I did a search using the phrase “best alternative career for IT.” Here are some of the results.
TechRepublic offers 10 alternative careers for burned-out IT workers. The title holds promise but the first suggestion is “Auto repair” and the last is “Farming,” with “Cosmetology” (hair design) somewhere in the middle. I don’t drive, I like farms best when I see them on TV and don’t have to smell them, and I don’t have any hair, making me a poor expert on the subject. To be fair, the author also suggests writing, teaching and other more obvious choices but somehow the list ended up leaving me mildly depressed.
I don’t dislike IT but I find as time marches on in that way it has a habit of doing I want less and less to spend my time fixing tech problems (mine or others) and more time making things. Creating things. Designing things (but not hair).
ZDNet has Five alternative careers for IT pros. This list may not be for me. I’m not a fancypants pro, just some schmuck offering tier one and two support. But I read on and…technology insurance underwriter? Equity analyst? Account executive? I have clearly found the difference between IT and IT pro because these occupations are about as appealing to me as rolling in honey and napping on a fire ant nest. I’m not saying these would be bad jobs for someone, but just uttering the phrase “technology insurance underwriter” comes close to inducing narcolepsy for me.
I looked at some of the less IT-specific searches and found 7 Alternatives to Working a Regular Job You Don’t Like. The title is a bit harsh as applied to me (I don’t actively dislike my job), but let’s see what bold ideas the Happier Abroad blog has:
- Self-employment doing what you love. For me the best fit here would be writing. If you like this post please send me $10,000 to get started on making this dream happen.
- Adopt a more minimalist lifestyle focused more on spirituality, interpersonal relationships, frugality and richness of experiences, rather than on materialism and status. Or, be happy being poor. I tried this before, it didn’t work.
- Find a rich partner to date or marry. Direct, but not really practical. I’m already in a happy relationship and while money is nice and poverty sucks, I prefer a balance. My substitute option would be Win the lottery.
- Live with your parents. My dad died 24 years ago. This would be awkward.
In the end the easiest thing to change is my attitude but I don’t think lobotomies are legal anymore so I’m probably stuck with mine for awhile yet. At least my hip doesn’t hurt anymore.
