Career Options

CathJ

CathJ

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I'm reaching my annual mid-life crisis point again :D

I think I'm getting tired of programming. Moving to a different industry might help, and is what I'll probably end up doing (at most). But I feel like doing something different.

Problem is I'm not really qualified for anything else, seeing as this is what I studied at varsity and have done ever since. I'm pretty good at writing (although not always on the forum, I admit ;)) and am vaguely thinking of doing something in that line? But I really don't know what sort of training and experience you'd need, or even what sort of jobs might be available. Is there a good online resource for career finding? Not so much ones that help you find out what you're suited for, but ones that tell you what options there in the various fields?

I'd love to do something totally different like forensic pathology, but I don't have the resources (mental or financial) to go back to varsity and start again.
 
You sound very qualified to do technical writing. People get into it from both sides, some are language majors that picked up stuff from editing/ proof-reading theses/ manuals etc. while others have a lot of technical knowledge and a talent for writing.

Don't know about any resources for info though, just know a friend who went for an interview (and got offered a lot of money) in the field.
 
You could surely still keep your current job and giving writing a bash in your spare time? Submit it wherever you can and see what the response is?

How about teaching?
 
EvilDarkElf said:
You sound very qualified to do technical writing. People get into it from both sides, some are language majors that picked up stuff from editing/ proof-reading theses/ manuals etc. while others have a lot of technical knowledge and a talent for writing.

Don't know about any resources for info though, just know a friend who went for an interview (and got offered a lot of money) in the field.
Click to expand...

That was actually something I thought of, but figured the pay wouldn't be very good. It might well be worth looking at as an interim thing (I doubt I could do it for the next 5 years, I'd get bored). I'll do some research into it.
 
Write a novel. I'm doing the same but I don't find the time. I was thinking of being a movie critic cos I watch so many of it, I might as well be able to legally tell them it sucks donkey bawlz. But I'd move over to USA for that.
 
CathJ said:
That was actually something I thought of, but figured the pay wouldn't be very good. It might well be worth looking at as an interim thing (I doubt I could do it for the next 5 years, I'd get bored). I'll do some research into it.
Click to expand...

I can see the boredom aspect. How well it pays probably depends on your pespective. What may be worthwhile to me may look rather dismal to you, since programming can be very financially rewarding (depending on some variables).
 
mercurial said:
Write a novel. I'm doing the same but I don't find the time. I was thinking of being a movie critic cos I watch so many of it, I might as well be able to legally tell them it sucks donkey bawlz. But I'd move over to USA for that.
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No, I don't have the imagination for creative writing :) I was thinking more along the lines of journalism, tech writing, that kind of thing.

EvilDarkElf said:
I can see the boredom aspect. How well it pays probably depends on your pespective. What may be worthwhile to me may look rather dismal to you, since programming can be very financially rewarding (depending on some variables).
Click to expand...

Did a quick search on google, and found a great looking advert for a tech writer. Close to home, in the same industry I used to work in (in fact, at a competing company, so I know a lot about their particular subsection of the industry already). They don't mention salary, but it definitely sounds intriguing.. question is, am I brave enough to jump ship and do something different?

Mind you, the tech writing thing really only occurred to me a day or two ago, so I'm not going to rush into anything. Defnitely something to think about, though.
 
blunomore said:
What are the educational requirements?
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4 year degree, I think.

Or was that the one where you need to study medicine, then specialise in pathology? I forget now...

Either way, it's a not insignificant effort required.
 
CathJ said:
No, I don't have the imagination for creative writing :) I was thinking more along the lines of journalism, tech writing, that kind of thing.
Click to expand...
Start a blog? That way you can see if you really dig it. And you get to keep your current job for the time being just to be save.
 
CathJ said:
I'm reaching my annual mid-life crisis point again :D

I think I'm getting tired of programming. Moving to a different industry might help, and is what I'll probably end up doing (at most). But I feel like doing something different.

Problem is I'm not really qualified for anything else, seeing as this is what I studied at varsity and have done ever since. I'm pretty good at writing (although not always on the forum, I admit ;)) and am vaguely thinking of doing something in that line? But I really don't know what sort of training and experience you'd need, or even what sort of jobs might be available. Is there a good online resource for career finding? Not so much ones that help you find out what you're suited for, but ones that tell you what options there in the various fields?

I'd love to do something totally different like forensic pathology, but I don't have the resources (mental or financial) to go back to varsity and start again.
Click to expand...

Write about programming? :)
What type of programming do you do? And as far as I know, from experience, it's not about qualifications... its about attitude. Most programmers have the I-CAN-DO-ANYTHING attitude, and they get hired for that.. A company rather hires someone with a wide range of knowledge and the right attitude, than someone with a Doctor's Degree.
 
Last time u had your crises, I suggested Antarctica.
Maybe u can write a blog there.

Do I need to look for those job links again?
 
Take a look at Software Testing, Spesifically Automated software testing.
(QuickTest Profesional and Quality Centre products)
 
If you worked hard then you would have been exposed to other opportunities,ideas and people during your career so you yourself would know in what to go into next.

Programming sucks if it's your main career as your company once you finished writing the development can just say cheers. goodbye we don't need you anymore.
 
foozball3000 said:
Write about programming? :)
What type of programming do you do? And as far as I know, from experience, it's not about qualifications... its about attitude. Most programmers have the I-CAN-DO-ANYTHING attitude, and they get hired for that.. A company rather hires someone with a wide range of knowledge and the right attitude, than someone with a Doctor's Degree.
Click to expand...

Sure, but for something technical like pathology you really do need the training :) I'm a C# dev, currently in the financial industry.

alf101 said:
Last time u had your crises, I suggested Antarctica.
Maybe u can write a blog there.

Do I need to look for those job links again?
Click to expand...

lol, forgot about Antarctica. See, I wasn't kidding about it being an annual crisis.

spiderz said:
Take a look at Software Testing, Spesifically Automated software testing.
(QuickTest Profesional and Quality Centre products)
Click to expand...

I know I definitely don't want to get into QA and testing. The tech writing, though, is becoming more appealing the longer I think about it (not as a permanent career, but as a break from dev work for a while).

nfbs said:
Programming sucks if it's your main career as your company once you finished writing the development can just say cheers. goodbye we don't need you anymore.
Click to expand...

Err, no. Not if you're a full time employee. And there are many software houses with multiple projects on the go, and more coming in all the time. (Plus, a project is never completely finished. There's always maintenance and customisation and upgrades).
 
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spiderz said:
Or just get married to a rich man and be a stay-at-home mom... House executive :D :D
Click to expand...

You mean... stay at home with kiddies? :eek:

But a rich man who likes travelling internationally, doesn't want kiddies, is willing to support me and my expensive gadget addiction... hmm, not a bad idea :D
 
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