|
|
|
|
#1
10-13-2005, 04:03 PM
|
|||
|
|||
Midlife Career Change
This is not a "I want to go Pro" post you often find in the poker discussion forums. This is a question on changing one's career from a guy who has very little idea about what he wants to do.
I'm in my mid 30's and work as a programmer. I've been doing this for close to a decade now and although it has been financially rewarding, I realize now it is not something I want to do for the rest of my life. I supplement my income with online poker so the motivation to keep at it is also pretty low. But nonetheless, I do want to persue something else. But I have no idea whatelse is out there for me. Since I do have poker for supplementary income, I don't need to find a career that pays as much as being a programmer. But I do want something that will provide medical and 401K, and something that is more day to day rather than project oriented. Since poker is my passion, I don't need this job to be my life enjoyment. I just need something to provide medical (401K is bonus) and something to get me out of the house when not playing poker. Any ideas? 
|
|
#2
10-13-2005, 04:05 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Re: Midlife Career Change
I'm in the same boat, but I'm unwilling to take the pay cut. Sounds like you want a part-time job with benefits. Why not load trucks for UPS?
|
|
#3
10-13-2005, 04:15 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Re: Midlife Career Change
[ QUOTE ]
I'm in the same boat, but I'm unwilling to take the pay cut. Sounds like you want a part-time job with benefits. Why not load trucks for UPS? [/ QUOTE ] UPS delivery man? hmmm I can go for that. How much do you think that pays? What other jobs have you thought about and are you in IT? If so why do you not like IT? For me I hate the stupid specs you get for developing what I need to develop and having to deal with users that dont really know what they want.
|
|
#4
10-13-2005, 04:18 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Re: Midlife Career Change
I think UPS is like $8 or $9 hour, they offer college tuition assistance too, so if you were thinking grad school for something other than IT that could work.
|
|
#5
10-13-2005, 04:21 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Re: Midlife Career Change
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ] I'm in the same boat, but I'm unwilling to take the pay cut. Sounds like you want a part-time job with benefits. Why not load trucks for UPS? [/ QUOTE ] UPS delivery man? hmmm I can go for that. How much do you think that pays? What other jobs have you thought about and are you in IT? If so why do you not like IT? For me I hate the stupid specs you get for developing what I need to develop and having to deal with users that dont really know what they want. [/ QUOTE ] I think delivery man is pretty different from loading trucks. IIRC, the delivery men can make over 70k, get full medical paid for, and a generous (by today's standards) pension plan. It's not an easy job to get, but it's an easy one to keep. Freakin
|
|
#6
10-13-2005, 04:36 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Re: Midlife Career Change
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] I'm in the same boat, but I'm unwilling to take the pay cut. Sounds like you want a part-time job with benefits. Why not load trucks for UPS? [/ QUOTE ] UPS delivery man? hmmm I can go for that. How much do you think that pays? What other jobs have you thought about and are you in IT? If so why do you not like IT? For me I hate the stupid specs you get for developing what I need to develop and having to deal with users that dont really know what they want. [/ QUOTE ] I think delivery man is pretty different from loading trucks. IIRC, the delivery men can make over 70k, get full medical paid for, and a generous (by today's standards) pension plan. It's not an easy job to get, but it's an easy one to keep. Freakin [/ QUOTE ] Yeah, my friends uncle was a UPS delivery man and he is retired now at 55, lives in a huge house and drives a jag. they definately make a good wage, and have nice benefits (including stock purchase plans and pensions). though it sounds like a rediculously mind numbing job.
|
|
#7
10-13-2005, 04:48 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Re: Midlife Career Change
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ] I'm in the same boat, but I'm unwilling to take the pay cut. Sounds like you want a part-time job with benefits. Why not load trucks for UPS? [/ QUOTE ] UPS delivery man? hmmm I can go for that. How much do you think that pays? What other jobs have you thought about and are you in IT? If so why do you not like IT? For me I hate the stupid specs you get for developing what I need to develop and having to deal with users that dont really know what they want. [/ QUOTE ] You could go either route, but I think driving pays way better. Ideally, I'm looking for the ideal Holden Caulfield setup - pretending that I'm mute and have people write me little notes saying what they want. I've considered: Teaching high school math/science/programming - won't do it because the parents are out of control these days and the pay is [censored]. On the plus side is summer's off to play cards. Loan officer at a bank. It would be boring but predictable. Truck driver. For the Catcher in the Rye effect. Powerball winner. This is the best case scenario. This would also fund startup ideas. I guess I'll stick to writing code for a living. After another 10 years of this, my head will explode.
|
|
#8
10-13-2005, 05:49 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Re: Midlife Career Change
If you want to teach is there not colleges you can teach in? I dont understand the US system fully but over here there is a level below University that tends to provide more vocational courses. So get a mix of people not able to goto uni or adult learners, people getting courses on their job etc etc.
Is there no way to do freelance programming based form home, theres a few websites where people put specs on and people can bid for them etc.
|
|
#9
10-13-2005, 06:04 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Re: Midlife Career Change
[ QUOTE ]
If you want to teach is there not colleges you can teach in? I dont understand the US system fully but over here there is a level below University that tends to provide more vocational courses. So get a mix of people not able to goto uni or adult learners, people getting courses on their job etc etc. [/ QUOTE ] Here in the US, most of those outfits are scams. Many offer seemingly legit degrees, but bona-fide universities (where the faculty is mostly PHDs) won't accept transfer credits. I'm just too damn old to go back for a proper doctorate.
|
|
#10
10-13-2005, 04:15 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Re: Midlife Career Change
I don't know what you can/can't do, or how much you're looking for, but if the money really isn't that important, why not look for something in an enjoyable field? If i were ever in the situation that I just needed a job to kill time or to get benefits, I'd probably look at a golf shop or fishing shop to see if I could get full time work with benefits.
|
 |
|
|
Hybrid Mode
