Advice on switching career path

[cguy]

While I do think every job comes with its frustrations, some are clearly much better than others. Often one really just needs to follow a process to improve one’s situation.

Ask yourself what specifically don’t you like about your job? What alternatives are out there? Do you know anyone doing something that your would rather be doing? What do you need to do obtain such a job?

Then just put in the time. A big problem as others have mentioned is that a lot of people just acknowledge that they’re “unhappy”, and want a “change”, but don’t think of the specifics above, and just make rash decisions that they regret later. E.g., they wanted less stress, so they took a lower paying job, which resulted in more stress due to financial pressure (this is incredibly common by the way).

My personal situation some 12 or so years ago was that I felt I was underpaid and the work just wasn’t that interesting anymore. I figured out (“discovered”) that there was a class of jobs that was both paid better and more challenging, studied like crazy to obtain the relevant skills/knowledge, interviewed and got such a job. Took about a year.

Anyway, my recommendation is to find a higher paying job that’s more fun. A lot of your work issues will likely disappear if you get this. So many people feel that they should have to make a financial sacrifice to get something better, when really the path to a better alternative is all about doing your research, proactively casting your net and being flexible with the work you’re willing to attempt.

 

[Trees]

I'm interested in this thread.

I'm also gatvol of the software development industry and am looking to get out. My problem is there's nothing that I'm good at, other than IT

That's the thing right. We spent all this time developing expertise in one field.
Now to switch to another path would involve competing with new grads and probably taking a pay cut, assuming you get the job.

 

[RedViking]

I'm interested in this thread.

I'm also gatvol of the software development industry and am looking to get out. My problem is there's nothing that I'm good at, other than IT

and drinking.

 

[Trees]

and drinking.

Most people I know in IT are medicated to some degree.

 

[Trees]

While I do think every job comes with its frustrations, some are clearly much better than others. Often one really just needs to follow a process to improve one’s situation.

Ask yourself what specifically don’t you like about your job? What alternatives are out there? Do you know anyone doing something that your would rather be doing? What do you need to do obtain such a job?

Then just put in the time. A big problem as others have mentioned is that a lot of people just acknowledge that they’re “unhappy”, and want a “change”, but don’t think of the specifics above, and just make rash decisions that they regret later. E.g., they wanted less stress, so they took a lower paying job, which resulted in more stress due to financial pressure (this is incredibly common by the way).

My personal situation some 12 or so years ago was that I felt I was underpaid and the work just wasn’t that interesting anymore. I figured out (“discovered”) that there was a class of jobs that was both paid better and more challenging, studied like crazy to obtain the relevant skills/knowledge, interviewed and got such a job. Took about a year.

Anyway, my recommendation is to find a higher paying job that’s more fun. A lot of your work issues will likely disappear if you get this. So many people feel that they should have to make a financial sacrifice to get something better, when really the path to a better alternative is all about doing your research, proactively casting your net and being flexible with the work you’re willing to attempt.

Thanks for providing a framework for a solution.

More stress due to financial pressure is a good point, should one switch jobs.

 

[AlphaJohn]

Thanks for providing a framework for a solution.

More stress due to financial pressure is a good point, should one switch jobs.

That is a good point, only reason I could do what I did is cause I worked so much that I could not spend my earnings. I amassed quite a sum when I left.

I have zero dept and a house fully paid for, so working for less is a none issue. Bonus points for not having any offspring either. If any of that was not the case I would probably have still been stressing my rear off and killing myself to make ends meet.

 

[ADRAM3L3CH]

I've been in IT for just over a decade and I am also considering this.

During lockdown I was put on short time so I only worked 50% of the month for 50% of the salary. It was tough having a lower income but having my time back to spend with my family as well as pursue my own projects was the best thing ever.

Currently I am working on moving away from IT completely, It will take some time to get where I want to be but ultimately I know I will be happier to have my time back .

Take some time and think it through if that is really what you want, as others have said : The money in IT is good but money isn't everything.

 

[Ancalagon]

I was actually thinking of switching to a less stressful dev role with reduced pay.

My advice - don't. This doesn't work out very well, normally. You end up with reduced pay and same job stress, with new added financial stress.

If you do want to reduce your stress, reduce your hours worked instead. Reducing the time you spent engaged with work is probably the only sure fire way to reduce stress.

 

[cguy]

That is a good point, only reason I could do what I did is cause I worked so much that I could not spend my earnings. I amassed quite a sum when I left.

I have zero dept and a house fully paid for, so working for less is a none issue. Bonus points for not having any offspring either. If any of that was not the case I would probably have still been stressing my rear off and killing myself to make ends meet.

A few years into my new job I had earned enough to retire very comfortably. The amount of stress reduction one gets from financial independence is enormous.

I’m still doing the same job, but it is entirely because I enjoy the challenge and not because I need the money. Much of the stress people deal with in their jobs is indirectly financial.

This is one of the reasons, that when someone wants to take a lower paying job because of stress, I suggest trying to find a higher paying job instead, since the overall stress will likely turn out to be less.

 

[AlphaJohn]

A few years into my new job I had earned enough to retire very comfortably. The amount of stress reduction one gets from financial independence is enormous.

I’m still doing the same job, but it is entirely because I enjoy the challenge and not because I need the money. Much of the stress people deal with in their jobs is indirectly financial.

This is one of the reasons, that when someone wants to take a lower paying job because of stress, I suggest trying to find a higher paying job instead, since the overall stress will likely turn out to be less.

Aiming for 2 high could also bring problems.

Why work for 5 story mansion when a bigger house doesn't directly ad to your satisfaction. Its a nice to have but doesn't make you happier, in fact the added stress related to a bigger house sometimes make it worse.

Think biggest problem today is people are competing with the Jonse's instead of doing something that makes "them" happy. Partly brought to you because of social media, as everyone post happy pics in their big mansions with fancy foods and big ass TV's

Cutting back just a little can be just as liberating as chasing high income.

 

[cguy]

Aiming for 2 high could also bring problems.

Why work for 5 story mansion when a bigger house doesn't directly ad to your satisfaction. Its a nice to have but doesn't make you happier, in fact the added stress related to a bigger house sometimes make it worse.

Think biggest problem today is people are competing with the Jonse's instead of doing something that makes "them" happy. Partly brought to you because of social media, as everyone post happy pics in their big mansions with fancy foods and big ass TV's

Cutting back just a little can be just as liberating as chasing high income.

I agree that the effort of chasing wealth for the purposes of appearance to others is a completely daft thing to do.

There are good reasons to do it though - ensuring that family is looked after, being able to afford to relocate one’s family. Being able to help out if some disaster strikes family or friends, being able to support causes that you care about.

Unfortunately I know a lot of people who give up their earning potential to live a simpler, happier, stress free life, however, when their folks get older they can’t look after them, when their, brother in law tragically dies in a car crash, their sister and kids are f&@ked. When all their friends move to the UK, they’re stuck behind. If the country goes to hell, they’ve got no recourse. Etc etc.

In many ways, choosing not to chase wealth that is available is the selfish option that often creates more stress than it saves regardless.

There’s obviously a balance though.

 

[Agent67]

Want to save my eyes and back.

While I can't help with or say anything at all about any of the other problems you stated, I could help a bit with this one.

1. Set your browser/apps/IDEs to dark mode if possible (it makes things a lot easier on the eyes)
2. Look outside at something far away now and then when eye strain sets in (https://www.healthline.com/health/eye-health/20-20-20-rule#definition , check out this article).
3. If you're using Windows 10, you can lower the amount of blue light your screen emits (https://blogs.windows.com/windowsex...-tip-lower-blue-light-emitted-pc-night-light/ , check out this article).

Alternatively, invest in a good chair with lumbar support and a sit/stand desk nd get glasses with a tint blocking out the blue light.
Get up for a couple of minutes every hour.
Exercise.
Eat healthy.

RedViking's advice is pretty solid as well.

Hope this helps!

 

[AlphaJohn]

Alternatively, invest in a good chair with lumbar support and a sit/stand desk nd get glasses with a tint blocking out the blue light.

Still use these even when not in IT anymore they rock!!!!
Think Specsavers call it Blue Tech (R650 per lense but worth it)
Edit: https://www.specsavers.co.za/offer/blue-light-protection

Get up for a couple of minutes every hour.

Smoking back in my IT days helped with that (Since quit)

Exercise.

Nope

Eat healthy.

Oh Hell no!!!!

 

[RedViking]

Still use these even when not in IT anymore they rock!!!!
Think Specsavers call it Blue Tech (R650 per lense but worth it)


Smoking back in my IT days helped with that (Since quit)


Nope


Oh Hell no!!!!

When I say healthy I mean:

 

[Inn3rs3lf]

And here I am at 38 wanting to get into tech.

Lowering your salary is not the answer - unless the lowered amount is still enough to sustain you with the shocking level of inflation on goods in this country. Living expenses will shoot through the roof in the next 5 years, so be prepared to have a career whereby those costs won't hurt you as much.

I am earning the same "salary" I have been for the past 6 years, and it has been an absolute backbreaker in terms of trying to cover the surmounting costs through everyday living. Let alone the fact that I have a son that will be entering high school in a few short years.

Money isn't everything, but to cover the bases you need to cover without sacrificing basic human needs while covering them - is priceless. Back ache is the least of your worries when faced with financial stress.

 

[Ancalagon]

I agree that the effort of chasing wealth for the purposes of appearance to others is a completely daft thing to do.

There are good reasons to do it though - ensuring that family is looked after, being able to afford to relocate one’s family. Being able to help out if some disaster strikes family or friends, being able to support causes that you care about.

Unfortunately I know a lot of people who give up their earning potential to live a simpler, happier, stress free life, however, when their folks get older they can’t look after them, when their, brother in law tragically dies in a car crash, their sister and kids are f&@ked. When all their friends move to the UK, they’re stuck behind. If the country goes to hell, they’ve got no recourse. Etc etc.

In many ways, choosing not to chase wealth that is available is the selfish option that often creates more stress than it saves regardless.

There’s obviously a balance though.

I do think people need to decide for themselves what they really want in life. Sometimes, the things that you think you want in life, you don't really want. Sometimes your priorities change.

Where I'm going with this is that you don't necessarily have to choose between making lots of money and making no money. You might get a choice between making lots of money and a bit less money. Sometimes, the trade off is worth it.

Myself, I'm now thinking of putting 1) the ability to work remotely in a European country of my choice while remaining with the same employer and 2) long term financial success as my two top priorities.

Reason for 1) is that things between the girlfriend and I are getting serious, and we might relocate. Relocation to another country in Europe is one thing, but what I actually want is the ability to live outside of a city and still be employed in a meaningful fashion. I mean, in days gone by, if you lived in a klein dorpie, you could work in a butchery or a bottle store and that was about it. Now, you can get the benefits of living in a klein dorpie like cheaper accommodation without needing to work in a bottle store.

2) is making me think about whether I want to work for a larger company or a smaller one. Shopify is interested in me, and they would let me work from any town in any country in Europe. But, there is another startup that I'm talking to, that would give me equity. Shopify might also grant equity, but it would be unreasonable to expect the same growth (caveats for risk etc etc apply).

I guess, if I wanted to maximize income, I should stay in London and move towards the capital markets space. I could do this, but then I'm stuck in London. I mean, living somewhere in rural England would be okay, but 1) I'd be limited to England, 2) remote working tends to be more rare in the capital markets space.

 

[Rocket-Boy]

I have had a few chances to chance careers and turn a hobby into a decent income.
What I noticed each time was that when you start turning hobbies into work, they stop being fun.
IT is still something I find interesting after 20 years and working in the industry hasnt ruined it for me, going full time into any of my hobbies would already have ended with me hating it.

 

[AlphaJohn]

I have had a few chances to chance careers and turn a hobby into a decent income.
What I noticed each time was that when you start turning hobbies into work, they stop being fun.
IT is still something I find interesting after 20 years and working in the industry hasnt ruined it for me, going full time into any of my hobbies would already have ended with me hating it.

When I left IT, IT became my hobby.

I still write applications, but do it for fun. Sure I get paid doing it, but when I take on a project now its cause I want to not because I have to. I still go overboard example automate everything in my house with Raspberry Pi's and whatnot just because I installed a inverter.

Its way more fun when you only do the projects you want to

 

[NewPerspectiveStudio]

EVERYTHING is digital. So you are not going to get away from sitting in front of a screen for 8 hours.

Unless you mean you want to start working with your hands, like building kitchen cupboards.


Alternatively, invest in a good chair with lumbar support and a sit/stand desk nd get glasses with a tint blocking out the blue light.
Get up for a couple of minutes every hour.
Exercise.
Eat healthy.

Hi Man Im 33 and not so long ago I was asking myself the very same questions while I cannot give you your answers fully I decided to stay and change a few things that seemed to help me. I can share those. I agree on ith the above sentiment so it's something you are going to have to deal with.

First things first GET UP go outside and walk around for 15mins at least every two hours this helped me a ton in terms of my back and eyes, when your eyes get sore you feel tired, and when you walk you actually exercise your legs, your legs being a very big set of muscles up to your blood flow which just really makes you more awake and I think in the grand scheme of things is good for you.

Count your hours - Look at every hour and take note of what you have done, for me I used to get stuck on a programming issue and then fiddle around next thing 5-6 hours are gone and I barely did anything then im super stressed to catch up. When I started counting my hour's things I could not solve i would move back and come back to leaving 1 item to fix instead of 50 . I also just helped to step away in terms of coming back fresh to the problem making finding it solution much easier.

The hardest and truest point you present is the constant need to learn new things, and well I don't have any tricks for this one, I just like acquiring new skills advancing myself it's part of human nature to want to do that so it should feel good. That fact that you don't mean maybe it's not so much your career but the place you are working for OR at the risk of insulting you haven't really got a plan... For me when I learn a new skill and get decent at it I can employ it and use it to make more money. I don't know if you have that freedom.

I also think lastly that IT is problem-solving more than anything else and if your personality isn't one that likes a challenge and figuring stuff out then it will make things a bit harder for you here.

Heck somedays a decade in there I days when I still want to quit and then I think back to my old jobs, what I was earning, what I wasn't learning, the lack of growth, and well immediately I know im staying.

I would not just walk away from this especially not now when jobs are so scarce and the economy is shaky, I don't know how much time you've given to this but it's good you've used the question to get some perspective, im sure you get to the best answer for YOU at the end of the day. Because that's all that really matters.


One last thing, I know money isn't happiness but it helps, I once wen and looked up median salaries for South African across the board when I saw what the average South African earns I was shocked, and I felt I was really lucky to be doing what im doing.

 

[Mrlepen]

Just resign and join us. Sit at home and eat your money............ No stress