But when I look at tech job boards, nothing excites me anymore enough to even apply. I like solving technical problems, but that's about the extent of my interest in the tech sector anymore. I hate modern software development methodologies and their rituals. I literally have a gag reflex at the thought of attending more meetings. Almost everything that I see big tech touch I see it making worse, and small tech seems to exist primarily to support big tech while trying to emulate it. I just can't do this industry anymore.
Did you quit? What did you do next? Were you happy with the outcome, or disappointed by it? I grew up in poverty, so my biggest fear is the loss of income, so I need to find some assurance to myself that I can find something I like better than tech that at least makes enough to pay the bills.
I would not quit tech altogether, but strive to teach/coach/mentor someone (tech or not), while working at a small shop that does not rely on venture capital. I find smaller companies more fun and I'm happy to have escaped from the golden cage of a large corporate before. Same for working at a small startup, fighting for a profitable exit.
My advice: find a nice boss and nice colleagues, be loyal and make sure you have agency over how stuff is done. And watch over your boss so she doesn't get replaced by a brain dead manager while your company grows.
People have the deep need to feel that their actions have consequential outcomes for themselves and others.
With the centralization of food , water and energy production no such feedback exists anymore
It’s time to go back to Mama Africa.
I am personally burned out too and am considering starting an aerial firefighting company.
Some of the birds are really cheap if you have the guts to fly them and they double as crop planes