Ask HN: As a tech worker, have you worked a “low-skill” job outside of tech?

[artsytrashcan]

This is really a question for people who have several years experience in a "low-skill", non-tech position (retail, service, manual labor, etc.) as well as several years experience in what is considered a "tech company" these days (start-up origin, VC-funded, software or electronics-focused). Can you talk about your experiences in each? How do they compare?

[kgf1980]

I’ve gone the other way - I used to work in tech (although I used to work in more traditional LOB development roles rather than VC/startup based) and I now work as a HGV (truck) driver.

I’m based in the UK, and to be honest I prefer driving.

I’m working probably slightly longer hours (45-55 hours a week compared to 40, but that’s because I choose to pick up extra runs at work, I’m not required to do it) but I finish my shift and I’m done - working tech (and also being home based in them) I never really felt I could fully “shut off” at the end of the day, now I can.

Plus, as it’s a more physical role (unloading pallets at locations) my health is much better, I’ve lost a lot of weight and I’m on the same if not slightly higher wages (my last role as a developer was 37.5k, this year I’m looking at 40-45k depending on what overtime I pick up)

All in all, for me I’m much happier having moved out of tech and into a more “low-skill” area, though I try and keep up and am also writing an app on my rest days, which is just for me to track my hours, pay and everything “life” related.

[more_corn]

I’ve worked low-paying jobs. I’m currently in a high paying career. It’s tragic that minimum wage workers pay so much tax, especially when wealthy corporations pay nothing. If there were any fairness in our system we’d reverse that.

It’s like there are two sets of rules. People low on the totem pole work hardest and get charged the most. The wealthy and powerful get a free pass and a handshake.

The highest paid people have it a lot easier. Everything is cheaper when you have money. Mortgage is cheaper than rent. Cheap cars (2-4K) are significantly more expensive to operate than something in the 5-30k range, but when you’re working hard for low pay, trying to eat, pay rent, get to work. Sometimes you can’t dig out enough to do the cheaper thing.

When you’re in a bind, fees and added charges materialize like magic. Overdraft fees are fucking insanity. Payday lending is criminal. The people who can least afford it pay the highest interest rates. Rates that would make your head spin.

My biggest takeaway from working both ends is that the system is rigged. If I hadn’t figured out a way to switch to the winning side I’d be devoting my whole life to burning the whole system to the ground. Of course when I was on the other side I was too exhausted to do much of anything so I’d probably just be working a dead end job and numbing my brain with drink or worse.

As it is the unfairness around me often makes my stomach churn. The unfairness of our economic system is just staggering to me.

[Bokehmon5ter]

more_corn can I have your email, wanted to check something with your regarding software testing.

[leros]

I got a summer job in a factory after my freshman year of college. I realized I'd probably never have the opportunity to have a blue collar job again once I started technical internships so I wanted the experience.

It was definitely interesting seeing how hard everyone in the factory worked. They worked hard, long hours, for relatively low pay. I'd leave work physically tired but my brain was rested which was pretty nice because I still had energy to do mentally taxing things after work. Contrast that to working in tech where your job is not physically tiring but you leave with your brain fried. If they paid the same, I'd prefer the blue collar job to be honest.

[jneumann004]

I've worked various jobs, but the most grueling one was at a glass factory. I worked for 4 years at the factory; part of it swing shift, part straight days, and part straight afternoons. I was mentally understimulated and depressed for various reasons. Working swing shift screwed up my sleep schedule, probably for the rest of my life. The upside is that I can go significant times without feeling tired. I think the longest stint I was awake was 38 hours with one hour of sleep.

I wouldn't want to do it again, but it made me thankful for the job and skills I have now.