Ask HN: Have you ever pivoted your career?

About 10 years into my career through a sequence of unforeseen events I ended up doing bioinformatics at a cancer center. I knew absolutely nothing about biology, but I knew quite a lot about programming and so it was a good fit for both sides. In that first year my notebook exceeded 400 pages (so much to learn). It was really fun and I'm glad I did it. It was an 80% pay cut though, so it wouldn't have been possible had I not had savings.

I am thrilled I did it. Now I do stuff that combines both skillsets. It feels like (potentially) more meaningful work.

I think even if it doesn't work out, it's easy to go back to what you were doing before and you'll probably be better at it, because you'll have some new perspectives. I say go for it.

I’ve pivoted from full stack to frontend to product. The switch from engineering to product can be challenging. Two tips.

- start contributing to product on the side while on your current engineering job, and try to get a PM position with your current employer. After a year of working, you should be able to remove the junior label when switching companies.

- start your own business (even if on the side) and make your own label.