Need a career change? 10 options for IT-burnouts
Summary: If you've reached the end of your tether in IT, you can still find a satisfying outlet for your talents in an alternative career. Here are some suggestions...
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If you've reached the end of your tether in IT, you can still find a satisfying outlet for your talents in an alternative career, says TechRepublic's Jack Wallen. He recently described the main reasons why people get out of IT. So here's a stab at a companion piece for those looking at a way out of IT.
Auto repairs
This idea might sound crazy, but modern vehicles increasingly depend on computers. From emission control to hybrid power and brake control, these computers are nothing more than embedded systems that use another computer to troubleshoot, diagnose and repair them. And since most techies love the thrill of fixing things, becoming a vehicle mechanic makes perfect sense. Of course, you'll need to get the right training to make this leap.
And wouldn't it be great to have an auto mechanic who actually knew what he was doing?
Photo credit: Tomas/Flickr
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Talkback
Career Change: Research & Development
Biased "journalism"!!
"Although not-for-profit organisations have their own set of headaches, they aren't nearly as intense as those you experience in the upper echelons of capitalism."
Assertion posited as fact. Which headaches are more intense is a matter of opinion and subjective experience. This author posits as fact that capitalist headaches are much more intense? Is he sure it isn't the size of the organization, rather than whether it is a for-profit company, vs. a non-profit? Please end the anti-capitalist slant.
Brainwashed
Ah, another one brainwashed by Fox News.
Are you sure you know what "leftist" and "anti-capitalist" mean? I'm sure Glenn Beck can give you all the "right" answers. LOL!
Braindead
Ah, another one lobotimized by MSNBC and CNN.
Are you sure you know what "conservative" and "free-market" mean? Well, Glenn Beck COULD give you the answers, but then your head would explode when confronted with the "Fair and Balanced" truth!
Geez. Again with the stereotypes!
"Most of the programmers I know are good, although quirky, people. Of course some of them live solitary lives and work long hours, but they are dedicated to what they do."
Keep going, buddy. You're losing cred by the slide. ZDNet -- where do you get this stuff from??? This guy/gal shouldn't be published, here or anywhere.
RE: Need a career change? 10 options for IT-burnouts
Guess you don't know any "real" programmers. There is nothing in the statement you quoted that is not accurate. For example, working long hours is "part of the job" (once you are on salary insted of being paid hourly), and that leads in many cases to broken marriages and relationships, which in turn, causes the workaholic programmer to live a solitary life. Also, many of these folks find they simply interact with machines better than they interact with people; hence a solitary life by choice.
twoddle
You are talking absolute crap.
I am a programmer and I have been for over 25 years. Programmers are not sad long working people like you imply.
Get your facts straight before posting on the internet.
RE: Need a career change? 10 options for IT-burnouts
I'm both a developer and teacher. I'm looking forward to further teaching as I cross 40, but no way, not programming!
Programming is rigorous, hectic, demanding, fast-paced, highly target-oriented and killing. When you get older, you cannot keep up at the same pace. But certainly, teaching will benefit as it's easier and your skill from the field will really give you the lead.
RE: Need a career change? 10 options for IT-burnouts
Commenters > Way to Serious Guys/Gals
RE: Need a career change? 10 options for IT-burnouts
RE: Need a career change? 10 options for IT-burnouts
Here's my warning: Even if there are a lot of computer related repairs in modern vehicles, most of auto repairs are still very dirty, back breaking jobs and involve working in very uncomfortable climates around very demanding customers who don't want to pay your prices. Also as time goes on the vehicles are becoming more proprietary requiring proprietary training and proprietary interface equipment and proprietary access. Only basic engine and transmission control systems are open to basic after market equipment and repairs.
The electronic systems in modern vehicles are nothing more than various computers and processors on a network communicating with each other but they are not for everyone to crack.
You can find very niche jobs in auto repair where all a tech does is to diagnose and repair computerized control systems. But I figure those positions are hard to find on average. And one last thing, mechanics still don't get any respect regardless how much training and technical knowledge they have because it's just a car, anyone could fix it if they had some wrenches, right? Working in the IT industry people are wizards even if you graduated from Devrey and now know how to swap cards in a pc to figure out what's wrong.
RE: Need a career change? 10 options for IT-burnouts
"And one last thing, mechanics still don't get any respect regardless how much training and technical knowledge"
Welcome to the world of help desk technicians. If a printer is taking forever to print all hell breaks loose . . . and they blame you and your equipment when in truth it the user sending a large Photoshop file to the print spooler. For all my fellow technicians no matter what field of study, we all know your pain :P.
RE: Need a career change? 10 options for IT-burnouts
I work for a multi franchise dealership. I'm the systems administrator. Let me tell you it sucks from the IT end to auto repair end. Everything is propritary from the DMS system to the cars. If you think your going to get a job at dealership and just do computer repairs on the cars forget it! I get called down to the shop to program the computers on the cars because half the the techs can't figure out how to us the pc to program them. Computers are a big part of the auto industry but your not just gonna sit there all day and fix computers. You better get ready to get dirty and have a good strong back!
RE: Need a career change? 10 options for IT-burnouts
I feel that anyone with the types of skills that are required to work in an IT situation would find it straightforward to switch to an automotive field.
Quality not quantity
RE: Need a career change? 10 options for IT-burnouts
RE: Need a career change? 10 options for IT-burnouts
RE: Need a career change? 10 options for IT-burnouts
RE: Need a career change? 10 options for IT-burnouts