ZestyPretzel
ZestyPretzel

Share your not so conventional career trajectory

We’ve all read the software engineer turned PM story. And although very commendable, and kudos to them for doing what needs to be done, I’d love to hear people who’ve gone down the not so traditional career path or have had weird career trajectories. Are you happy about the decisions you’ve made? Are you content? Is there something you would do differently?

10mo ago
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SillyJellybean
SillyJellybean

Started as a tech guy for a small business back in school, installing software for them and troubleshooting basics.

Learnt animation and design in college, wanted to go into gaming but couldn't. Indian gaming industry never matured like I hoped.

Then I was a librarian, managing bookshelves, book deliveries and guests who came to read. Got fired because I was addicted to dota2 instead of focusing on guests.

Then I did a bunch of jobs in different places as a graphic designer for a few years, some places I got fired and some places I left. Couldn't care less, all shitty jobs mostly and I would rarely come to office on time.

Finished college while in between jobs. Tried freelancing full time but failed at it. Kept doing it part time occasionally.

Then I was social media manager for a few years, which was great initially but i started hating it eventually because of various reasons. Workplace was good but my growth was limited. Tried starting up multiple times, didn't work out, burnt my time and money.

Quit jobs and freelancing, then Covid happened. Doubled down on my startup ideas, was working on 3-4 at the same time. Moved back in with parents.

One of them worked out well thankfully, and it's been almost 5-6 years since we've been bootstrapping it now. Got an investment offer that we refused, after pitching to investors on and off for 3-4 years mostly by myself. Stopped pitching eventually.

Working on another venture now in my spare time with a partner, let's see how that goes.

Happy about decisions? No, but I did what I could. Content? Yes, after almost a decade of struggle. Doing it differently? Some things, maybe.

Tl;dr - more than 10 jobs in 10 years, now working as a zero to one founder on personal projects and with friends.

SparklyNoodle
SparklyNoodle

Not mine, but knew someone, a us guy, went from being janitor to VP in IT company with Non tech degree

SwirlyTaco
SwirlyTaco
PayTM10mo

In India or in US?

SparklyNoodle
SparklyNoodle

A guy from USA came to India as manager and then went back USA as VP

FluffyWaffle
FluffyWaffle

I want to meet someone who transitioned from software engineer to embedded engineer 🫥

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