[okreallywtf]

What do you do now if you don't mine me asking? I have only been a dev for 3 years now so its a little early for me to consider changing my occupation (if anything I would be likely to get a phd and/or consider teaching/research) but I'm always interested to see what people choose when they make a major life change.

[dfraser992]

I took a year off, tried to work on my writing... Way too many ideas there and there is still some writer's block thing going on. I have tried to transition into this other interest a few times, but having to pay rent is always a blocking factor. Writing code all these years has worn some groove in my mind, I fear. One good screenplay though... If Universal Basic Income existed, I'd definitely be in the arts in some capacity. Theatre, etc. I'm completely useless for anything else other than IT or creative stuff - sales, management, MBA, etc.

I was thrashing about, so I decided to go to grad school to get an official certificate aka MSc in machine learning. The statistics part is surprisingly interesting, it's technical so I'll make some money, but it's not the grind of development. I would not take a data engineering position, for example. My last job involved some work in this area and it was a breath of fresh air re: my desire to deal with computers. I wish I'd looked into it earlier. My engineering/dev background + this will hopefully make HR/recruiters think I'm a unicorn. A highly paid unicorn.

I have this book, you'd probably enjoy it:

http://www.pobronson.com/index_what_should_I_do_with_my_life...