Comment by MattPalmer1086
2 days ago
Yep, agree. I got into info sec because I found info sec fascinating. The actual reality of working in info sec is like many other jobs: lots of tedious shit with moments where you get close to what you actually found interesting.
If I had sat down and "unpacked" what the actual job was like I doubt I'd have bothered. But that doesn't make it a bad choice for me. I'm still glad I work in the field, I get a lot of value from knowing I'm helping keep things motoring and sometimes it can be fun too.
Unpacking does not sound like a good way to figure out what you want to do. It sounds like a good way to argue yourself out of doing anything.
I feel the same thing as you but that’s just a default choice : I did that (programming) because I know I liked it when I was a teenager.
Unfortunately, you know pretty much nothing about what you really like when it’s time to start choosing what you’ll study or to start your career.
About two decades later, I still like programming but having the knowledge I have now about life, I don’t think I’d still make a career in programming, let alone in computer science.
Honestly I still think that I’m pretty lucky because most people don’t even know one thing they would like to do when they have to take those great early in life decisions.
At the end of the day, it really looks like enjoying your career has more to do with luck than anything else.
It’s unfortunate that most societies are built on the same schema of specializing early and doing more or less the same thing for your whole life.
I did actually try out quite a few things before settling on infosec.
Like you I programmed as a kid, but did a degree in music (could not get work though), moved back to IT and programming (could actually earn money!). But after a while decided I didn't want to do that either. Moved to info sec in my 30s.
So it is possible to change careers later on. By that time though I had already figured out I needed to earn enough money and I had IT and software skills and experience. Moving to info sec was more of a lateral move I guess.