Where's the exit
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I’ve been browsing the CP forum for a while now and consider you all a thoughtful and intelligent bunch, so I would appreciate your opinions. I have been in the software business for 25 years now and have been involved in every aspect of software. I have coded plenty (started with UCSD Pascal and now do Java). I have managed large programming teams, been a project manager for high pressure consultant firms (during the .COM years), worked as a self employed contractor, was a partial owner of a successful startup, and now do development for laboratory Robotic systems. It all sounds great, but the truth is, I’m burned out. I’m currently under-employed at a mismanaged, thoroughly dull company and I want out of this game. I considered all my career options (short of retirement) and what I would really like to do is teach computer programming to high school kids. Only problem.. the pay stinks. There is no way that I could support my family on the $30,000 a year that a high school teacher makes. Any ideas?
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I’ve been browsing the CP forum for a while now and consider you all a thoughtful and intelligent bunch, so I would appreciate your opinions. I have been in the software business for 25 years now and have been involved in every aspect of software. I have coded plenty (started with UCSD Pascal and now do Java). I have managed large programming teams, been a project manager for high pressure consultant firms (during the .COM years), worked as a self employed contractor, was a partial owner of a successful startup, and now do development for laboratory Robotic systems. It all sounds great, but the truth is, I’m burned out. I’m currently under-employed at a mismanaged, thoroughly dull company and I want out of this game. I considered all my career options (short of retirement) and what I would really like to do is teach computer programming to high school kids. Only problem.. the pay stinks. There is no way that I could support my family on the $30,000 a year that a high school teacher makes. Any ideas?
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I’ve been browsing the CP forum for a while now and consider you all a thoughtful and intelligent bunch, so I would appreciate your opinions. I have been in the software business for 25 years now and have been involved in every aspect of software. I have coded plenty (started with UCSD Pascal and now do Java). I have managed large programming teams, been a project manager for high pressure consultant firms (during the .COM years), worked as a self employed contractor, was a partial owner of a successful startup, and now do development for laboratory Robotic systems. It all sounds great, but the truth is, I’m burned out. I’m currently under-employed at a mismanaged, thoroughly dull company and I want out of this game. I considered all my career options (short of retirement) and what I would really like to do is teach computer programming to high school kids. Only problem.. the pay stinks. There is no way that I could support my family on the $30,000 a year that a high school teacher makes. Any ideas?
Teach computer programming to the teachers of high school programming.
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.”
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I’ve been browsing the CP forum for a while now and consider you all a thoughtful and intelligent bunch, so I would appreciate your opinions. I have been in the software business for 25 years now and have been involved in every aspect of software. I have coded plenty (started with UCSD Pascal and now do Java). I have managed large programming teams, been a project manager for high pressure consultant firms (during the .COM years), worked as a self employed contractor, was a partial owner of a successful startup, and now do development for laboratory Robotic systems. It all sounds great, but the truth is, I’m burned out. I’m currently under-employed at a mismanaged, thoroughly dull company and I want out of this game. I considered all my career options (short of retirement) and what I would really like to do is teach computer programming to high school kids. Only problem.. the pay stinks. There is no way that I could support my family on the $30,000 a year that a high school teacher makes. Any ideas?
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I’ve been browsing the CP forum for a while now and consider you all a thoughtful and intelligent bunch, so I would appreciate your opinions. I have been in the software business for 25 years now and have been involved in every aspect of software. I have coded plenty (started with UCSD Pascal and now do Java). I have managed large programming teams, been a project manager for high pressure consultant firms (during the .COM years), worked as a self employed contractor, was a partial owner of a successful startup, and now do development for laboratory Robotic systems. It all sounds great, but the truth is, I’m burned out. I’m currently under-employed at a mismanaged, thoroughly dull company and I want out of this game. I considered all my career options (short of retirement) and what I would really like to do is teach computer programming to high school kids. Only problem.. the pay stinks. There is no way that I could support my family on the $30,000 a year that a high school teacher makes. Any ideas?
Cut your expenses and do what you want to do (teach). Add some consulting on the side and you will find you can make teaching work just like any other low paying but rewarding professions. Although, you will likely find, that teaching is not what it is cracked up to be. At least not anymore. My personal escape plan is to become a pilot of aircraft that operates on software I didn't write.
Need custom software developed? I do C# development and consulting all over the United States. A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation." --Stephen Crane
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Jupitersoft wrote:
I have been in the software business for 25 years now
That more than my age sir. :omg:
जय हिंद
Literally :)
Need custom software developed? I do C# development and consulting all over the United States. A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation." --Stephen Crane
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Literally :)
Need custom software developed? I do C# development and consulting all over the United States. A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation." --Stephen Crane
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I am just old enough that I can call those under 25 children.
Need custom software developed? I do C# development and consulting all over the United States. A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation." --Stephen Crane
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I’ve been browsing the CP forum for a while now and consider you all a thoughtful and intelligent bunch, so I would appreciate your opinions. I have been in the software business for 25 years now and have been involved in every aspect of software. I have coded plenty (started with UCSD Pascal and now do Java). I have managed large programming teams, been a project manager for high pressure consultant firms (during the .COM years), worked as a self employed contractor, was a partial owner of a successful startup, and now do development for laboratory Robotic systems. It all sounds great, but the truth is, I’m burned out. I’m currently under-employed at a mismanaged, thoroughly dull company and I want out of this game. I considered all my career options (short of retirement) and what I would really like to do is teach computer programming to high school kids. Only problem.. the pay stinks. There is no way that I could support my family on the $30,000 a year that a high school teacher makes. Any ideas?
Having just replied to Fabio about the freedom he has in his youth to experiment with careers before the responsiblities of family life limits his freedom, I hope he reads the view from your side of the street as it's quite educational. You have a couple of things working against you. First, you have a standard of living to maintain and people who depend on you for that, so you can't just go live in an old VW bus while you find a new career, nor can you work flipping burgers and live on Ramen noodles while you build that new career. Additionally, this standard of living comes from being one of the old dogs. You've worked your way up, increased your value and thus your income, and now doubtless have a lifestyle that is dependant upon it. A new career means rebooting your salary since, regardless of your age, you're no longer one of the valued old dogs. You're a pup, you're new at the game, and you'll be compensated as such. Something you might contemplate is multiple streams of revenue. What sorts of things could you make partial money at in your spare time while keeping your current job? Could any of these build up part time to a point where they would be sufficient to sustain you, allowing you to hum the chorus of that timeless classic, "Take this job and shove it," and then move into a new full time career? Alternatively, what if you had several small things going on as side pursuits? Though each, in and of themselves, would not be enough to sustain you even after growth, the combined income might. You've probably spent most of your life working full time for one endeavor, so that's where your default thinking is going to be. Since it's unrealistic to jump in as The New Guy in a different field and make what you're earning now as a seasoned veteran, you're going to have to broaden your strategic thinking to non traditional scenarios. The down side of this is that no matter what new career(s) you choose, your family will pay for it in the time you must spend building a new chapter of your life. However, if you can get them on board and have their support in the adventure, the benefits to them are also tangible. A person burnt out on career or life issues is not capable of giving his best to those he loves, no matter how much he wants to. When you do find the exit (and you will, if you're serious about doing the work it takes), you're going to have more energy, optimism and happiness to share with others than you can possibly imagine. That's a great long term payoff for everyone.
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I’ve been browsing the CP forum for a while now and consider you all a thoughtful and intelligent bunch, so I would appreciate your opinions. I have been in the software business for 25 years now and have been involved in every aspect of software. I have coded plenty (started with UCSD Pascal and now do Java). I have managed large programming teams, been a project manager for high pressure consultant firms (during the .COM years), worked as a self employed contractor, was a partial owner of a successful startup, and now do development for laboratory Robotic systems. It all sounds great, but the truth is, I’m burned out. I’m currently under-employed at a mismanaged, thoroughly dull company and I want out of this game. I considered all my career options (short of retirement) and what I would really like to do is teach computer programming to high school kids. Only problem.. the pay stinks. There is no way that I could support my family on the $30,000 a year that a high school teacher makes. Any ideas?
Heh, when I was stuck in my last job that I hated, I felt the same way. I even went so far as to go to a "new teacher orientation" class - at which point I realized that I'm not even qualified to teach in the US. When I got my degree in Computer Science in England, I had done nothing but computing for 4 years. Of course in the US, in order to teach, you need to teach a "major" and CS is not a recognized major. When asked what else I could do, I was pretty much screwed, unless I wanted to go back to school myself for a couple of years just to obtain a major in something like English so that I could then teach CS. :~ Anyway, long story short, I ended up changing jobs to another programming job, and it was the best way to get myself out of the burnout rut that I had fallen into.
Jupitersoft wrote:
It all sounds great, but the truth is, I’m burned out. I’m currently under-employed at a mismanaged, thoroughly dull company and I want out of this game
Yep, then get out of there. You have a job right now, so there's no rush. Just keep your eyes open and move on when you can. Teaching is not really the answer - it's really the only different thing we might be qualified to do after so long specializing in one field...
The StartPage Randomizer - The Windows Cheerleader - Twitter
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I am just old enough that I can call those under 25 children.
Need custom software developed? I do C# development and consulting all over the United States. A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation." --Stephen Crane
That's not hard... I'm only 28, and those under-25-year-olds ARE children.
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Jupitersoft wrote:
Any ideas?
Open a sandwich shop. Everyone loves sandwiches. Make the sandwiches as salty as you can get away with. Sell over-priced iced tea. Eh, that's all i got.
Oi! You've been looking at my top secret business plans again!
10110011001111101010101000001000001101001010001010100000100000101000001000111100010110001011001011
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Having just replied to Fabio about the freedom he has in his youth to experiment with careers before the responsiblities of family life limits his freedom, I hope he reads the view from your side of the street as it's quite educational. You have a couple of things working against you. First, you have a standard of living to maintain and people who depend on you for that, so you can't just go live in an old VW bus while you find a new career, nor can you work flipping burgers and live on Ramen noodles while you build that new career. Additionally, this standard of living comes from being one of the old dogs. You've worked your way up, increased your value and thus your income, and now doubtless have a lifestyle that is dependant upon it. A new career means rebooting your salary since, regardless of your age, you're no longer one of the valued old dogs. You're a pup, you're new at the game, and you'll be compensated as such. Something you might contemplate is multiple streams of revenue. What sorts of things could you make partial money at in your spare time while keeping your current job? Could any of these build up part time to a point where they would be sufficient to sustain you, allowing you to hum the chorus of that timeless classic, "Take this job and shove it," and then move into a new full time career? Alternatively, what if you had several small things going on as side pursuits? Though each, in and of themselves, would not be enough to sustain you even after growth, the combined income might. You've probably spent most of your life working full time for one endeavor, so that's where your default thinking is going to be. Since it's unrealistic to jump in as The New Guy in a different field and make what you're earning now as a seasoned veteran, you're going to have to broaden your strategic thinking to non traditional scenarios. The down side of this is that no matter what new career(s) you choose, your family will pay for it in the time you must spend building a new chapter of your life. However, if you can get them on board and have their support in the adventure, the benefits to them are also tangible. A person burnt out on career or life issues is not capable of giving his best to those he loves, no matter how much he wants to. When you do find the exit (and you will, if you're serious about doing the work it takes), you're going to have more energy, optimism and happiness to share with others than you can possibly imagine. That's a great long term payoff for everyone.
That's just the kind of advice I was looking for - thanks. There is no question that being burn out and unmotivated not only effects your personal and family life, but it also effects your work life as well (wow - what a brainstorm to figure that one out). If I keep on at this place, it's really only a matter of time before they find and younger and cheaper person to do the job that I can barely motivate myself to do. Multiple streams of income might be a possibility, if I only could get the folks to pass away...
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I’ve been browsing the CP forum for a while now and consider you all a thoughtful and intelligent bunch, so I would appreciate your opinions. I have been in the software business for 25 years now and have been involved in every aspect of software. I have coded plenty (started with UCSD Pascal and now do Java). I have managed large programming teams, been a project manager for high pressure consultant firms (during the .COM years), worked as a self employed contractor, was a partial owner of a successful startup, and now do development for laboratory Robotic systems. It all sounds great, but the truth is, I’m burned out. I’m currently under-employed at a mismanaged, thoroughly dull company and I want out of this game. I considered all my career options (short of retirement) and what I would really like to do is teach computer programming to high school kids. Only problem.. the pay stinks. There is no way that I could support my family on the $30,000 a year that a high school teacher makes. Any ideas?
25 years of work I suppose you loved your work. So you can work as a teacher now, but as a hobby practise your work at home. Hobbies like that can make you money, too. Or you can try something completely different. Something that you wanna work besides the job you did 25 years. For example if I do not wanted so much to learn computers, I would studying for physicist now (I wanna work in CERN) :cool:
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Heh, when I was stuck in my last job that I hated, I felt the same way. I even went so far as to go to a "new teacher orientation" class - at which point I realized that I'm not even qualified to teach in the US. When I got my degree in Computer Science in England, I had done nothing but computing for 4 years. Of course in the US, in order to teach, you need to teach a "major" and CS is not a recognized major. When asked what else I could do, I was pretty much screwed, unless I wanted to go back to school myself for a couple of years just to obtain a major in something like English so that I could then teach CS. :~ Anyway, long story short, I ended up changing jobs to another programming job, and it was the best way to get myself out of the burnout rut that I had fallen into.
Jupitersoft wrote:
It all sounds great, but the truth is, I’m burned out. I’m currently under-employed at a mismanaged, thoroughly dull company and I want out of this game
Yep, then get out of there. You have a job right now, so there's no rush. Just keep your eyes open and move on when you can. Teaching is not really the answer - it's really the only different thing we might be qualified to do after so long specializing in one field...
The StartPage Randomizer - The Windows Cheerleader - Twitter
So having a degree in computer science is not enough to get a teaching credential in the US? Would I have to get an english or mather major to teach? Well, that sure as hell cuts out teaching as a career. No way am I going back to school.
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That's just the kind of advice I was looking for - thanks. There is no question that being burn out and unmotivated not only effects your personal and family life, but it also effects your work life as well (wow - what a brainstorm to figure that one out). If I keep on at this place, it's really only a matter of time before they find and younger and cheaper person to do the job that I can barely motivate myself to do. Multiple streams of income might be a possibility, if I only could get the folks to pass away...
Jupitersoft wrote:
Multiple streams of income might be a possibility, if I only could get the folks to pass away...
Should I be watching the obit for a mysterious family cluster? :D
10110011001111101010101000001000001101001010001010100000100000101000001000111100010110001011001011
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Jupitersoft wrote:
Multiple streams of income might be a possibility, if I only could get the folks to pass away...
Should I be watching the obit for a mysterious family cluster? :D
10110011001111101010101000001000001101001010001010100000100000101000001000111100010110001011001011
I was really banking on the swine flu outbreak to thin the ranks of the elderly inheritance holders - just my luck that it's cured with 7up and chicken soup.
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That's just the kind of advice I was looking for - thanks. There is no question that being burn out and unmotivated not only effects your personal and family life, but it also effects your work life as well (wow - what a brainstorm to figure that one out). If I keep on at this place, it's really only a matter of time before they find and younger and cheaper person to do the job that I can barely motivate myself to do. Multiple streams of income might be a possibility, if I only could get the folks to pass away...
Jupitersoft wrote:
Multiple streams of income might be a possibility, if I only could get the folks to pass away...
Why on earth would you want to do that? Haven't you ever heard of Cheap Labor? :-D
Christopher Duncan Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalUSA.com
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So having a degree in computer science is not enough to get a teaching credential in the US? Would I have to get an english or mather major to teach? Well, that sure as hell cuts out teaching as a career. No way am I going back to school.
Yeah, that's what they told me a couple of years ago when I wanted to get a teaching credential in California. It might be different in other states, I don't know. The lady told me that CS is not an acceptable major and that I would need something like English or math, and then my minor could be CS which would then allow me to teach CS. I joked with the lady and said that since I was from England, I could probably teach English pretty easily. She just kinda looked at me and said "I don't think the language department would appreciate that". :laugh: You might want to check into it in more detail just to be sure, but that meeting pretty much ruled out teaching for me too. No way I'm going back to school for 2 years now.
The StartPage Randomizer - The Windows Cheerleader - Twitter
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I’ve been browsing the CP forum for a while now and consider you all a thoughtful and intelligent bunch, so I would appreciate your opinions. I have been in the software business for 25 years now and have been involved in every aspect of software. I have coded plenty (started with UCSD Pascal and now do Java). I have managed large programming teams, been a project manager for high pressure consultant firms (during the .COM years), worked as a self employed contractor, was a partial owner of a successful startup, and now do development for laboratory Robotic systems. It all sounds great, but the truth is, I’m burned out. I’m currently under-employed at a mismanaged, thoroughly dull company and I want out of this game. I considered all my career options (short of retirement) and what I would really like to do is teach computer programming to high school kids. Only problem.. the pay stinks. There is no way that I could support my family on the $30,000 a year that a high school teacher makes. Any ideas?
look around, there are probably part-time teaching position, either in community college or youth centers or places like that.
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