Fill the application. Start a new career

[mark]

@Mik said in Fill the application. Start a new career:

It's a weird feeling, isn't it? I've gone back and forth. I hope it works out well. If not, there's always consulting.

At first I was in a state of shock. Depression and anxiety were starting to drag me down and I had to fight like hell to put a stop to it. I am still wrestling with it but on a much lower level now. Doubt and fear were consuming me. I have decided to say "fuck that! I have a lifetime of experience in this field and although I have not spent my career chasing the "language or tech du-jour" etc, I have vast knowledge of IT infrastructure, application development, and real-world experiences for which any company would benefit.

So I am tossing my hat into the ring of hopeful employment.

It is a very weird feeling.

[mark]

@Copper said in Fill the application. Start a new career:

@Jolly said in Fill the application. Start a new career:

change job fields entirely.

Yes, find something fun, I highly recommend it, 30 years in IT followed by 10 in flight instruction.

I briefly considered auto-mechanic. I could make about $70k and have great fun doing so. I love working on cars. However, I need my former salary+ if I am ever going to retire.

[mark]

@Horace said in Fill the application. Start a new career:

Whomever hires you will be lucky to have you. Good luck! Nothing wrong with two incomes.

Thanks Horace! Your are correct. Two incomes are better than one.

[mark]

@George-K said in Fill the application. Start a new career:

Break a leg, Mark!

Thanks for the update, and I hope the interview goes well. Please keep us posted!.

Thanks George! I will.

[mark]

@Jolly said in Fill the application. Start a new career:

@Horace said in Fill the application. Start a new career:

Whomever hires you will be lucky to have you. Good luck! Nothing wrong with two incomes.

Amen.

Dumb question....Can the software business be rejuvenated?

Not a dumb question at all. Yes, it can be rejuvenated but like I said in my OP, the sales cycle is ridiculously long. I have several hot leads from the conference last month. I am doing follow-up on them now.

[89th]

Wow Mark, what a change! How long would you prefer to be employed before being truly retired?

I know you work in IT, if you want, send me a message and I can see if there are any networking chances... I work in IT and while I work in Minnesota, all of my connections are for DC or Virginia IT companies (including my current company), many companies of which have government clients (which require some clearance or on-site requirements) but there's also a wave of positions that are remote ever since the pandemic, so maybe that's an option. Let me know, happy to try.

[mark]

@89th said in Fill the application. Start a new career:

Wow Mark, what a change! How long would you prefer to be employed before being truly retired?

I know you work in IT, if you want, send me a message and I can see if there are any networking chances... I work in IT and while I work in Minnesota, all of my connections are for DC or Virginia IT companies (including my current company), many companies of which have government clients (which require some clearance or on-site requirements) but there's also a wave of positions that are remote ever since the pandemic, so maybe that's an option. Let me know, happy to try.

Barring any serious health issues (have none currently) I should be good for another 10-15 years. Very interested in remote work and getting a clearance will be no problem. No criminal history here and I have a few government contacts that will vouch for me. I will send a DM. Thanks 89th!

[Jon]

Hey, at least your second career pays money..

Seriously though, I think you’ll enjoy it. Especially the benefits.

[Axtremus]

Good luck getting the job, @mark !

[cathys]

Mark - I know what you mean 40+ years in an endeavor can certainly feel surreal when you make that change. I had 40+ years employed at my former company and decided to take the leap when they put out an early retirement offer. I had to get back out there financially but the offer allowed for some "garden leave" paid time to get my head around what to do in my 2nd life and I didn't need to fully replace my income so I went 180 degree from my field and am learning something completely new but still tied in to the technology piece. Getting to learn a lot about manufacturing and building ships Thoroughly enjoying the change, It was scary before I got into the door of the new job though.
The interview sounds very promising, I know if this one doesn't fit there are a lot of opportunities out there for your talents and the right one will connect. Definitely weird feeling but opening to new adventures...

[LuFins Dad]

@Horace said in Fill the application. Start a new career:

Whomever hires you will be lucky to have you. Good luck! Nothing wrong with two incomes.

This…

[Doctor Phibes]

Best of luck, Mark - and congratulations on the opportunity to do something a bit different! I really hope it comes through for you.

I also hope the old source of income comes back

[Aqua Letifer]

Mark, honestly I think that you know too much about too many things for a transition like this to get to be crazy hard. Really confident you'll pick up something cool fairly quickly.

[Jon]

Yeah, and it’s a good later career step. Let someone else worry about accounts receivable and admin stuff. Do what you know and enjoy, get paid comfortably, and get health care to last you into Medicare availability.

[George K]

@Jon said in Fill the application. Start a new career:

. Let someone else worry about accounts receivable and admin stuff. Do what you know and enjoy, get paid comfortably

One of my former partners was the "managing/money/policy" guy. He was the president of the corporation, but not the department chair - he ran the business, but not the medical part.

When our group lost the contract at our hospital, he found work at another place - much MUCH larger, and he no longer had to worry about all that crap. He just had to give anesthesia (which he was very good at).

Shortly after he moved, he told me how nice it was to not have to worry about all that shit - just worry about the case he was doing at the moment.

[mark]

Second round interview went well and consumed the entire hour allotted.

Owner, Lead Engineer, HR and Office Manager were all present.

Started out being asked to introduce myself and tell my story about my experience. That was easy. "It all started in 1981 when my father brought home an Apple II..."

Three "difficult" tech questions/scenarios from the engineer. First was about a current client situation with old servers, multiple departments with security concerns due to multiple public IP address being assigned to individual servers, etc. Passed that one. Second one was a hypothetical scenario with a couple of products that I had no experience. They liked my response to that one as well. Basically, said I was unfamiliar with said products and would have to research them and the situation. Then collaborate with fellow employees to arrive at a solution. Third one I don't even remember, but I aced it as well.

Three or four less technical questions more along the line of basic IT support issues within the company itself. Printer not responding, workstation unable to join a domain, etc. easy stuff. Then an operational type question like: It's 3:00 pm on a Friday and payroll department is dead in the water and payroll/paychecks are not going out, and at the same time the President of the company calls you into his office and is experiencing an issue. What do you do? I replied, first and foremost, there is nothing more important than payroll. I know this as I spent 20 years writing and supporting payroll systems for large temporary employment agencies. I would tell the president that payroll is stalled and needs to be addressed first. After that is resolved, I will come see you. Aced it!

At the end, they asked more about me and if I had any questions for them.

I told them I was excited that they were in growth mode and that I would like to grow along with them.

Told them about my insatiable desire to learn new things, about my hobbies, yes, even the RC Helicopters, electronic knowledge, and coffee. That over the past 3 years, I taught myself 3D design and how to use a 3D CAD system and build, use and maintain 3D printers.

They have no coders on staff. Not even any people capable of writing scripts for productivity. I told them that coding and script writing is actually one of my areas of expertise and that I could bring that to the table to help with office productivity, etc. Brought up the fact that I spent my entire career writing custom software and that it could provide a new source of revenue. The owner liked that as the company they are about to acquire, has a custom software division and I could be very helpful with that.

At the end and as we were walking out of the meeting room, more informal personal questions about my family, the vacation I just took to visit mom, etc. The Office manager is going to Florida with her son in two weeks to go fishing pretty close to where we were.

I felt pretty good leaving that interview.

I should know something by this time next week.

[Aqua Letifer]

Sounds like you nailed it.

[George K]

@Aqua-Letifer said in Fill the application. Start a new career:

Sounds like you nailed it.

Indeed. Thanks for the update.

Fingers crossed.

[Mik]

Sounds like a great fit. Your answers were spot on.

[George K]

Would it be a long commute from your place, or is it mostly work from home?