Ask HN for a career advice
2 comments
As far as "merging" your jobs, this jumps out at me:
+plant maintenance management & coordination (around 5 years).
+software developer leveraging my plant maintenance experience.
I'm sure you've seen in 5+ years something in plant management that could probably be automated or had a pretty GUI put on top for pretty graphs. Is there anything you can think of that you could look in to developing that you could whitebox and sell to plants for management? Perhaps it was something during your software development experience that you thought would have been cool to pursue but The Man decided to take a different direction?
If you feel you've been out of the loop I'm sure you must have some contacts that would be more than happy to talk to you about their problems.
Initial barriers I see: I know some industries run certain vendor equipment so integrating or even convincing them to buy would be a bit difficult.
My other thought would be to go back to Engineering and use your software experience to make your life easier by automating your daily tasks so you can spend more energy doing something else (working for advancement, not working long weeks, or whatever other goals you have).
I'm sure you've seen in 5+ years something in plant management that could probably be automated or had a pretty GUI put on top for pretty graphs. Is there anything you can think of that you could look in to developing that you could whitebox and sell to plants for management? Perhaps it was something during your software development experience that you thought would have been cool to pursue but The Man decided to take a different direction?
If you feel you've been out of the loop I'm sure you must have some contacts that would be more than happy to talk to you about their problems.
Initial barriers I see: I know some industries run certain vendor equipment so integrating or even convincing them to buy would be a bit difficult.
My other thought would be to go back to Engineering and use your software experience to make your life easier by automating your daily tasks so you can spend more energy doing something else (working for advancement, not working long weeks, or whatever other goals you have).
Thank you for taking the time and your thoughts.
Investing in a product is an interesting idea, but: 1) I'm out of the loop as you mentioned. 2) Bad taste from my little adventure. 3) Lack of motivation and 4) Lack the sales channels especially for enterprises.
Investing in a product is an interesting idea, but: 1) I'm out of the loop as you mentioned. 2) Bad taste from my little adventure. 3) Lack of motivation and 4) Lack the sales channels especially for enterprises.
Yeah I would like to hear advice too. I am based in a developing country and my choice of technologies is absolutely not helping me do anything (I learned ruby on rails and I want to start a service company as well).
I'm currently contracting for The Man (read: lucrative but soul sucking), and will soon be outsourced (primarily to save office space). I've tried launching a product but failed post-implementation (partner quit).
I'm at a career cross-roads. I'm starting a service company, but being drained out of motivation and ideas. I have a family of four and minimal social support.
<personal_observations> I'm getting old. The IT industry is pitiful (bad clientele, outsourcing, non-involvement, ...). It's not as easy as other professions to make money (although not too difficult either). Indicators are not in favor of the industry (bubble, economy, ...). My choice of technology isn't aligned with The Norm (further difficulties in landing a 'job'). I'm not being part of something BIG. </>
I've been advised to move back to Engineering, and try finding a job. I've thought of 'merging' the two careers, but totally lack ideas.
I've always appreciated the insights of HN community and would like to hear what you have to say.
[sorry for lots of 'I's]