Anyone ever successfully gotten *out* of IT?

[bradbn4]

I sort of started off as 'tech support' for the collage computers back in the day. I did move on to software maintenance; and then a combo of both SA work + software maintenance. For fun I have been doing some tech writing for projects at work. Every so often I re-dip my toe back into software security as a switch hitter.

My first 'real' job was as a lumber jack; well, mostly cutting trails back to usable shape; harvesting good trees for firewood. Not what I would call a safe sort of work, but it did help me go to school.

[Irving]

How about sales for a start-up that wants to do security and compliance?

[whitewalrus]

Not sure I've ever liked desktop support but its what I've done for my career. Retail, private, gov, server, network and desktop. Got out of server and network stuff when I had kids and didn't want 24x7 hours. No certifications that are still valid. No degree.

I'm listening to options, medically limited now on some career options. Just enough broken to be an issue but not enough to file for my disability. Ha. Not an excuse, just reality.


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The desktop comment was more for the OP, sorry I didn?t make that clear in the post.

[xiondavis]

I moved laterally from IT / Web Development to developing software for Industrial Automation and Robotics systems. The industry culture and processes are night and day different (better IMHO) from the normal software / IT / office crowd and I get my hands dirty in the field in occasion. Industrial Automation is just now waking up to the idea of connected machines and data analytics so that gives me an edge.

The results of my labors are more tangible and rewarding for me, but when things go wrong there is physical carnage!

[Delfuego]

Never...

[izzy]

I moved laterally from IT / Web Development to developing software for Industrial Automation and Robotics systems. The industry culture and processes are night and day different (better IMHO) from the normal software / IT / office crowd and I get my hands dirty in the field in occasion. Industrial Automation is just now waking up to the idea of connected machines and data analytics so that gives me an edge.

The results of my labors are more tangible and rewarding for me, but when things go wrong there is physical carnage!

That sounds pretty cool actually. For most of my career if I mess up some really rich people got slightly less rich than they might have otherwise.

[Irving]

Seems like anything remotely interesting, will quickly not be interesting as a full time job. I try to get the highest paying, lowest brain power job that balances my time vs money. Ideally, I have enough money, and more time to stimulate my wandering interests beyond work. In other words, I have up on finding purpose and challenge at work. I have enough purpose and mental challenge in y day to day life. I want to be about to tolerate work without burning out.

[whitewalrus]

I guess the best thing to do is see what you want to do, knowing that as soon as you have to deal with it 40 hours a week it loses its luster. Then start planning on how you get into it - and possibly having to start at the bottom again. The biggest hurdle to moving careers is having to start from the bottoms of the ladder again. Sometimes you may be able to make a move or two before you get there so you don?t. Example: be a project manager for IT then move to be one in the construction industry. However the problem with going into a totally different field is that you will likely lose salary. Just because you get X having worked up the ladder in IT doesn?t mean your skills and experience gained equate to the industry you are targeting, so why would they pay X or more?

Or if you are making good money, hang in there and find a new hobby to spend your time doing or go back to school for something else.

Having this same internal dialogue myself. I would like to do something else, but a big part of me doesn?t want to give up a decent chunk of pay to do it.

[ray1970]

No experience with any IT stuff but I?m sure it?s like trying to switch careers in any other industry.

Seems like once you?ve been doing any job for long enough that they pay you a decent wage and starting in another field with little to no experience is going to mean taking a pay cut.

I did actually take a pay cut not too many years ago to get better working conditions and what I thought would be a more stress free life. Turns out that job wasn?t all it was cracked up to be and I only stuck with it a couple of years until my dream job came open.

I could consider a move into management in the next several years but not sure I?d be willing to take another pay cut just for the added stress and responsibilities.

[Gman]

Not sure I've ever liked desktop support but its what I've done for my career. Retail, private, gov, server, network and desktop. Got out of server and network stuff when I had kids and didn't want 24x7 hours. No certifications that are still valid. No degree.

I'm listening to options, medically limited now on some career options. Just enough broken to be an issue but not enough to file for my disability. Ha. Not an excuse, just reality.


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Amazing how similar this sounds. I also think my Chiari is affecting me more as I'm getting older.