Zhian N. Kamvar
People who used to work in software but transitioned to a different career, what are you doing now and how did you get there?
Mar 19 at 5:01amWeb
Show threadAnton LobashevMar 19
@zkamvar they are all probably too busy touching grass to answer. That's how I want to imagine it
Show threadLoke 🔥Mar 19
@zkamvar I now serve tea in a tea house 🍵 Loved speciality tea for a long time and just applied there, somehow got the job. It's been 1.5 years now and I'm extremely happy about the switch! Ngl, the money I make is much, much less, but I'm still able to manage life and it's worth it for the huge increase in my quality of life 💚
Show threadLoke 🔥Mar 19
@zkamvar I guess I should also have mentioned the software side - I have a master's degree in IT & worked for almost 10 years in backend projects, mostly PHP even though it wasn't my favorite language by far, it's what I found jobs in.
Show threadFlameMar 19
@zkamvar @lokenstein Oh my god, that would be something I would love to do too. Big fan of tea and still stuck in IT. I just don't think it would be realistic for me since I don't know how good I would be in customer service jobs.
Show threadLoke 🔥2d ago
@flamecat @zkamvar yeah personally the switch was possible for me because I was laid off during a bad economic time when nobody in my area was hiring IT people, so I applies to various jobs including this one. I wouldn't have quit IT to work there because of the money difference, but now that it happened I'm happy with it!
I didn't know if I would be any good in customer service jobs either, but seems like it actually fits me! (or at least, this one fits me, I'm sure there's some customer service jobs which I would be miserable in)
Show threadsport of sacred spherical cowsMar 19

@zkamvar

Programming is not what myself would ever claim as "software", but close enough.

Not presently, but after dotcom bubble burst, ended up getting work based on my 90 wpm typing speed. (Grandfather refused to buy child me an Apple ][ gs, as upgrade to my TRS-80, until first learned to type. It ended up being a more employable skill than programming, despite the CS degree.)

First in financial services consulting, via a temp agency, then a bankruptcy law firm, again via a temp agency, then an estate planning law firm, this time by referral based on paralegal writing experience picked up at the prior firm.

Show threadpoetasterMar 19
@zkamvar I now build musical toys. I have been building them for many years but realized I should make a shift when I hit 55 and left my old post. I do a lot of foss but not for money.
Show thread🇨🇦 Maverick ✊🇲🇲🇺🇦🇻🇪🇬🇱Mar 19
@zkamvar I moved to the other side of the planet, am unemployed/retired (depending on your labelling), & frankly couldn’t be happier. I came here on holiday, got “stranded” during Covid & never went back. I still dabble in tech projects but not for money. Money has been an issue but not to the extent that it dominated every decision back at home. Life is easier, weather is better, people around me are happier & less stressed. Frankly I look at everyone at home & wonder how I ever lived like that
Show threadelilla&, autostopowiczkaMar 19

@zkamvar back to computers  

I did four years of linguistics college while funding myself as a sysadmin for a dayjob, then two years more with a Master's in Japanology, then I got hired as a PhD in Germany to do fieldwork in Japan. I loved everything about it. but after 4 years my work contract was over and jobs in the humanities are scarce and temporary, and I have kids and I needed a stable job. bounced back to IT, have been stuck with it since.

Show threadChrisMar 19
@zkamvar
At the moment I study educational technologys. So after that I will do edu-stuff, maybe train people in computer things
Show threadnormy foxyoreosMar 19

@zkamvar I went into software straight out of college, went to a few different companies of different sizes. After a long while, left to do contracting work.

While I was getting that set up, I started drawing furry porn as a hobby and eventually a few critters asked me about commissions. Realized that drawing pornography for strangers on the Internet was more emotionally satisfying and was more interesting and made me feel like I was doing more good than all of my contracting work.

Show threadnormy foxyoreosMar 19

@zkamvar Spent a while second guessing it (I make *way* less money now), but then the AI nonsense started up and I feel like getting out of software allowed me to dodge one of the biggest bullets in my entire career.

I went from making more money than I knew what to do with to struggling to pay rent, and I've never been happier.

Show threadChris JohnsenMar 19

@zkamvar About 30 years of software engineering came to an end a couple years ago. Multiple mergers over the years led to rounds of layoffs, offshoring talent, and benefit reductions. When the company jumped onboard with AI, it was time to clear my desk.

I'm too young to be retired but here I am. With my newfound freedom I've been traveling to Asia and sitting meditation retreats. I've been selling books and concert posters online to cover some expenses. And well, I think I'm actually happy.

Show threadGoing T. MaineMar 19
@zkamvar got a friend who is trying to transition from software to lamp design, and an old classmate who transitioned from coding to woodcarving. Can’t say I can give you their stories though.