want to just jump into the store next door. Would be a good bet.

Re: Ask HN: What's a good low profile job where I can hack at the same time?

#5

Post by tptacek » Sat, Jan 17, 2009, 8:05 PM UTC

pg wrote: post #3

Trevor has always said that his dream job was to be a projectionist in a movie theater.

Probably not anymore. They've been squeezed by technology, but more importantly they've been forced to go mobile as a cost-cutting measure by chains, which want fewer staff serving more locations. It might be a really crappy job now.

Re: Ask HN: What's a good low profile job where I can hack at the same time?

#6

Post by enomar » Sat, Jan 17, 2009, 8:11 PM UTC

In college, I worked 2nd and 3rd shift doing tier 2 tech support at an ISP. I spent most of my time doing my CS homework. The guys working 1st shift didn't have that luxury.

Not sure you'd find the same thing...just another data point.

Re: Ask HN: What's a good low profile job where I can hack at the same time?

#7

Post by zackola » Sat, Jan 17, 2009, 8:16 PM UTC

Librarian +1

Re: Ask HN: What's a good low profile job where I can hack at the same time?

#8

Post by brl » Sat, Jan 17, 2009, 8:27 PM UTC

Night security at some office building sounds like a dream job to me. I would do it for free and maybe I would even pay to do it since I would get more (computer) work done there than working out of my apartment.

Re: Ask HN: What's a good low profile job where I can hack at the same time?

#9

Post by carbon8 » Sat, Jan 17, 2009, 8:31 PM UTC

zackola wrote: post #7

Librarian +1

Maybe in a small town public library, but you will be dealing with kids all the time. Otherwise, you won't have time. I spent years working in academic libraries and you are always expected to be doing something. If you aren't working a desk job, then it's basically like any other office job. Even if you have some boring desk job you'll be expected to be filing or labeling something or working on some part of a project assigned to you. Plus, you'll be constantly interrupted. Remember, librarians take their jobs excessively seriously and expect all library staff to do the same.

Also, the title "Librarian" requires an MLS.

Re: Ask HN: What's a good low profile job where I can hack at the same time?

#10

Post by hotpockets » Sat, Jan 17, 2009, 8:35 PM UTC

I've sometimes thought about how I could get paid 2x, 3x, or more. As a graduate student RA it wouldn't be that hard to get 2x. Just do my computer research at a nightshift security job. But how about: RA+security+baby sitting+baking in my portable easy bake oven!