Ask HN: What would you do if you didn't work in tech?

Posted by johnathandos 12/22/2025

This question generated some very interesting discussions in another online community I’m in. I would likely pursue a career in occupational therapy or speech-language pathology. I would love to do work that directly benefits the lives of others and to spend more time interacting with people from all walks.

62 points | 141 commentspage 6

Retr0id 12/22/2025|

There are two ways to answer this, one for what I'd intrinsically enjoy most, and one for what could be an equally lucrative career.

For the former, a repair/handyman. Hanging shelves, assembling ikea furniture, etc.

The latter is harder to answer, but probably something within the legal profession.

exabrial 12/22/2025||

Honestly want to be done working. I feel like I've spent an enormous amount of my life indoors, and there are so very few years left on the earth.

johannfalkes 12/23/2025||

I sometimes think of being a massage artist. It's relaxing and satisfying to massage people and feel the kinks and knots loosening. However I don't have the verbal skills to smalltalk. And I don't like dealing with people either.

SAI_Peregrinus 12/22/2025||

Probably electrical metrology. Though there are more jobs in dimensional metrology, and that's also interesting. Though I doubt the US is going to get more manufacturing if tech collapses, so that's not exactly a good backup plan.

behole 12/22/2025||

BEACH....BUM

Ocerge 12/22/2025||

Medicine, ideally Oncology. I only made that realization as an adult though.

bicx 12/23/2025|

Same. I’d like to get into medicine, but I’m 38. That ship has sailed.

canadiantim 12/22/2025||

Regenerative farmer, tinkering with mycorrhizal fungi and other microbiology

bradlys 12/22/2025||

I’d probably go into finance, law, or medicine. Most likely finance.

I specifically went away from it due to moral reasons but seems this society has no morals and never will. May as well just plunder the poor.

funnybeam 12/23/2025|

Don’t let the bastards win. Keep your principles

dranudin 12/22/2025||

I could imagine being a car mechanic or a welder. Repairing my car is a little hobby of mine and I could imagine doing that full time, if programming work would stop paying my bills.

roflchoppa 12/22/2025|

what you building?

aupra 12/22/2025|

I'd become a neurosurgeon, always wanted to be since childhood for some reason. Maybe I drew inspiration from youtube watching those tumor removal videos.

badpun 12/24/2025|

My Mum just had a giant pituitary tumor removed by a neurosurgeon and I have to say, the things they can achieve and they obstacles they can overcome to perform surgery boggle my mind. In this case, the whole 9 hour surgery was done with a optic nerve dangling in front of the operating area, as tumor was directly below it. The surgeon didn’t nick it.

More comments...