Eh, during the dot-com crash days I knew two people personally that left tech and became farmers. One started a big kale farm off highway 1, and was still doing it last I checked. He was a lot happier.

I learned how to skydive and rock climb while I waited to finally land something.

Downturns, techies have often turned to random different things.

Office Space had the dudes end up doing construction for a reason.

If you can afford to wait 2-3 years, then do. I already laid out what I did to get by.

Otherwise, work your network, or try to start your own thing, or any number of different things. Anything I tell you here is going to get noticed and will have a lot of competition. The harder (and often more likely to work) choices are ones you’ll need to find yourself.

Personally, I’ve been this close to starting HVAC and pest control companies, but have something outside the country I’m pursuing instead.

I’m not your mom.

I'm not living comfortablly, but treading water. So don't worry about me. This definitely taught me that my end goal is to be my own boss, but that's at least 5 years out as I prepare.

I have some freelance work right now, and have savings and backup plans if/when things really screw up.

I just think the trades argument is one thrown around so freely without talking about the underlying details to get into trades. It's not as easy as turning up and getting paid minimum wage to start training.

>Downturns, techies have often turned to random different things.

That's the oddest part for me. The last time I just needed money (so, while applying for my first job), I went to a staffing agency and got temp work the next week. This time I visited 6 in my area and they all pretty much admitted that hiring was slow. Nary a follow up either. And even dumbing down my resume I get "overqualified" for retail.

That at least tells me that this current atmosphere isn't limited to tech. So it's strange how much the powers that be want to pretend everything is fine.

Good info thanks! And yeah, sounds like you have a solid head on your shoulders. I’m sure you’ll do fine.

The ‘overqualified’ bit sucks, and that was the classic line during the dot-com days they’d use for tech folks in other fields. I had friends just completely excise tech from their resume to get something landed.

We’ll see where this all goes.

Re: economic news - my take is that the left is being delusional in the ‘there are no problems’ direction, while the right is being delusional in the ‘everything is broken’ direction. Both are doing their damnest to manipulate everyone into believing their flavor of delusion.

Which makes sense, because traditionally incumbents get destroyed if there are economic issues, and both are in existential crisis mode right now.

Folks are starting to have to ‘look down’ though, and the timing is going to be pretty shitty.

Re: trades - yeah, any change is going to require ramp up time, investment of effort and learning, etc.

I’ve got some contractors (plumbers) and welders in the family, and used to be a certified welder - and it’s not like there aren’t tradeoffs there too vs tech. Especially if someone doesn’t have the habit of using PPE properly. That said, some areas are in very high demand - and can’t be outsourced - and pay very well. Especially for someone who can supervise or run a shop, and isn’t afraid to get their hands dirty.

They’ll do very well as boomers age too, as will nurses and Dr’s.