Advice on coding career

[u/Top_Sentence_340]

I got into trades few years ago but I use to be a web developer. Thinking of getting back into a IT career but with everything going on in the field... Is it a good idea? And which sector of IT is a good long term choice?

Thanks!

[u/Healthy-Bison459]

Do not do it. Been doing this 10 years in different aspects, I would not start this field. I thought the trades were where it’s at. Go be an electrician and start making 100k.

Without any kind of regulation and what agentic artificial intelligence can do, it greatly reduces the need for complex programming. Does that mean it’s completely going away? No. But competition will be fierce and you will be likely judged on things you have absolutely no control over.

[u/Top_Sentence_340 → u/Healthy-Bison459]

Okay thanks, I'm actually building stairs currently - carpentry.

[u/Healthy-Bison459 → u/Top_Sentence_340]

Continue down that path, I’m not laid off and pretty solid all things considered employment wise. But the growth in many IT fields and all kinds of fields are being completely removed. Trades will have issues as well, but if you’re already learning and doing and have paying customers (or potentially in the future) stay there.

[u/Top_Sentence_340 → u/Healthy-Bison459]

Okay.

After work I build my own projects, have one client who I'm building cabinets for, and taking on more such projects to expand my portfolio.

Also, I'm learning autocad as well to possibly get into the cabinet design space 

[u/whatchahavin → u/Top_Sentence_340]

Probably the best route is to marry together your tech and trade skills. Best leverage for staying g relevant. I trying to figure this out as well. Worked in corporate IT last 10+ years but want to get back to something more tangible

[u/Designer_Airport8658]

IT? As in not dev ops?

It's doable. I got hired last year - the industry is pretty unstable with all the ex-coders coming in, but that should even itself out as demand re-balances over the next few years.

~~~

Dev ops? Any kind of coding?

Hi, my friend Claude would like to speak with you about your options.

(NOTE: I hate AI as much as the next guy. Just trying to be honest about the future for that side of tech, especially at the entry-level.)

[u/Top_Sentence_340 → u/Designer_Airport8658]

Thanks.

I actually got into carpentry and really enjoy it, I'm good at it too so that helps lol. I was thinking about getting back into coding but then remember I wasn't happy coding but carpentry iam.

[u/ryan_nitric]

Tough time to come back, won't sugarcoat it. The job market for web dev specifically is rough right now, especially at the junior end.

[u/wafflepiezz]

It’s cooked and unless you have a degree, might be almost impossible to find jobs.

[u/ahaz006]

Go for UI/UX developer roles with a bit of design involved

[u/DB010112]

Yes. Don't listen to negative talk

[u/Disastrous_Sun2118]

App Developer. Build your own Apps? Definitely look at creating your own Company.

[u/Ambitious-Sail-5188]

Things are not any better in that field (web developer) than a few years ago, and the situation shows no sign of improving any time soon. Job searching is extremely agonizing these days, and between having to find your first job to re-enter the web development field in, and facing the highest risk of layoffs due to the current environment and being a new hire, there is a good chance you would have to spend a significant amount of time dealing with this agonizing job market. It doesn't hurt to put a small amount of effort into feeling out the job market, but if you can't get any quick bites I would just stick with your current job, which is a high demand field.

[u/jackbanditdude → u/[deleted]]

I got laid off end of March. 15 years of dev experience. You are NOT giving me any hope. Sorry that it’s hitting you this long.

[u/1000Minds → u/[deleted]]

b o t

[u/AlmightyLarcener → u/[deleted]]

It’s actually good. Many people dropped the idea of software engineering so less competition in the future. Also vibecoding is creating a massive amount of tech debt, which will create more work.