My profession is in programming. Initially, my dad tried to teach me Javascript. It was a struggle and couldn’t get it.
A few years later, I took up computer science in college and that’s where it all clicked: I can imagine the end result. It’s a matter of being curious and finding (or I daresay… hacking) my way to that conclusion. Programming languages have a very funny way of allowing you to do just that. In studying computer science, I discovered the art of engineering all kinds of software-based solutions.
Because my way of solving problems is more deductive than inductive, I have to consciously build foundational knowledge and routines. Constant learning and insatiable curiosity is required for me to identify when my hunches are wrong and discard them accordingly.
I always enter “exotic dancer” when a form requires me to for some bullshit reason.
Long time IT/cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity is all about curiosity and learning. I got there via the military.
E: too soon.
Wow it’s really cool someone from a military background went into the field of cybersecurity!
Is this common at all in cybersecurity?
It is now. When I got into it, I was doing communications, mainly radio and satellite. I had no idea what I was going to do, and as it turned out, computers and learning really struck a chord with me.
I used military grade cryptography in the Navy, but I learned a lot about cybersecurity on my own. All the “puzzles”, and learning new things everyday like new technology, new vulnerabilities, etc.
Now they have specialists in the military and other government agencies that teach it. Although, given the current political climate, I wouldn’t want to be part of that with that.
As much as people learn it in school and the military now, I feel to be really good at it, you have to know at least a little of everything. I like to look at it like a technical jack of all trades.
You’d be surprised how many people there are from all sorts of backgrounds and interests, that had no idea they would be making a living out of hacking.
Learn everything you can, about everything you can,
and check out places you can practice your learning like Hack the Box or one of the other platforms.
And go from there!
Central heating and ventilation technician, that was my first one, it was awesome, learned welding and stuu like that. But during the winter I couldn’t do it, every time so freaking cold.
Then I was a Rubber mixer for the aufomobile industry, which destroyed my sense of smell to a high degree so I switched again.
Next was frontend developer, then iPhona app developer and then finally I also studied computer science.
After that I I went back to the automobile industry, but with the CS background I’m in software development now. My profession is very broad. I’m Integrator, Software Factory Subject Matter Expert (basically architecture around devops), Configuration Manager. Not programming at all anymore.
I’m a lifelong cook. Been working in kitchens since I was 15 and I’m currently training to be the sous chef at my current location.
People shit on food service workers but the amount of practical real life skills I’ve acquired over the years has actually come in handy quite a few times.
but the amount of practical real life skills I’ve acquired over the years
Are there any particularly unexpected ones?
There’s a couple for me.
Prioritization of tasks. The flaming pot is more important than the smoking oven.
The ability to move through a dense group of people without disrupting anyone.
Sense of urgency. You need to move with intention and do it quickly.
Injury assessment. You’re not going home because you got 1st degree burns. Grit your teeth and push through. If you cut yourself it’s a different story but unless your skin is sloughing off your fine.
Well sir, I step in front of cars and sue the drivers.
