Ask HN: What Are My Options?
I haven't done any programming after finishing the vocational school in 2018. I don't know if I'd even qualify as a script-kiddie anymore either since I've forgotten most of what I was taught.
I like fiddling with things (Rainmeter, ReShade, Addons and Plugins for games, previously set-up a pi-hole, have set-up YogaDNS w/ NextDNS, I've rigged and weightmapped models for VRChat, use GrapheneOS)
My only job experience is in physical IT support (printers, broken PCs, setting up new laptops, backing-up laptops to external drives or clonezilla over network) but I burnt myself out and had to recover for close to 8 months, and I already had super flex short hours..
What I guess I'm asking is what the hell can I do other than become my own employer and hope I can figure something out (3D printing service? Hosting??)
I am sorry if this is out of place somehow.
21 comments
[ 3.9 ms ] story [ 55.9 ms ] threadThe best thing to do is try some things that interest you.
You burnt out quickly doing traditional IT, so use that experience to learn about yourself and actually work on yourself. What mindsets and behaviors caused you to burn out? What changes would you need to make to be successful? IT can be at fault in this situation, but you can still learn from it.
Every job is this way, there will be things to learn in unexpected places.
Since you are young, it is a good time to take some risks. Maybe take a job in a completely different field? Deck out your resume as best you can and apply, apply, apply!
Have a backup plan for if you start to feel burnt out. Look at jobs at a golf course or arboretum, doing something easy and outdoors, but only as a short term thing while hunting for your next thing.
Try to show your value even in places like that. Take yourself seriously and do excellent work even in trivial things. Take pride in your work ethic, while also drawing boundaries and taking pride in healthy hobbies (preferably outdoors).
Meet people, ask about what they do. Bad with names? Add them on LinkedIn.
As I said in the beginning, you aren’t lacking for options, so you will need to get good at making decisions. Don’t worry about what’s the best, just look for things that sound interesting and give it a shot.
I answered many things in other comments, but
I've sort of figured out main points why I burned out, mostly overambition with no regard to my condition. So I would work and then basically sleep the rest of the day.
I've been thinking of applying for a supermarket job just for the sake of it. Seems chill. Probably not what you meant though.
Also you can hone some customer service skills that are generally useful everywhere.
I don't think I am that bad with people it's just that I think very slowly (deeply?) and I have a somewhat impaired work memory so it makes me feel super awkward because people expect a more fluid conversation.
Working in tech / IT can be grueling, particularly entry-level roles. Operations is often 24x7. People only call when they have problems. Incidents are rarely convenient. The work can be repetitive. It's a good job, but a bit like being a plumber, and you have to accept a certain amount of that.
You list a lot of different domains; specializing in an area will help you get past the entry-level physical work. Pay attention to the subjects that don't burn you out. Is there one specific type of "IT work" you really enjoy?
If so, focus there. Figure out the certifications which matter in that space (e.g. the CCNA/CCNP/CCIE track in networking) and pursue them.
I went to college for one thing (bioinformatics), burned out, took a year to recover and pivoted into network engineering, which ended up being a great decision that ultimately led me to a FAANG. Don't lose hope.
Long-term, I also suggest some inner work on your burnout, ideally with a therapist or other professional. Burnout rarely happens only once, and often it has more to do with our mindset and worldview than it does with the specific work. Took me a very long time (and some months with a great therapist) to recognize that about myself.
Be well!
Biggest part of burning out was mainly due to just trying to do as "normal" hours as possible which in hindsight was a terrible idea since I'm basically at half-capacity.
The things I didn't like in IT were the printer cartridges, troubleshooting projectors. I liked setting up devices, setting up user credentials through the AD, that sort of thing.
With fiddling I've come to appreciate FOSS and well light weight well working stuff.
One thing I have had problems with is doing things that others have solved (was thinking of making a website tracking app thingie but apparently I shouldn't bother and just run a node server and plop this thing in it). It's a bit discouraging but I know it's probably better I still do it regardless to gain experience. My languages of interest are JS and Lua if I ever start doing that.
I've worked with a therapist for unrelated reasons for 6 years and this has been one of the topics for the last year since I crave more independence. I've been the happiest in my life this year all things considered.
Sorry if my response isn't very coherent English is not my native tongue.
You will have to endure some degree of printer cartridge-type work in your early years, no matter what, especially since you're the new person. But if the role exposes you to the work you enjoy, put in the hours and you'll get noticed.
I remember my first years in networking - I never enjoyed climbing into ceilings, pulling cable etc. But I got it done, and worked hard in the areas I really enjoyed. Pretty soon an engineering role opened up; I was able to move into it quickly, as management had seen my potential.
You talk about "doing things that others have solved" - this is the "make vs buy" problem and, to a degree, it's fine to build things yourself. But you can probably appreciate that it isn't just about building the thing, it's about maintaining it. In a professional setting, you have to choose the optimal solution for the business.
On your personal time, build stuff! Whether that means assembling FOSS solutions or writing things from scratch, it's valuable experience.
I guess my ideal course of action right now is get a slightly more mundane job with things I like in it while I try to build things and learn. (Sounds like that's what you all have went through aswell).
As for military I am not viable for said type 1 narcolepsy (type 1 means "with cataplexy"). For same reasons I can never get a driving license.
Also I forgot to mention in the main post that I am in the EU, Nordic.
I'm not entirely sure what you exactly mean by sales? Like a sales person? How does it not have office hours, is it not just another office worker title?
Thank you!
There's this thing called "kevytyrittäjyys" [1], Direct translation to "lite/light entrepreneurship" which is supposed to make it easier, (don't need your own company, billing is easier etc)
[1] https://www.ukko.fi/en/lightentrepreneurship/
If you are not sure take a shitty job for a while and reconsider later.
To get a decent job (programming or whatever) you need some skill. Take the time to develop your skills.