Welcome to the Treehouse Community
Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.
Looking to learn something new?
Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.
Start your free trial
Joseph Miele
365 PointsAre my plans to switch careers normal?
A little about me... I am in my mid 20s and have a Master degree in Accounting. I have worked in accounting for a few years, but realized this is not what I want to do the rest of my life. Growing up I built computers and even learned Java in college building a boggle and poker game.
You'd figure I am crazy giving up my accounting career for web development, but hey I want to be happy in life instead of dreading a 10 hour work day every morning, let alone living at the office during tax season. Now, if I truly loved accounting this would be ok, but I chose that major because of the abundance of jobs in my area. I love computers and programming, that is my drive to change my life.
I want to help people and have the opportunity to start my own small business. I figure there is no better way to do that than web development. Having an extensive background in Accounting puts me at a unique position to achieve this, IMO. I want to meld my finance knowledge with my development knowledge, and put forth a product sought after by many local businesses. I will be effectively able to provide the cost-benefit and bottom line consulting to go along with my web design product.
well long story short... Anyone know of people switching to software/web development after living in the corporate finance world?
3 Answers
Maxwell DeMers
6,853 PointsJoseph, your situation is scary close to mine. I am in my late 20s, married, with a ten month old, living in Silicon Valley, working for one of the Big 4 in audit. I too dread the long hours at work, and chose to study accounting for the abundance of work there would be. I applaud your choice to follow what you love, and am fighting the same fight with you. To address your question, yes, your plans to switch careers is normal. As evidenced by my own switch, you are not alone. Keep at it, and good luck after the new year's break.
Steven Parker
231,072 PointsNormal or not, you must "follow your bliss". The non-financial costs of remaining in a dreaded job will overwhelm any possible financial benefits. Plus you're switching to something with the potential to be equally lucrative or more.
Good for you for not staying "stuck" in what you trained for, now that you realize it's not what you enjoy!
huckleberry
14,636 PointsOhhh of course bro. It's increasingly more common every day. The amount of developer jobs out there is increasing at a stupid rate and there's simply not enough people to fill all the roles so men and women alike are taking the opportunity in larger numbers to completely switch directions in their lives and dude, you're mid 20's you're in your prime years to make a switch. I'm 36 and making the switch and there are pleeeenty others out there with totally unrelated careers making the switch who are in their 30's, 40's and even 50's. Just take a look at the cs career questions sub over on reddit as well as the web development & web design subs. So many examples of people in your situation looking for advice or people that WERE in your situation and did so successfully, telling their tales.
It's quite inspiring and motivating.
But even if there weren't, who cares? Do what you're dying to do and let everyone else look on, dripping with envy at your courage to take your life where you want it.
So get down to it, build build build and make it happen for you. I wish you all the best!
Cheers,
Huck -
Brendan Whiting
Front End Web Development Techdegree Graduate 84,738 PointsBrendan Whiting
Front End Web Development Techdegree Graduate 84,738 PointsI'm doing the same thing. I'm 30 and I've worked for the last 10 years in the entertainment business. Not sure if this career change is a good idea yet but I still have some freelance work to bridge the transition and pay bills while I'm learning my new craft.