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Ask HN: What should I do?

2 points by f4stjack ↗ HN
Hey HN,

I feel stuck in a rut and don't know what to do. I am working as an IT personnel right now, I code in c# but do know Java, Ruby (rails and sinatra a little bit, I mean I got some training but never did a proper project with them), SQL, Python... you name it probably I dabbled in it.

The kicker is I got my bachelor of arts from Philosophy and did a Master's on Sociology. Wrote a thesis on Organized Crime Groups even. But because I couldn't find tenure, I became a coder.

But... after spending 3 years in coding it started to feel like work. I mean my current workplace is good, nobody is harassing me about anything but... I feel like I could do something different, better maybe?

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

8 comments

[ 4.4 ms ] story [ 25.2 ms ] thread
pskittle
Take a break!
f4stjack
Unfortunately I cannot do that... but thanks for the suggestion!
crojach
What do you have in mind? Do you want a new job somewhere else? Do you want to code any longer?

If you want to stay is software development you can maybe try to do some freelancing projects which will give you a nice change of pace with new clients. This is working awesome for me. I have a full time job but freelance as well in my free time.

f4stjack
I actually want a new job somewhere else, as in another country. I live somewhere in the Middle east and the recent developments quite made me afraid as an atheist, to be frank.

And coding... I think I am burned out. I think I want to write about it, maybe teach about it but I think my days of creation has passed.

Thanks for the reply anyway.

JSeymourATL
> I feel like I could do something different, better maybe?

The challenge is to be self aware. Can you come to grips with what stands in the way of understanding yourself and your passions?

Robert Kaplan has authored an excellent book on this very subject. Here's his Talk @ Google> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sY-qwEYjs0

osconfused
Wow, 3 years is a long time for a coding job. I bounce around a lot due to boredom. If you are sick of coding, there is always managing coders as a change of pace. But if you like to code, you might just need a new project or company to re-ignite your passions. Coding for a b2b company is a lot different than a consumer app, or even games.

There is a coding meetup group where I live that I like to visit sometimes to see if I am tired of my project or coding in general.