Work instead of tech?

I think you should step away from platforms like HN, live life (real life, offline) and find out what you enjoy. I don't think you'll find an answer through the thing you want to leave. Kinda like people trying to fix their smartphone addiction by installing an app on their smartphone. It may work for some, but it seems like an odd approach.

(Doing a bit of an assumption here that after 20 years of tech work you're not broke.)

I have switched industry before and you kind of start from 0.

What you are describing doesn't necessarily sound like an issue with the tech sector, but rather that you are a bit burnt out.

My suggestion: try to take some time off, either by not working or just working on some very unambitious projects that give you time to relax. Do this for at least 2-3 months. Sleep, eat, treat yourself well.

Then slowly start tinkering with whatever tickles your interest (only once you feel like it). This can be a a tech side project, playing the guitar or bartending.

This recipe has helped me re-discover my energy in the past.

It might lead you to something in tech or outside tech.

Just my 2 cents.

Underwater welders make a lot. It's risky work, but you get to do pro level diving (the risky part) and welding metal at something like 3000 degrees...while under water.

Might also make you explore diving more which is a ...whole other world.

Good luck and take care.

Become a Freemason. It’s an excellent way to ‘go horizontal’ by meeting a lot of decent people (well, men) from all walks of life and with many different experiences to share. You will find inspiration, fellowship and real life there.

Here in the UK there don’t seem to be too many techies in the Masons as yet, but I suspect this will grow as WFH does and people look to replace missing face-to-face relationships.

What do you care about?

Or rather what do you "fear"?

Care is a much bigger word than you think.

Heidegger put it ('Sorge') at the centre of existential philosophy. But what he is really getting at is a kind of 'anxiety' that drives the soul to have meaning through being. Without it you're in the realms of questions more appropriate to Shakespeare's Hamlet.

I would encourage you "to be".

My solution to this was to try and solve real people’s problems with tech. Being able to sit down with the person using your thing gives a tangible feedback cycle to your work.

Instead of “I pushed this update and maybe this metric changed 8%? Or maybe something else did it?”

You get towards “Sue saved 2 hours of her normal workday today and got to go home to her family on time”

You’re still using those skills you’ve built, but in a very different way. One that I find creates a lot more dopamine.

Have you considered buying a motorcycle?

Work is what you do for money… but you spend a lot of time doing it. If you don’t need a ton of cash.. Work in Academia. It’s kinda like a start up in that the teams are small and they’re isn’t a ton of support, but the pressure is less. There are interesting projects and collaborations. Pay is lower but not bad, they give good benefits and don’t crush you all the time. There’s politics but in software you can mostly ignore it.

I think you are searching for some kind of meaning. Maybe instead of something big, think small. Often the most local small things can make a huge direct impact or even things that are more internalized, things that still make you giddy inside like a kid.

You obviously know a bit about how things work. Why not look into building some 'low effort' businesses and focus on things that make you actually happy, whatever it makes money or not.

Simple obvious things. A online shop or reselling trough whatever channels, maybe something niche you are passionate about. The right affiliate idea can bring plenty of money for little actual work (after building it).

I am done with the industrie as well, however the skillset I acquired is still what makes me money with the least resistance I just focus on things that are easy once done and don't require a lot more work on success.

I don't know that I would call tech salaries "middle of the road". We're lucky enough that we're in an industry that leaves a lot of flexibility on the table, it's doable keeping a decent tech income and doing something more meaningful with your life as well. I don't know what's going to lighten you up so I won't give any specific advice, but for my part I'm eager to go back to school for something completely unrelated (that's also a professional dead end, but who cares).

Maybe try 80000hours.org Otherwise let me know if you want to talk. I was in a similar spot just two years ago.

I went the other way, started in the charity sector then moved into tech, well, tech roles in non-profits. Totally get the impulse, and also why "doing meaningful work like supporting freedom on country X" doesn't appeal.

What really helped in my transition was the fact that I was able to carry over part of what I'd left behind. In my case, it was that I'd worked for non-profits, so I was a more attractive hire than people who were technically much stronger. After a quick year on shit money putting together a little experience, I actually had a nice pay bump when the dust settled.

The best stuff would be where you could still use some of your skills, but in a way that doesn't feel like you've got a tech job. Being able to bosh out a bit of code where needed makes you a wizard in a lot of areas.

Just spitballin', but someone with the ability to hack together scripts and quickly get their head around software can do wonders with architecture, "classical" engineering, VFX/3D, finance/accountancy. It wouldn't be for me, but if you've got decent cash together, most of the rich people I know get into some sort of investing or other.

I guess in the other direction. If I ever felt I needed to give my brain a serious break, I'd get back into kitchens. They're great places to work: fast, fun and completely different. I'd honestly struggle to keep up, but it'd keep me busy whilst I regroup.

Make the lives of a few people much, MUCH better by joining a clinical team and working on a clinical trial!

Pay is terrible compared to other tech jobs, but generally much better than the average salary, so you're not going to starve by any means. You get to be on a very smart team that treats patients. And every day is that "wow I can't believe I'm doing this, and also I don't really know what I'm doing" feeling — and it's shared by everyone because you're pushing the boundary of standard of care.

And the BEST part is that I'm not some tech genius, I haven't even worked at FAANG before, but everyone looks at you like you're some genius because you're most likely one of the very few technical people there- so you'll end up writing code, working with the lab and clinical team to document stuff, build data collection and report generation systems, etc. It's not as sexy as the next big fancy app, but again your work could help a lot of people.

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But better yet, I think there are many more fields in the world that need a tech person to assist them like this, in any industry (from trucking to farming to clinical to whatever), and it'll be equally rewarding. Hope you find your next thing!

I'm slowly getting into law while working my 16th year in tech. It's about the same salary, and instead of reading books worth of technical docs, you read books worth of legislation. The good part is that legislation isn't changing as frequently as technical docs, so you're not required to invest as much of your spare time to stay up to date as a SSE does.

Take a break and give yourself some distance to think about it.

Don't ask the internet for answers.

Don't continue to do things you're not happy with.

Just give yourself some time to think. And think deeply about it.

Write down things you enjoyed doing as a kid, teen, adult. Write down other career options or education you may need to pursue them. And then take some action when you've picked a direction.

Plumbing.

Plumbers make a killing. You're also out and seeing different places, different locations, and clients generally treat you with respect. It's also physical work but not demanding, so should help with your health so long as the microbes don't get to you.

If you can, try to take an entire year off. Spend this year exploring. Do things you would never do, push your edges, take excellent care of yourself. It's a big world and you have a lot of value to contribute it many many different places.

Buy a small farmstead in an area where others that have jumped the tech/corporate/finance ship too, people that are likely to have some cash saved up as a buffer.

Keep a few animals (cats and/or dogs mandatory, otherwise optional), maintain an orchard with fruit trees, specialize on one or two niche cash crops that can be sold. Be largely self-sufficient within the community (think barter and "barnraising" [0]).

Combine with some forestry and DIY low tech; like solar- wind- dam- projects. Enjoy!

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barn_raising

When I feel this way, I contemplate getting an ATP and trying to become a pilot for the airlines. Glorified taxi driver, doing a well defined task day in day out. Work schedule is some weeks on, weeks off. So, a regular change of pace.

Salary requirements aside, what else are you looking for in your next career? i.e. are you most interested in learning something new, connecting with others, doing something meaningful, etc.

You probably have a decent network, so if you wanted you could contract part-time and use the rest of your time to explore new ventures. That's how I handled a similar transition. I used the time I freed up to explore new skills, reflect deeply (journaling and on walks through nature), and meet new people from different walks of life.

I've thought about becoming a bus driver or working in the post office. The pay and benefits are decent, and the work is important. It's not glamorous work, but they're not bullshit jobs (as David Graeber would say: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullshit_Jobs).

The biggest thing keeping me where I'm at is that I'm working 100% remote. If I were called into an office, I'd quit.

I know a bloke in Portugal who has a side business in tourism. He organizes events and tours. Depending on where you live (or want to live), it might be a nice option.

Do something outside of work. I similarly have begun to feel that all the current work in tech is just solving the same problems over and over again.

But, while I soldier on and do good work to earn that paycheck during the day, I've also started deepening my outside-of-work activities. That gives my brain new and more interesting things to think about and alleviates the "but what is it FOR" feeling.

INFO: what are your hobbies? What do you like to do?

Otherwise I can tell you what I would like, but it might not sound interesting to you at all.

Electrician or plumber? You get to logically solve problems but in the physical realm. And due to demand you should be paid well.

Another one. Old school selling in real life - like at a market stall or stall at a convention. Selling niche items. Maybe even something you make or 3d print yourself.

Investing can be fun. Pick some promising companies and get to know them inside and out. It's fun because you essentially make money by better understanding the present and predicting the future than others. Risky though (as we're seeing now), and you need some capital.

You may gather lot of info on tech problems.

I have once stopped work, and switched to learn, and now trying to create revolutionary new solutions.

At the moment, I don't know exact way, how this will change world, I'm trying many variants, and eventually will find this my way.

Maybe you'll enjoy reading about my own transition from tech to psychotherapy: http://glench.com/WhyIQuitTechAndBecameATherapist/

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. — Matthew 7:7-8, KJV

There are a TON of industries out there that have "tech people" but aren't tech. And if you find the right smaller one, you can be the "tech guy" while working entirely in a non-tech industry.

Depends on where you choose to live. From what I'm seeing, the various trades people are earning very good incomes, in the same ballpark as the majority of IT (non-FAANG) staff.

I never found something that made sense. It always worked out that I should reduce hours, work part time at a high salary, control my schedule, and have some hobbies.

I find home improvement projects really fun. I have a desire to do things with my hands that software devdlopment just doesn't scratch that itch for me.

Some advice,

What are you non-tech passionate about?

Would contributing tech solutions to that subject and people working in that passion area help?

That is one of the questions you should be exploring.

Maybe you are looking for new things to experience? Working part-time while traveling the world would keep you busy for the next 2-5 years.

How about e-commerce? It’s similar but you also need to learn the domain of your products. Which might (or might not) be a fun challenge.

Best of luck!

Learn a musical instrument, join a band.

Become a freelance war journalist.

You can take a break and go traveling :)

And even work remotely if you end up liking it

hydroponic/aquaponic farming?

Bee keeping