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I've felt this a few times, but ended up not making the jump to a different field because of my lack of expertise compared to tech, and the pay downgrade that w

I've felt this a few times, but ended up not making the jump to a different field because of my lack of expertise compared to tech, and the pay downgrade that would incur. Something I've realised is that I will often jump to the conclusion of being 'done with tech', predicated on a fairly narrow band of experience. Whilst I may not get my jollies from the 'cloud' and ever-changing landscape of web technologies, I am still genuinely interested in low-level programming, data structures and Linux (I'm a Windows dev). I use these interests to broaden my days beyond just working in my narrow, specialised scope, creating interest and stimulation which otherwise would not exist. Who knows, maybe that can create a realistic diverse career branch out of where I currently am?

watermelon59 6y ago
I'm exactly the same as you, but I just don't see how I could get a job doing the low-level stuff that really "clicks" with me. I'm 15 years into my career and it feels like it's impossible to make such a change.
- trilinearnz 6y ago
  For a short while, 14 years into my own career, I managed to shift from my Windows-oriented .NET development role into an organisation which did PHP against a strong Linux environment. I got the job after demonstrating my expertise at a local programming meetup, by doing a presentation on design patterns (a transferrable skill), and convincing the employer I was keen to learn PHP, how my existing skills could be related to it, and recently-introduced aspects of the language that resonated with me (i.e. PHP with strong object-oriented style, using constructs that were recently-introduced at the time). If I had stuck it out there, it's possible I could have built up my skillset further in that direction and transitioned into another area that was more low-level and appealing. The lesson from that is, I think, that you can do a 'stepping stone' approach that is only a few degrees removed from what you do already, each time you transition jobs. Do that a few times, build up some contacts within the new network of people you will meet during that in order to broaden further opportunities, and you may well succeed in a meaningful transition in the medium-term.

watermelon59 6y ago

I'm exactly the same as you, but I just don't see how I could get a job doing the low-level stuff that really "clicks" with me. I'm 15 years into my career and it feels like it's impossible to make such a change.

trilinearnz 6y ago
For a short while, 14 years into my own career, I managed to shift from my Windows-oriented .NET development role into an organisation which did PHP against a strong Linux environment. I got the job after demonstrating my expertise at a local programming meetup, by doing a presentation on design patterns (a transferrable skill), and convincing the employer I was keen to learn PHP, how my existing skills could be related to it, and recently-introduced aspects of the language that resonated with me (i.e. PHP with strong object-oriented style, using constructs that were recently-introduced at the time). If I had stuck it out there, it's possible I could have built up my skillset further in that direction and transitioned into another area that was more low-level and appealing. The lesson from that is, I think, that you can do a 'stepping stone' approach that is only a few degrees removed from what you do already, each time you transition jobs. Do that a few times, build up some contacts within the new network of people you will meet during that in order to broaden further opportunities, and you may well succeed in a meaningful transition in the medium-term.