Where to Go After a Lifetime in IT? 902
Pikoro asks: "I have been working in the IT field for the past 20 years or so, and after getting hired by the largest financial company in the world, I thought I might have finally found a place to retire from. However, after working here for almost a year, I find myself, not exactly burnt out, but longing for a complete career field change. It's not that doing IT related tasks aren't fun anymore, but they have become more 'work' than 'play' over the last few years. Since all of my experience has been IT related, I'm not sure where I could go from here. What would you consider doing for a living, after being in a single field for so long?"
Cars oddly enough (Score:5, Interesting)
The nice part is it's a useful skill in every day life, and if nothing else you might know when someone is going to rip you off at the local auto shop.
You may actually want to stick with it (Score:5, Interesting)
Bike messenger (Score:5, Interesting)
I read this story on kuro5hin about someone on IT who went on to become a bike messenger. I'm not sure it would fit you, but it is a physical job and it is clearly not stressful. I am not sure how much someone like you earns, but I guess you probably have a lot of savings, so you could try anything you like. Other lame possibilities include "writing" a book, becoming a critic for some obscure thing that you always loved (say, a cheese specialist). For what it's worth, I like cooking, but I've heard it's stressful.
If you're looking for a complete change, try a physical job (not necessarily manual labor as in "construction worker"), one that requires you to use your body.
P.Your interests. (Score:2, Interesting)
Bingo. (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Jeoparody (Score:2, Interesting)
Find a startup (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Jeoparody (Score:5, Interesting)
100k is plenty of money if you know how to spend it.
Outside the Box (Score:2, Interesting)
I guess my point is, there's no reason to trade one run-of-the-mill 9-5 for another one. If you're really serious about a change of scenery, go sit on a hilltop for a day or two and decide what you'd do if the sky was the limit. And then spend the rest of your life getting there. Idealistic? Sure. But the journey's half the fun.
Re:Me? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Cars oddly enough (Score:5, Interesting)
Car Racing. (Score:2, Interesting)
Recently I bought myself a nice "used" car with a decently powerful V8 engine and started down the path to racing. (yes there is HUGE politics in the pro leagues). I feel that it's a huge shift in career, but it's similar. Car's need all sorts of knowledge to run, tune, adjust, and time. You also need split second reflexes that have undoubtedly been aquired in the years of gaming.
I also thought of getting into psychology, but I realize i've already dealt with enough crazy people in the IT field (me included in that number).
Essentailly, that "after IT" career change, it's all about what YOU personally want. I'm just sharing with you what i want to do with my life post IT escape.
Re:Consultant? (Score:5, Interesting)
What to do next is a huge question for me. I make > $100k/year, and have no college education. Unfortunately, I have become accustomed to the lifestyle that I lead, and my bills won't go away just because I take a job that pays less. While consulting was a quick 'fix', I find that no matter where I go, it's the same over and over again. *shrug* Just my
Re:Work is not fun (Score:2, Interesting)
Oh I don't know.
I go to work each day, play around on the computers, and they pay me for it.
Which is why I still do this after 25 years.
Sell it all (Score:2, Interesting)
Trust me, you won't be bored.
Re:Mgmt, of course (Score:2, Interesting)
After a couple of years, I found myself no happier. Management is doing all the unfun portions of IT w/o any of the really interesting parts.
I went back to being a developer. The work was more interesting, but I still has many of the same issues about my employers.
I've looked at a number of other pursuits - really never found anything I enjoyed more, and frankly, if it's not going to be a better experience, and isn't going to pay as much, why do it?
I've since gone on to consulting, so I don't have to deal with some of the internal nonsense from my employers and it leaves me free to pick and choose my projects.
It's not a perfect solution, but honestly I don't think there is a perfect solution. Management surely wasn't.
The whole idea of enjoying your profession is a luxury if you think about it. Most of the world simply does what it needs to do to survive. So if you enjoy IT and can find an employer that doesn't drive you batty - you're ahead of the game.
Good luck.
Re:Jeoparody (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Jeoparody (Score:3, Interesting)
On the other hand, if you make $100k in NY and save 15% you'll have $225k after 15 years, or about 80% of a really nice house in a ritzy Manhattan (Kansas) suburb.
MBA? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Teach (Score:2, Interesting)
http://spotlight.encarta.msn.com/Features/encnet_
For me, it was architecture (Score:2, Interesting)
I'm enjoying the complexity of the field and the fact that solutions, once enacted, won't be superseded every two years. There's a permanence to it that's a complete about face from IT.
Even a small building involves thousands of decisions that all effect each other. It's not for everybody, I suppose, but I think it's the ultimate career for a dyed-in-the-wool problem solver.
Electrician or librarian (Score:3, Interesting)
Also, electricians are paid well. There's a lot of apprenticeship required, but as it's a hands-on kind of job it likely has much higher satisfaction than IT. It also pays well. You could pick up some other handyman skills and work at home improvement, or even get on Monster House at the Discovery Channel. Who knows!
But seriously, those are two I like. It doesn't mean you will. If what you're asking is if your years in IT pre-dispose you to a different field, I'd say it depends on what part of IT you were in and what you were doing.
Re:Jeoparody (Score:5, Interesting)
Not long ago, before I decided to be all civic minded and work for the government, I was making $70K managing a 4 person programming shop.
$100K/year is not that hard to find either. So, basically, you don't know what you're talking about wrt wages in flyover country.
Re:Jeoparody (Score:3, Interesting)
In a small urban or rural area, you'll get a nice 3-4BR house that's probably 30% larger than the LI one for $100-150k, and pay $2,500 in taxes. My aunt sold a shitty split level in Queens 3 years ago for $750,000 and bought a 5BR Victorian for $75,000 (plus $250,000 in renovation) in central NY.
Go for it! (Score:3, Interesting)
Five years ago I left technology for good to become a professional nature photographer. [joedecker.net] There are catches--the pay is terrible (but I made a lot of money in tech.) When I'm out in the field, particularly the far north in summer, the hours can truly suck (but I love every single minute of it, even if I don't... can't get enough sleep.) Some of the people in the art business are difficult to work with. (True anywhere, likely.)
On the other hand, I love my boss (myself), even when he's a hard taskmaster. My overall level of happiness and sanity has gone up--way up. Despite oft-long hours, a lot of flexibility in when that work gets done allows me an incredibly varied and rich social life, as well as to serve on the board of directors of a non-profit. People who don't pay me who appreciate my work often write me in appreciation of what I do.
There is an obsessiveness to the tech culture, a "60 hours a week or you suck", a cluelessness apparent in the constant dicksizing about how much one suffers at work. For many, this gets in the way of having a happy and grounded life. Don't get me wrong, I love technology and gadgets, I miss writing code (and still do now and then), but not for a moment in the last five years have I missed being pulled into the obsessiveness of the Silicon Valley tech work culture.
I'm not suggesting that you go become a nature photographer, that was my dream, not yours. And, as many other folks here suggest, don't rush into something. Make sure you take care of your future, don't leave yourself worried about how you're going to eat. Don't leave yourself to be asking "You want fries with that, sonny?" when you're 88.
BUT....
Do go out and find something you love. Something that lets you have whatever kind of life you'd like to have, while working. Life is too short to waste.
Re:Limited options (Score:5, Interesting)
Bingo! I actually have a name for this: the Deathbed Rule. When faced with a choice in life, choose the path that will lead to good deathbed memories and no regrets.
By following this rule, I've done things that many might consider foolish - quit jobs to go travelling, spending months in other countries, and so forth. These days, I'm a contractor and I make it a rule to keep several months a year aside for fun stuff, even if that consists of just lazing around, spending time with my girlfriend and reading books, as I've done these past few weeks.
By not following the Deathbed Rule, I'd probably have more money saved, but an absolute dearth of worthy life experiences - I'd have lived a "normal" life until now. What a terrible thought.
Re:Limited options? TAKE A CLASS! (Score:2, Interesting)
sure - I never ended up using the degree, but I did get to put my hands on a lot of good looking women; and get a message every night for 7 months!
Huh? (Score:4, Interesting)
The thing is, for some mechanics, they don't get paid by the hour. Well, they do, but not the number of hours they work -- the number of hours the estimator gave. So, it's not uncommon for my brother to get paid for 80hrs in a week. He's good at diagnosing, and getting cars fixed and back out the door. He typically works 2 stalls at once, so as he's waiting for parts for one or for fluids to drain, he can work on the other. Yes, he has to work on Saturdays once a month -- but he's never gotten paged at 2am for a downed mail server, and there's no chance of him getting outsourced as they need people near where the cars break, not 1/2 way across the globe.
The problem is, he's come to realize that there aren't too many old mechanics -- their backs go out after a while. I'm guessing that someone who's been in IT for 20 years might not be in the best shape for bending over an engine block all day.
Personally, if I were to look at the automotive side of things, I'd look at getting certified on Hybrids -- I don't know what it'd take, but it's my understanding that there aren't that many folks who are rated to work on 'em, so it might be a useful opening.
Re:Limited options (Score:2, Interesting)
This is usually not the best possible investment. Consider a mortgage in the 6-8% range: the interest on that loan is tax deductible, so the effective interest rate is closer to 4-6%. So, paying an extra $100 on the mortgage is indistinguishable from investing it today at that 4-6% and paying the $100+ interest to the bank in 30 years. You can get 4-6% on a money market account and beat it with T-bills. Paying off your mortgage in the 80s (12% interest!) it was a great idea. Today, you're better off letting Uncle Sam subsidize your investment in higher return instruments.
I recommend poker (Score:5, Interesting)
1. You're your own boss.
2. No physical or athletic requirements.
3. Lots of probability math to wrap your head around.
4. You can work from home if you like, or from a variety of physical locations.
5. No retirement age.
6. If you're either very good or very lucky, you can be on TV.
I bet I get moderated "funny," but I'm perfectly serious.
Expensive snooze button... (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Doesn't have to be 'hell' (Score:4, Interesting)
So my list reads like
. Clean house really clean - ongoing task
. Learn Latin
. Learn Greek
. Review Math - learn ins and outs of slide rules - working on a little article/book here.
. Find my old friends and learn what they like. I now have new hobbies from this.
. Eat healthy, lots of antioxidants
. Assemble electronic kits and build it myself over buying on basic electronic items.
Currently I am on a Grand Jury. This is very interesting. Three month term for three days a week. Reviews District Attorney felony cases and evaluates if sufficient cause exists to go to trial. A great chance once in a while to practice your persuasion skills. Unlike a trial, we jurors can question the witnesses and detective presenter. We are treated quite well. Our break room refrigerator has a whole shelf of chocolate milk, another of white milk, finally one of apple juice. I can recommend this, contact your local District Attorney office. In Texas they are happy to take your name and put you on a voi dire list.
Thanks,
Jim
Re: I don't know about that (Score:3, Interesting)
There are plenty of decent jobs in the Midwest. Companies specializing in everything from aerospace to biotech, chemicals to financial are based here on top of tons of small companies with medium IT departments. With more companies utilizing work-from-home, there will be more satellite offices opening in lower COL areas. I already see it in my travels. Why pay someone 85k/yr in Boston when you can pay someone 75k/yr in Kansas City, Minneapolis or Austin?
I make six figures, my house is very nice and within the city limits so it's close to everything (read 30 minutes max from anything by car). With the money I save living here my wife stays home with the kid, we fly all over the country to visit family (6-10 trips per year) and we always go to Paris in Spring. In LA or SF (where I used to live) I would sink that money into a grossly overpriced house, commute 2-4 hours a day in traffic and pay child care since my wife would have to work again. Why again?
Screw living in CA or NY. Love both places. Can't justify living there so I'll just visit a few times a year.
Re:Doesn't have to be 'hell' (Score:3, Interesting)
But then again, it's not really that uncommon to go for a career change... My girlfriend went from 20 years of being a cardiology RN to being a tattoo artist.
Both of us are happy and enjoying life again.
Just find something that you are interested in, and go for it. Sometimes is means lifestyle changes, moving to a smaller place, perhaps a smaller car, etc., but it does let you rediscover the important things in life. And I tell you, it's nice not having that cellphone/pager going off all the time.
Best decision I ever made, and the my girlfriend feels the same way.
Cheers,
Xyst
Comment removed (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Limited options (Score:5, Interesting)
You obviously don't know any old people. I've heard the "you never wish you spend more time at work" when laying on your deathbed, but I've heard many, many (nearly all) dying people mutter something to that effect. They all wished they had just a little more money. Whether it was to leave to their loved ones, provide a more comfortable end for themselves, or what, I've never heard anyone say "I would be happy to be homeless now in exchange for the chance to go back and take that one trip between high school and college." After all, a $2000 summer before college (and another $2000 of lost wages at a crap job) would turn into almost $500,000 by the time that person died, if they invested it rather than spending it. Was that one $2000 trip worth $500,000? For some yes, for most, no. But then, few are the people that would toss that into an investment and just let it sit there for that many years.
So, when you are laying on your deathbed in a state hospital you didn't select getting care from underpaid attendants at a horrible patient to worker ratio and you can't even afford to get an occasional candy bar from the vending machine, just think what two trips long ago for a $1,000,000 difference in resources is a regret or cherished memories well worth the $1,000,000 they cost you.
Re:Doesn't have to be 'hell' (Score:4, Interesting)
I don't think it needs to be that complete, even. I made an incomplete switch, personally.
There are a lot of areas where you can take your massive IT experience, knowledge and skills, combine them with personal interests, and be extremely valuable to an organization. 3 years ago next week, I bailed out of hardcore IT after 15 years, including several in the dot-com world. Took my skill set and resumé and got involved in government-funded academic stuff dealing with natural sciences and science policy.
I don't do it full-time, so overall it pays significantly less than the low 6 figures I peaked at during my dot-com days. But I travel all over the world (I'm +12h from home right now), meet tons of interesting people (astronauts, Nobel laureates, cabinet-level people, etc.), and spend fairly little time doing onerous stuff like the "laying on of hands" when a colleague's Windows laptop is ill. My cumulative IT experience is now something I "keep handy, just in case it's needed."
When people ask what I do now, I just tell 'em that I make sure some small portion of their taxes is spent on worthwhile things, instead of hookers for beltway types.
Maybe the OP should consider doing something similar - being a "soft IT" type in a non-IT organization.
Re:Doesn't have to be 'hell' (Score:5, Interesting)
If the company you are at would pay for higher education, you could invest in getting a degree in business or management (or something related, but fun). Given your experience, you could easily get into being a market consultant or analyst at one of the top firms. Or you could get into strategy consulting, which also pays very well. A few years in strategy consulting and you could easily get on the board at one of the smaller companies.
And if neither of these appeals to you, a startup is the way to go. It's fun, it's interesting and you can do some very interesting things. Besides, you get to work your hours and get to do it *your* way - the freedom is awesome (speaking from personal experience, yes).
Finally, you could always go back to school and do a PhD in something you like - and go into academia and research.
And oh, remember that if you are in technology, there are only a couple of options - you either go into research or academia, or you go with your own startup (otherwise, sooner or later, you either get tired of the job or run the risk of being replaced by younger people). If those do not appeal to you, business or management is the way to go.
Re:Limited options (Score:5, Interesting)
When I travel, I purchase travel insurance, which normally costs around a dollar a day. My provincial insurance covers me in the US to some degree, so when I go down there, I don't bother purchasing extra.
Here are some other hints to having the well-paid, yet lots of free time lifestyle:
1. Have someone else arrange your contracts for you. In other words, contract out to a contracting company, and have them subcontract you. I have a one year contract with a place that does just that. The advantages: you don't have to arrange the business stuff, pound the pavement to find contracts, etc., and you aren't legally liable if the relationship goes sour. The downside is you'll earn somewhat less.
2. Work at home. I collaborate with the other contractors on a given project online. I've never even met any of the clients. We do everything via Skype, pretty much. Skype is absolutely essential for this lifestyle, as it's ubiquitous and everyone seems to use it. The Linux client sort of sucks, unfortunately, so I switched to OS X.
By working at home, I free up a huge amount of time for fun stuff. I typically get up around 6:45 and shuffle over to the computer. By 1:00-2:00 or so, I'm finishing up for the day.
3. Learn Java and the current "hot" frameworks and libraries. I'm pretty lukewarm towards Java as it's not a terribly exciting language. However, it is the unofficial server-side standard. Learn it well, and you'll be turning away work on a regular basis. Because it's got a low barrier to entry, there are a ton of terrible Java programmers out there. If you can distinguish yourself with clean designs and implementations, and deliver in a reasonable fashion, then you'll be worth your weight in gold.
4. Communicate well and often. If you can write well, and lay out progress, designs, docs, etc. in a clean and concise fashion, clients will love you. Good communication skills are beyond crucial.
Comment removed (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Doesn't have to be 'hell' (Score:5, Interesting)
If they're a completely ethical company, confining themselves to ethical investments, with top-level consideration for their staff's welfare, completely honest and up-front in their marketing and treatment of clients/customers, then I'd be less inclined to screw them. But if they're the average fscktard employer and corporation run by a pack of MBAs with broomsticks up their back passages, constantly getting more value from their staff than they pay for, and screwing their client base as far as they can get away with, then IMHO they're Fair Game (TM)
Re:I recommend poker (Score:3, Interesting)
Was great at first and I was making a sizable amount of cash but I eventually realised that multi-tabling for over nine hours a day was taking its toll on me both physically and mentally as the concentration required is far in excess of any day job I've had. And then there are the downswings. Every player, no matter how good, will at some time fall into a rut and it leaves you wondering when it will end which isn't funny when you are relying on it to pay the bills. In the end I realised that poker can be a bigger grind than a regular paying job.
I still play and still make money, but for me it's purely to supplement my regular income.
Re:Limited options (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Which IT? (Score:4, Interesting)
Jack of all trades... not bored at one. (Score:3, Interesting)
Me? I go home and rennovate the house (or plan for the next house we are building in the country).
I go around and help out friends on projects they are doing on weekends. I'm getting involved in a
volunteer program at a ski resort I have been to for years. I have in the past taught swimming, I have
worked as a lecturer at university (so there is teaching experiece to draw on).
In IT I've played architect, support person, programmer, trainer, tech doc writer.
Jack of all trades, master of none - maybe true. But Jack was never unemployed, bored or
wondering 'where to next'.
Do stuff because you are curious about how it works. Do stuff because you can't understand it and
want to. Do stuff for fun and follow up on all those things you think 'I wonder what that is like'.
You may just find your next career.
Now, back to finding out what the *&@*@k is happening with those user sessions and that *@&*@&king firewall!