What's Your Backup Career?

superk · Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 8:51 pm

Now that I've been unemployed long-term, I can really understand why many of my former co-workers were creating their own side-businesses or companies, so they can still have some income when they ultimately lose their jobs. It makes me wonder what I could be doing now to cultivate an alternate career path. Does anyone else have an interesting side-business or other alternative to an IT career?

Phrzby Phil · Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 9:13 pm

I've been an adjunct math instructor at a community college since I was downsized out of a Fortune 500 company in 2002 (due to a merger). I was unemployed for over 3 months then, but used the time to prepare for my class.

I've also been tutoring high school math for years - a very lucrative side income - although slower the past few years, probably due to the economy.

Escapa · Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 9:31 pm

Well.. This is interesting question... Though I am too young in IT..
I think after some point.. I will embrace agriculture....

superk · Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 9:47 pm

I've been thinking that it might be nice to be a musician and maybe play some paying gigs once in a while. I need to be better, though.

prino · Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 1:57 am

I've been out of work for nearly 19 months, but Belgian unemployment benefits are OK(ish).

However, if things were to go further downhill I can always sell the two houses I don't live in. That, and downsizing from the current one to something smaller would probably keep us afloat quite well for the next 25-35 years, i.e. until my mid-70'ies.

If something PL/I comes along, I'll jump at it, but right now I really don't worry about things.

rakesha.hg · Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 2:08 pm

Agriculture in INDIA is a good option u'll get peace of mind & low cost of living in villages. Teaching in engineering colleges where u studied (easily we will be hired) is not a bad option either

{i've been teaching kids math,science in my locality} .... so my backup is ready i think

vasanthz · Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 2:50 pm

As Phil said, I think teaching could be an good alternative career for most..
For someone with good technical knowledge,experience and working of things(like Kevin)can try their luck with freelancing via internet through sites like

www.freelancer.com/projects/arc-tag/freelancing-mainframe-projects.html
www.ifreelance.com/Freelancers/Freelance-Mainframe-Programmers/
Wish you the best Kevin.!

Personally, I wud like to become paid professional gamer.

Bill O'Boyle · Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 5:04 pm

I changed careers at 31 (a complete 180), but I couldn't return to that line of work, due to mandatory retirement.

Bill

nigelosberry · New User Joined: 06 Jan 2009 Posts: 88 Location: Ggn, IN

What office is there which involves more responsibility, which requires more qualifications, and which ought, therefore, to be more honorable than teaching?

Robert Sample · Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 2:56 pm

I taught University level computer classes for 10 years. To do it right takes a lot of time and effort, but it can be quite rewarding (although financial rewards for part-time teaching are quite low).

Anuj Dhawan · Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 3:12 pm

Teaching, Acting, part time BPO and IT including Java and HTML apart from Maifnrames.

I had an offer of R & D in Electronics and Instrumentation, well but incentives were not good!

Bill Woodger · Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 7:14 pm

Inspired by Peter, my ideal "backup" career would be as a DJ on the "Late Night Soul and Coding Tips" show. Many times I've been told I had the "ideal face for radio".

To look at the "backup" in another way, maybe I'd "restore" to 1991 when I left a job for more money, but much less satisfaction.

Phrzby Phil · Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 7:17 pm

Can you get no satisfaction?

Bill Woodger · Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 7:18 pm

But I try, and I try, and I try...

dick scherrer · Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 8:59 pm

As they said:
"You can't always get what you want". . .

d

expat · Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 10:22 pm

I sell second hand cars when not working in IT

PeterHolland · Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 11:06 pm

Interested in a Rover 6.20 i ? Its of course a collectors item.

Bill Woodger · Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2011 5:06 am

The scene, a used-car lot, somewhere near Albert Square. A sign running along a Portakabin reads "ex-Pat Butcher's Tip Top Cars and Storage Management Consultancy".

A tall man arrives, looking not unlike John Cleese, except for facial features and body shape. He is admiring a Rover 6.20 i with Dutch "plates".

A "moderate"-looking man spots him through a grimy Portakabin window, and eagerly descends.

"Ah," says the tall man, "What can you tell me about this one?"

Ex-Pat grins. "Have you googled ........................ I have."

A slight look of concern crosses the tall man's face.

"Er... can I take it for a test-drive?"

"Off you go, and come back when you hit something that you have problems with."

"Hit something?" says the tall man, unconciously allowing confusion to modify his tone. "What is the petrol consumption?"

"What research have you performed yourself?" asks Ex-Pat.

"Well, I don't know, I was hoping you would."

"Click HERE to access the documentation," replies Ex-Pat.

"It looks big, I don't know if it'll fit in my garage," says the tall man, trying to get a grip of himself.

"If you are unsure, the best bet would be to talk to your storage people."

"What's the top speed she'll do?"

"Well, visually should not take more than one minute, and to me that is quick enough."

"Are you sure it is not just a piece of junk?"

"Define "JUNK"", says Ex-Pat, quick as a whip.

"Er, how much"?

"You have to speak to the people who have developed the charging strategy."

"No, I mean for cash."

"750 euros a day."

"Er... I don't understand."

"Have you asked your peers?"

"No, but I have the money with me."

"I think that you have omitted some vital information here," says Ex-Pat, feeling he is close to a deal. "How much?"

"300 quid," says the tall man.

"Done," says Ex-Pat, "Also, as an aside, if the file is DASD resident I would suggest a BLKSIZE of 27998 to maximise the storage capabilities."

The tall man reaches into his pocket for the 300 quid, but decides the whole thing is too strange, and legs it sharpish.

Ex-Pat looks on as the "mark" disappears into the distance. "That's the 13th guy who's done that this week," he says to himself. "Must be something wrong with that car."

expat · Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2011 12:16 pm

Bill, maybe you should consider sit com writing as a fallback.
Ooooooooooooooooh, my sides still hurt after reading that one

Oh BTW, after seeing such libelous writings you will hear from my solicitors next week - Messrs Suethem and Cashin

expat · Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2011 12:27 pm

PeterHolland · Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2011 1:59 pm

Expat look here :

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYlIFSfRdXk

Bill,

that story is a beauty (bowing in admiration)

Bill Woodger · Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2011 3:44 pm

Thanks expat & Peter. Not so sure about the lawsuit. Maybe another from Peter when he realises what I'm saying about his car?

expat, I see perhaps why you liked the "tyre" joke. I even googled to see if some manufacturer uses DB2 in the model name, and found Aston Martin do. Any advice about a 10-year-old Toyota Picnic with dodgy A/C (in a heatwave, of course)?

My teachers were constantly supportive of my comedic talent, often suggesting that I should consider circus-related studies, particularly in the specialist comedy area. Indeed, they seemed to already think I was fully-qualified.

I have completed a sitcom script, where I'm casting David Attenborough as the lead. It is 26 40-minute episodes, and my working-title is "Laugh on Earth".

As an option, when I started out in programming, I thought I should also open a trampoline factory. Then I'd always have something to fall back on.

expat · Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2011 4:23 pm

Just stolen your sit com idea for a different forum

Bill Woodger · Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2011 5:22 pm

In an out-of-court settlement, a former Irishman has agreed to drop all court action against "Bill", in exchange for stealing his sitcom idea for "a different forum".

expat · Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2011 5:26 pm

Bill, a totally different forum, dedicated to those insane people who follow West Ham in English football