Serious Career Change?

blakstang98

blakstang98

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I know this thread won't apply to most of you because you haven't reached the post-graduation part of life yet, but someone might be able to make some sense of this better than I am right now.

Okay, so I'm working for a federal subcontractor doing work for the US DoD. In all honesty, my job isn't that exciting, as there is little to no hands-on work (which seems to work better for me). My job consists of a lot of reviewing/revising of drawings and writing out the apporpriate paperwork. The problem is, being an engineer, I do more technical writing than anything else. I don't have a major issue with this, but it gets redundant after a while. But the worst part is that I never had official training for this since I started this job 3 and a half years ago. As they told me, it was sort of a "trial by fire" deal. Last year, I finally started to grasp the writing better and wasn't getting rolled over by my boss as badly as I was for the first 2 or so years. But lately, it would seem that I'm getting rolled over again. My confidence was riding pretty high, but now I feel insignificant again.

Because I'll be moving to a new apartment next month, I won't actively search for another job because life will already be in transition from the move. But after that I may think about getting a new job. The current job I work sort of pigeonholds me to DoD work, so I may very well have to start entry level if I go into a different area of mechanical engineering. Money won't be a big significance really, especially considering that I don't make much now for an engineer. Sadly enough, I'd probably make more if I branch out to another area. But I'm not totally sure if any of this is worth risking, just because I feel like I'm not cut out for this job.

So my concern is, do I stick it out with the current job, when I'm clearly not good at it? Or should I seriously consider checking out what options I have out there?
 
I seriously think you should consider the options and look for something that you actually like, and are good at it, or willing to get good at it.

Let's face it, nobody wants to be stuck in a dead-end job that they don't enjoy, and the last thing anyone needs when it comes to work is your boss up your ass about stupid shit, and it's bad enough if you don't like the job.

A career is your life, a job is just something to do to get by.
 
blakstang98 said:
I know this thread won't apply to most of you because you haven't reached the post-graduation part of life yet, but someone might be able to make some sense of this better than I am right now.

Okay, so I'm working for a federal subcontractor doing work for the US DoD. In all honesty, my job isn't that exciting, as there is little to no hands-on work (which seems to work better for me). My job consists of a lot of reviewing/revising of drawings and writing out the apporpriate paperwork. The problem is, being an engineer, I do more technical writing than anything else. I don't have a major issue with this, but it gets redundant after a while. But the worst part is that I never had official training for this since I started this job 3 and a half years ago. As they told me, it was sort of a "trial by fire" deal. Last year, I finally started to grasp the writing better and wasn't getting rolled over by my boss as badly as I was for the first 2 or so years. But lately, it would seem that I'm getting rolled over again. My confidence was riding pretty high, but now I feel insignificant again.

Because I'll be moving to a new apartment next month, I won't actively search for another job because life will already be in transition from the move. But after that I may think about getting a new job. The current job I work sort of pigeonholds me to DoD work, so I may very well have to start entry level if I go into a different area of mechanical engineering. Money won't be a big significance really, especially considering that I don't make much now for an engineer. Sadly enough, I'd probably make more if I branch out to another area. But I'm not totally sure if any of this is worth risking, just because I feel like I'm not cut out for this job.

So my concern is, do I stick it out with the current job, when I'm clearly not good at it? Or should I seriously consider checking out what options I have out there?
Click to expand...

It never hurts to look around and explore your options. I started my career change about 5 or so years ago when I realized after I got my first degree...that my line of work wasn't going to challenge me enough, afford me to be independant, and didn't give me any job security. ...These are all important, but you really have to be happy in what you do as well. Peek your head out and explore a bit to see what other options you have in your field. If you don't end up finding anything, at least you will be happy (and fullfill that nagging feeling of "what if?") knowing you tried looking around.

Hope everything works out Dan.
 
Put it this way, I'm 24. Outta college, I got a job as an applications developer. I was laid off last year. I still haven't found squat, and it's been almost a year. Every time I find something, they either want someone with a shit-ton of experience, or I don't know the languages. And when a company does get back to me, they either don't want to interview me, or I go through the interview and the aren't interested. I'm real freaking close to doing something different...maybe apprenticing as an electrician or some bullshit...
 
Well, not to confuse you all too much, but I'm not necessarily "unhappy" with the job. The job does have it's moments when it's interesting. More than anything, it's the type of engineering job it is that concerns me. I'm just not good at it. I can stomach working there without much of a problem, I just think that I'd be doing myself a favor to do something that I'm better at and one that can win over my interest a little more often than this one. No job is perfect, I just think I can find something slightly better.

Anyways, I have done some research, but jobs are either too far away or require me to start from the bottom. I may really consider starting from the bottom just to get a leg into a more interesting area. When I finished school, I wanted to find a job in the areas of Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics or Heat Transfer. They all sort of fall into the same broad topic, which works for me, but finding a job with that specialty doesn't prove easy in my neck of the woods.

As I said in my original post, I won't be actively applying anywhere until life settles down after our move. It probably won't be until March before I really start searching a little harder.

Thanks for the thoughts and comments everyone. :ryan:
 
I'm not past the post graduation process myself, but here's my opinion on the matter.

Save a little each month. Have enough to live off for a month or two, which is probably a given. Then look for something that's really gonna challenge you. Something that's gonna leave you coming home from work exhausted but exhilarated.

I've seen my dad work a job that he hates for sixteen years, and it's changed him. The thought of another shift starting depresses him. He doesn't want to do the work but he does it to keep the family going, and because there just isn't a whole lot that he can do with his Biological Chemistry degree that doesn't require supplementary education, and that leaves him feeling trapped in a job... that he despises really.

So really, I'd advise you to save up a little, then leave your job and try somewhere else if you really want that something that you'll actually enjoy. Sometimes risks like that are worth taking in my eyes, and your happiness does mean more than a steady income mentally and emotionally. Take the bull by the horns is my advise in short, and you'll get somewhere. Basically, go for it with an open mind and good luck.
 
I saw the other day that the average person changes their career/job path 6 times. So I think you are pretty normal!

Good luck with whichever way you choose.
 
I'd just go looking for another job, if you don't think you're too at it then I can only see there being pros of finding a new one. As you say, the money isn't overly big so that wouldn't be holding you back and if the boss keeps getting on your back and shooting down your confidence then surely it'll only mean after a matter of time that you'll start to become unhappy.

I'd try looking for a new job and new options since you've been presented the perfect opportunity to now do that. :)
 
My fiancee's father and best friend are both mechanical engineers, and her best friend is currently working for the DoD as a civil servant. Her dad was active duty Navy, then Naval Reserve, and is now working in the public sector of engineering. From what I understand/have been told, a lot of engineers start out working for the DoD, and then jump to the first public sector job they can find because the pay is better, and it's not working for the government, since working for Uncle Sam means redundant paperwork is a daily necessity. So if you're relatively happy with how the job itself goes, my suggestion would be look in the public sector. Even if you went in as entry-level, you should have a leg up on the rest of the entry-level candidates because of your 4-ish years of work experience.
 
Well, money isn't a major issue, as I don't make much now (mid-40's) and I have plenty saved up from over the years. Because of our weak job market, I wouldn't risk quitting now and waiting to land another. I'd rather hang on to this job, this way I can keep the flow going by starting into a new job immediately. I've been burned by quitting pre-maturely before. :hmph: And even though I don't work for Uncle Sam, the pay I get is fairly equivalent, aka pretty low for an engineer but comparable to typical DoD pay. Even if I'm making 35k a year, it should be more than enough to cover my monthly bills and have spare cash to spend/deposit into savings.

I was looking online yesterday just to see what was up. Some things seem decent, but either require more experience than I have or are too far away. I didn't search Entry Level yet, so that'll be my next stop. And yeah, doing something outside the DoD would probably be preferable. Not that I dislike doing DoD work, but I have to be careful when speaking about my job in more detail, and dealing with government assholes is something that will never improve over time. I would love to be able to work a job as an engineer and 'woo' friends with what I do. I certainly can't do that now, even if I am allowed to talk specifics. :hmph:

The prospect of working another job intrigues me though. I'm thinking I may actually search hard and diligently once we move. I'll have to revise my resume. :awesome:
 
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