Ask HN: Would you quit your six figure, promising career path to learn to code?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3726917

by gamechangr • 14 years ago

1 12 14 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

gamechangr6• 14 years ago

I know very little about coding (thinking of starting with RoR), but would love to hear if anyone has "made the jump"...do you have any regrets??

mikecane• 14 years ago

Why can't you learn to code after work or on weekends? There are people who've written books that way. If you're determined, you'd do it that way. Otherwise, you're just dreaming of riches -- which you already have, with a six-figure salary few do have.

gamechangr6• 14 years ago

Partly because the traveling/effort that is required to succeed in my current job is very demanding.

djloche• 14 years ago

No. You should learn to code in your free time, then leverage your new skills to get a promotion and raise. Contribute to open source projects and build mvp style learning projects.

If you are still serious about changing careers, keep working the day job and save back as much money as you can while reaching out to headhunters/startups/etc. Don't quit your job until you have accepted an offer from another company and have a solid 6+ months cash reserve. Don't burn any bridges.

gamechangr6• 14 years ago

I have more than six months for sure. I'm confident I wouldn't run out of money, but may regret leaving a high paying job. thanks for the feedback (guess I should have given a little more information)

kls• 14 years ago

My recommendation would be if you truly want to program, then learn to program and use your learning in your domain. Solution for problems that arise in that domain and see if they can become products. To me this is the safest and most effective path to not starting over completely.

joelmaat• 14 years ago

Just to learn how to code, rather than to branch out on your own, or to build your own thing, or to launch your tested idea? No.

veguss• 14 years ago

No, you should hire them instead.

gamechangr6• 14 years ago

I don't really have a really specific burning desire for one concept.

I just wonder if developer love their jobs, or is it just an overplayed alternate version of Hollywood (completely separate than the reality of the startup life)

gamechangr6• 14 years ago

Has anyone made a change....if so do you "love it" or

"tell me what you wish someone would have told you"

I am just looking for a new mountain to climb (and hope it's not a "the grass is always greener" situation)

codgercoder• 14 years ago

Unless something changes dramatically, your shelf life as an employable programmer is going to be surprisingly limited.

gamechangr6• 14 years ago

That's the kind of real perspective I am looking for...

I assume that is for all programming (not a RoR specific comment?)

Thank you

Ask HN: Would you quit your six figure, promising career path to learn to code?

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