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Jobs that use programming which aren't in the technology sector

I have programming skills, but i don't want to sit in front of a computer 8 hours a day. Is there other career choices that I can consider, that also utilize my existing skills? And what I should do to get those jobs?

I am open to anything that doesn't require extensive use of computer, also something that perform routine rather than going through projects (i don't like keep thinking about a project in my free time, because no one's paying me for that, i believe that's where stress comes from). Also it would be nice if the job doesn't require a CS degree, because I don't have one.

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Can you tell us a lot more about what exactly you'd want to do? Like does 'non-programming' mean you're still willing to work in a software company, or what exactly do you want for responsibilities/tasks? Like do you want to travel, and do you actually want to program, or do you want people interaction/customer interaction, etc. – birryree Mar 9 '12 at 1:21
It's a shame you're missing a degree, as the most obvious choice to apply programming skills without much coding itself would be to teach. – leebriggs Mar 9 '12 at 1:35
@leeeb can i teach with only a bachelor of CS? – Andy Mar 9 '12 at 1:37
What does 'perform routine' mean? You don't want a job where you do projects? I'd probably say you might want to look into sales engineering. The degree thing...that really depends on the companies - some, just because, will only consider candidates with degrees. And teaching - that depends again what level you want to teach and where you are. Where I live, you actually need a Master's degree in education to teach at the non-college level. At the college level, you're looking at a master's and experience. – birryree Mar 9 '12 at 1:44
@andy I'm afraid I'm a bit fuzzy on the requirements by country. If it weren't possible you could still consider providing training or private tutoring if teaching is something you think you might enjoy. – leebriggs Mar 9 '12 at 1:47
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marked as duplicate by mattnz, jmq, Steve Evers, Yannis Rizos♦ Mar 9 '12 at 5:40

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Try sales for a software/hardware/service/telco company.
Many companies only pay commission on sales, so they pretty much enroll everyone willing.

Car-riding hardware installer/repairman for business customers, also could do. (and requires skills: small businesses buy the weirdest gizmos and have some legacy practically unattended servers steaming up weird accounting software in forgotten aisles)

Mind those are pretty stressful jobs.

Also the hardware service business is kind of collapsing under the attack of:

  • distribution chains that sell cheap hw products to small businesses and privates

  • corporations with a solid sounding name leveraging it to offer services to middle and big businesses (IBM, HP...)

So your mileage may vary.

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+1 for sales job. Come to Best Buy, sales personnel on the floor sometimes don't know what they are trying to sell you. – Eugene Mar 9 '12 at 3:16
don't like the stressful part – Andy Mar 9 '12 at 3:41
The stress problem with hw service, is that the job, per se, given the right background, is easy. Any idiot can do it with an infinite amount of time so it doesn't pay much. The value you put in there is in getting it done FAST. – ZJR Mar 9 '12 at 4:01
Other straining factors are working on commission, (you don't know how much you'll make at the end of the month — that's stressful) and driving a lot. (e.g. traveling salesman get bigger clients aka better commissions - they don't always get their fuel refunded, though) – ZJR Mar 9 '12 at 4:08
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Any job that routinely uses spreadsheets might be a good fit for you.

Financial analysts and accountants, for instance, routinely need to program complicated formulas into Excel spreadsheet cells, yet they don't typically do this for eight hours per day.

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