#4: Why I left tech
Should you?
Why did I leave the tech world?
Well, I didn’t just leave. I was forced out.
But I chose not to crawl back.
Maybe one day I will, when it gets its life together.
The funny thing is, I used to be a huge advocate of the tech world.
When I was a senior in college, I strongly encouraged others to get into tech.
I was a non-technical major (double major in Psychology & Sociology) who wanted to go into Human Resources at a tech company, so I was vocal about the benefits of non-technical careers in the tech industry.
I was even on the leadership team of an online community that promoted that exact mission.
But we all know what happened.
I broke into a tech company, and then I was laid off.
The unfortunate truth is that when tech companies require layoffs, those non-technical roles are the first to go.
Recruiting, HR, marketing, even project managers and scrum masters.
Unless you write the code and build the product, you’re on the hit list.
So working in tech is a great place when tech is doing well. Right now? Not so hot. But it’s recovering.
Thanks to mass layoffs, my eyes were opened to the other opportunities available.
When I started job searching, I made the intentional decision to apply to mostly non-tech companies.
Have you heard those stories on LinkedIn of people being laid off back-to-back? It’s absolutely horrific and I wanted to avoid that the best I could too.
Now I work at a manufacturing/distribution company, and there’s way more stability.
But to be honest, I do miss aspects of the tech industry.
Man, do I miss the unlimited PTO (I took over 20 days off in less than a year). Imagine my dismay when I was given an offer that only had 10 days of PTO per year on it.
And to be completely real with you: I did take a significant pay cut.
But the advantages are pretty noteworthy: my role is fully remote, I get to fly in for team outings, I have great leadership, I’m in a role that aligns more with my skillsets, and I’m less stressed.
On top of that, what I didn’t expect was that working in an industry with more of a casual environment was kind of…healing.
My team cracks jokes every time we get together, and I no longer feel the pressure to use corporate phrases to be impressive.
I’ve never felt more comfortable expressing more of my personality, though I still have a long way to go in this area.
So, the moral of the story here is:
If you get laid off or are currently laid off, strongly consider industries outside of tech.
Some examples of industries that are more recession-proof include: healthcare, financial services, education, and public sector (government).
It might not give you the bragging rights that you desire, but in these times, being in a stable job is a bragging right.
Health & Wealth 🧠
Here’s a book rec! 📖
Did you know there’s a book that’s written specifically for people in their 20’s? A psychologist who has provided therapy for numerous clients in their 20’s compiled her findings and advice into a book called The Defining Decade.
It’s a thought-provoking read, and I challenge you to read it with an open but critical mind, because like me, you might not agree with everything in the book. But it’ll definitely give you food for thought about navigating your 20’s.
Pro tip: If you’re a reader like me, you like collecting books.
But if you’re also like me, you don’t like paying full price for them.
So instead, I thrift my books…online. Instead of buying new books for $15-$20 each, I buy them slightly used (but still in great condition) from Thriftbooks for $4-$6 each instead. Better for the environment and your wallet - now THAT’s a win-win.
Career Inbox 📩
Got a career question you’d like me to answer in a future post? (Ex. How do I do salary research? How do I negotiate an offer? What questions do I ask at the end of an interview? ) Drop them in my inbox below!
Thanks for reading! 😊
Hope you enjoyed this article of 9 to Thrive!
Give this post a like if you’ve made it this far!
Until next time, stay healthy, wealthy, and wise!
Sincerely,
Sarena