Following another thread a few days ago someone’s comment is stuck in my head:

https://lemmy.world/comment/1342605

Quick background: I’ve spent about 20 years in technology. I’ve been an in-house dev for a traditional company. I’ve been a sales engineer for a small software company. I then went to a FAANG and spent 10+ years as a sales engineer, software engineer and engineering manager. The last year+ I’ve been on a self-funded sabbatical to try to figure out what I want to do next. I just… haven’t done a whole lot of figuring.

I’d strongly prefer something part-time, and also strongly prefer something that’s nearly 100% remote.

Ideas that have come to mind:

  • Software sales engineering (again)
  • Technical Project Manager
  • Entry level dev work
  • Get certified to be a SalesForce administrator
  • Something something DevOps?

I think I’d like something where there was a queue of work to pull from and just get some shit done. Over the last 5-10 years it got exhausing having to be involved in mostly long-term planning and not get the pavlovian “oh I just closed another bug” itch scratched. Though I guess that somewhat eliminates the TPM idea?

For any of the above, or something else, I don’t even know where to start. Are there decent temp agencies to work for who can farm you out? Do they deal with part-timers? I could probably work my network as well to try to find something.

  • @[email protected]
    22•1 year ago

    It’s a slow grind, but I suggest consulting. It sounds like you have a diverse set of skills that could be of use to some companies.

    My method is to apply to jobs that I can tell barely need to hire someone. A small juice company hiring a full time web developer? lol, no. A shoe store that needs a network admin for 50k??! bro.

    I apply to these jobs and instead of applying, I sell. I have a website setup that has projects, certs, resume, git, art projects (digital). It all shows I can do a lot of different stuff. I talk to them about their actual need, and suggest that an ad hoc relationship should work (if it could)

    I have some clients at $150 a month and 2 hrs per month, plus $75/hr after 2 hrs. I have some clients at $1500 a month, and 20 hrs per month. More like $200/hr beyond agreement. I assess on case by case basis.

    I have 12 clients. I have a guaranteed $5000+ a month. I don’t work that much. Sometimes I have to cancel plans to work an emergency all nighter (if I fucked up…)

    I have outsourced work before as well.

    It’s taken me since 2019 to get here. I’ve tended a lot of bar since then to make ends meet, but it’s working now.