"Computer programmer seeks new challenges"
November 11, 2011 6:16 AM Subscribe
I have a good computer science degree and about 4 years' experience as a programmer. What other jobs can I do?
I worked on university projects relating to education and video games, mostly user interfaces. I'm sick of programming - specifically, the endless learning of new languages - but I do like universities and novel computing/technology/science in the real world.
I really enjoy design, in the most abstract sense - e.g. I would call an elegantly disguised but logical and effective plot twist as good 'design'. I feel like this could apply to lots of things, but I'm not sure what they are.
I also like comedy (I do stand-up and am very interested in this world), video games, science, rational/evidence-based thinking, left-wing ideals (equal rights, welfare state etc.), travel, flexible work, and being self-directed and independent.
Other skills: I'm a good writer and I'm organised. I'm not great at maths, multitasking or talking to people for long periods. I have no sense of direction and my common sense sometimes fails me.
What jobs/careers besides programmer might I enjoy and qualify for? All suggestions wacky or otherwise gratefully received!
I worked on university projects relating to education and video games, mostly user interfaces. I'm sick of programming - specifically, the endless learning of new languages - but I do like universities and novel computing/technology/science in the real world.
I really enjoy design, in the most abstract sense - e.g. I would call an elegantly disguised but logical and effective plot twist as good 'design'. I feel like this could apply to lots of things, but I'm not sure what they are.
I also like comedy (I do stand-up and am very interested in this world), video games, science, rational/evidence-based thinking, left-wing ideals (equal rights, welfare state etc.), travel, flexible work, and being self-directed and independent.
Other skills: I'm a good writer and I'm organised. I'm not great at maths, multitasking or talking to people for long periods. I have no sense of direction and my common sense sometimes fails me.
What jobs/careers besides programmer might I enjoy and qualify for? All suggestions wacky or otherwise gratefully received!
Product Manager.
Either at a game or education startup. Or perhaps at a visual effects or animation studio.
posted by bitdamaged at 6:52 AM on November 11, 2011
Either at a game or education startup. Or perhaps at a visual effects or animation studio.
posted by bitdamaged at 6:52 AM on November 11, 2011
Freelance developer. Pick your projects, pick your language, make big bux.
posted by blue_beetle at 8:19 AM on November 11, 2011
posted by blue_beetle at 8:19 AM on November 11, 2011
Assuming you have good problem solving skills, tech support gets you out of the programming loop, yet leverages your skills. Depending on your feel for technical matters, you could be hired by a venture capitalist to assess the viability of tech startup ideas. You could do marketing support (attend trade fairs), if your ability to think on your feet matches with your writing ability but I am not sure how averse you are to the people component (you just have to answer their questions). I agree with the QA comment by spinifex23 but I am not sure if your inability or dislike of multitasking would rule this out. If you have an interest in security, a programming background is handy but you would need more education, either formal or informal. Had you not said "I'm not great at maths", I would have suggested that you look at big data (lots of data, probably stored and manipulated in the cloud): there is a lot of potential here, working even for banks and investment companies, governments, geological or extraction companies, tech companies looking for analytics, etc. But I think you might need some stats background to do the job properly.
Emilyw suggested Tech Writer. That is a possibility, although all the tech writers I met hated the job.
You might like to think about either starting your own tech blog/ezine or contributing to an established one as a freelancer.
If you have no idea where to go next, I would suggest you read "Wishcraft" to figure out what you like and want in life. Then perhaps "What Color Is My Parachute" to determine the skills that are needed for various fields. If you can find a career coach (the YMCA used to offer this), that person could probably advise you on the transferable skills, current job demand and the chances of pulling off a big career change.
Good luck.
posted by PickeringPete at 8:44 AM on November 11, 2011
Emilyw suggested Tech Writer. That is a possibility, although all the tech writers I met hated the job.
You might like to think about either starting your own tech blog/ezine or contributing to an established one as a freelancer.
If you have no idea where to go next, I would suggest you read "Wishcraft" to figure out what you like and want in life. Then perhaps "What Color Is My Parachute" to determine the skills that are needed for various fields. If you can find a career coach (the YMCA used to offer this), that person could probably advise you on the transferable skills, current job demand and the chances of pulling off a big career change.
Good luck.
posted by PickeringPete at 8:44 AM on November 11, 2011
If you are a strong communicator you could find a niche as the business analyst who creates cohesion between academic subject experts and programmers who build software for them. I did something like this years ago and it was delightful. I would often quip that my job was to be the least informed person in the room and ask each group the questions that they needed to be asked to make sure we were building the right stuff.
posted by dgran at 9:08 AM on November 11, 2011
posted by dgran at 9:08 AM on November 11, 2011
Maybe you are programming the wrong things?
Many (or all) industries have problems that could be solved with programming. So perhaps you just need to choose an industry/area that interests you, figure out what problems people have, and then use your programming expertise to help solve them or become more efficient.
Are you bored? I am also a programmer and I get bored when things become monotonous.
I guess what I'm saying is maybe you just need a new programming job in a different field--or alternatively, work for yourself?
posted by theposterboy at 9:28 AM on November 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Many (or all) industries have problems that could be solved with programming. So perhaps you just need to choose an industry/area that interests you, figure out what problems people have, and then use your programming expertise to help solve them or become more efficient.
Are you bored? I am also a programmer and I get bored when things become monotonous.
I guess what I'm saying is maybe you just need a new programming job in a different field--or alternatively, work for yourself?
posted by theposterboy at 9:28 AM on November 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Psychotherapist. I'm speaking from experience.
posted by Obscure Reference at 10:16 AM on November 11, 2011
posted by Obscure Reference at 10:16 AM on November 11, 2011
Seconding product management, particularly technical product management. You'll get to keep working on the technical side of things but focus on the larger issues - be it product design or technical design - and get a much better sense of the way the business operates. You'll also pick up management skills that you don't get in your day-to-day as a programmer. And I find the organizational aspects, particularly engineering management, pretty fascinating.
There are a few different molds of product manager (eg people who are glorified project managers, people who are very design-focused, and people who are very technical former engineers) so I'd look closely at descriptions and ask tough questions at interviews. Good luck!
posted by iamscott at 11:44 AM on November 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
There are a few different molds of product manager (eg people who are glorified project managers, people who are very design-focused, and people who are very technical former engineers) so I'd look closely at descriptions and ask tough questions at interviews. Good luck!
posted by iamscott at 11:44 AM on November 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm sick of programming - specifically, the endless learning of new languages
I, too, have 4 years of experience, and I definitely have not had to learn a new language since I started work. Sure, I can if I want, but all my major experience has been in the same language. I just want to let you know that it's very, very possible to program computers and *not* have to learn new languages all the time.
That said, maybe think about a job in developer relations/developer advocacy. You still do a little coding now and then but it's mostly an educational and PR kind of job, it seems. I work with dev.rel. guys a lot in my current position and I think it's a good job for techies who want to meet users a lot and wear a few different hats.
posted by troublesome at 8:15 PM on November 11, 2011
I, too, have 4 years of experience, and I definitely have not had to learn a new language since I started work. Sure, I can if I want, but all my major experience has been in the same language. I just want to let you know that it's very, very possible to program computers and *not* have to learn new languages all the time.
That said, maybe think about a job in developer relations/developer advocacy. You still do a little coding now and then but it's mostly an educational and PR kind of job, it seems. I work with dev.rel. guys a lot in my current position and I think it's a good job for techies who want to meet users a lot and wear a few different hats.
posted by troublesome at 8:15 PM on November 11, 2011
This isn't the answer you're looking for, but when I was extremely burned out on programming I quit and tried to start a new career. I then got a much better job programming and realized I wasn't burned out -- just hated my job. The stress of a coding job that's not a good fit can really blind you to what you really want. Consider it!
posted by zvs at 9:21 PM on November 11, 2011
posted by zvs at 9:21 PM on November 11, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks everyone! Some good answers.
posted by Kirn at 5:19 AM on November 13, 2011
posted by Kirn at 5:19 AM on November 13, 2011
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Comedian.
Some kind of career in UX design.
posted by emilyw at 6:35 AM on November 11, 2011