Looking forward to seeing some interesting jobs I haven’t really thought about. Bonus points if it’s an IT job.
In the IT field particularly, if you like programming, Ada and COBOL are easy to learn, not desirable for young people because they’re not fashionable languages, and pay well because the old people that know them are retiring.
If you learn to code in COBOL, there will always be demand for your coding skills. But you’ll want to kill yourself because the only code you’ll ever get to work on is half-century-old spaghetti that has absurdly high uptime requirements.
Currently working on a programme of work for a huge client whose core system is still running the same COBOL spaghetti that was written in the 80s. The demand for COBOL developers to support or update these systems, and the compensation they get, is wild.
Give it a decade or two, and Java will be the new COBOL
People have been saying that for like a decade now
A decade ago I said it was 3-4 decades away
If you learn graphic design and are good with IT then there’s a lot of small companies that need an ‘everything guy’.
You see them advertised as graphic design jobs but with executives assistant responsibilities in the descriptions.
UX / UI work lends itself to designers with IT skills in a similar way. I ended up falling into Business Analysis ultimately, but graphic design experience mixed with IT skills have helped immeasurably throughout the twisting path my career took.
Graphic Design skills are low key some of the most valuable in any field.
Dental Hygienist. They make like $40/hour to clean people’s teeth. It only requires an associates degree and you can get it from community college (aka cheap).
That’s actually pretty tempting… I’ve wondered if I could hack it in dentistry before.
In Norway, fishing has the reputation of being a good fit for many who struggles with more theoretical professions while being very, very well paid. Like highly paid IT consulatant sallary.
HVAC. Takes just as much to learn as other trades but you make way more money.
[off topic]
Try this book. “Discover What You Are Best At.” Linda Gail. First half of the book is a series of self administered tests to see what you are good at. Things like math, mechanical problem solving, interpersonal skills etc. Second part is a listing of jobs that use those skills.
Pretty cool suggestion! Thanks! :)
It actually changed my life, so I love letting folks know about it. Good luck.
I can relate. Many books have changed my life in more or less strong ways. Simplify your life and 7 habits of highly effective people were two of them. I‘ll check it out. Have a good one.
The finance sector has been good to me, worked at the same place for 8 years, was well paid, got laid off due to cutbacks as my skills were not needed anymore, but got a good deal and am now at another finance company earning more and doing more interesting stuff.
My roles have all been in IT.
If you don’t mind, what set of skills got you employed ?
I don’t mind, I have two trade school educations in IT, both dealing with networks, one also focusing on Windows servers, active directory, stuff like that, the other focused on Linux.
I then started working at helpdesks, and at my last job I started as a helpdesk technician, and wuickly got tasked with managing their Linux systems in addition to being part of an advanced internal helpdesk dealing with everything from ordering equipment to configuring AD policies and Microsoft 365 systems while also being a VIP tech for the top managment.
The VIPs and Linux stuff was never the main focus, but I learned a lot, and combine that with my personallity of being patient and positive I had a great time and made a huge impact on the company.
I can’t say too much about my current place of work due to NDA, but there is a lot of work that needs to be done, and I have tried to hit the ground running.
Please also not that this is a European perspective.
If you want advice on what you should focus on to improve your chances, I can share a few insights…
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Right now, IT is moving everything to the cloud, you don’t have to like it, but you have to deal with it.
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This does not mean that traditional skills from running servers are useless, it jist means you need to apply them in other ways.
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Networking can’t be completely run in the cloud, even if the management portal is located in the cloud, you still need switches, routers, access points and firewalls on site.
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Linux will suddenly pop up, learn how to navigate it, how to manage files, especially permissions, learn the basics of vi and nano, vi exists on every normal Linux system, nano is not uncommon and is far easier, but it is not uncommon to find it missing on servers.
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Working with AI is a fad right now, it will be of less improtance in the next years, but new AI and LLMs are constantly being improved and users will learn how to use the tool more effectively, learn how to use it now, so that later when it matters far more you will be prepared.
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Most improtantly of all, have an artistic hobby outside the computer, it is increadibly improtant to have a creative outlet, for me it is photography, I bought a Panasonic Limix S5 with several lenses last spring, upgradibg ftom the Lumix GX80, and I get rid of a lot of stress by taking photos, and it is fun to show my coworkers my new photos and gear.
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Machinist, electronics, or glass shop at a large university. Half make more than most professors (although that isn’t saying much)
If you have both the skillset and the mind for it, red team cybersecurity is super interesting, but it’s hard to get into and even harder to do well
I was super interested in getting a job in cybersec, especially red team. But unfortunately no one wanted a fresher like me when I graduated.
Then things led to one another and I found myself working as a web developer. I’d still jump to a good cybersec job if I ever land one.
Offshore seismic survey. The positions vary in title, but technician, observer, seabed logger, etc are, quite honestly, easy as fuck. If you’re able to display reasonably good troubleshooting skills and adaptability to a “different” kind of job, you’re golden. Pays quite well too. Your background certainly plays a role, but it’s more about being the right kind of well-rounded personality.
Pros: Computers, heavy machinery, robotics, nice people, loads of travel, nice ships (most of them, at least), five weeks at home to do whatever you want, well paid.
Cons: Five weeks offshore gets tiring, you sometimes find yourself in the shittiest shitholes in the world, the work can be really repetitive and boring, and if you’re unlucky you will find yourself on a ship with shitty food.
Source: I used to be one. Now I hold a more specialized supporting role instead. Been in the industry since 2008, and before that I had no fucking clue what I wanted to do with my life. It didn’t take me long after to figure out “what I want to be when I grow up”. I’m now 41, not quite a grownup, but I definitely am happy with my career.
Honestly, some of the trades sound great. I really do miss back in the day when Discovery wasn’t complete trash and Mike Rowe wasn’t a complete loser, Dirty Jobs gave me a lot of respect to the often shit upon working class.