A little lost… career change?

[MJB]

Go teach something you know about or start a business.

 

[Bama67]

the comedy show "Tires" had a great line about this "He died like a Man. Under a car, doing a job he hated" lol

 

[SloppyJ]

Not sure that you've clarified what type of Engineering you do but here's my story. I related to what you said about giving back and kind of finding a bigger purpose than just working for someone else.

I took CAD classes in highschool for some reason. It came natural to me and i'm very mechanically minded so it ended up really clicking in my head. When I was doing this, CAD was just starting to get big and adopted industry wide. My friend's dad was a department head at a local civil engineering firm that works nationwide and got me an internship at 17yo as I was about to graduate. I got thrown into a team doing gas station design across the country. I knew absolutely nothing going into it but I started to figure it out, I showed up everyday, and I busted my ass and made myself someone everyone could count on which lead to me being hired full time that first summer. I worked this job full time all the way through college for 6yrs. It took me that long because I was working and I refused to take out any loans. I was the first to graduate college in my family and to me, that made me very proud.

I got to see what PEs did day to day and I wasn't that guy to sit in an office and get fed work through a slit in my door. I wanted to be outside, in the field. I changed my major to Environmental, Soil and Water science and finished strong all while working at the same firm. Once I graduated, I was offered a job at another local firm but they specialized in local work. This was game changing for me. Instead of designing sites, storm drainage, utilities..etc and never seeing how they get installed, I was front and center for the whole ride. I worked on client issues, got to permit my projects through the city and be on-site all the way through final acceptance. This is where I learned everything and it finally started to click. I enjoy new problems and being with a project through construction allowed me to experience all of the surprises and I got to figure out how to fix them. I was basically running as a one man shop from real estate acquisition through design and final acceptance.

The problem at this stage was that I was the AutoCAD guru everywhere I went. At this point I had been running AutoCAD for about 80% of my day for going on 15yrs. I was great at it and there wasn't much that I couldn't do with the software. However, I was burnt out. I was married at this time and we had our first child. I wasn't about to make a stupid move just because I was "unhappy".

One of the guys from the city that I had gotten to be friends with called me one day and asked me if I'd be interested working at the Water Utilities Department to start up their engineering division. I'd be reviewing plans instead of drawing them, I'd be dealing with the public on all sorts of questions, and if all goes well, I'd be building my own little team. I crunched some numbers and with the 28yr retirement, I could shave about 5yrs off of my typical retirement age if I took the job. The insurance was great, I would get off at 4pm instead of 5 and there's a lot of paid holidays. I decided to take the position even though I had no idea about installing or maintaining hundreds of miles of water and sewer lines.

Working with the public has been both frustrating and satisfying at the same time. I've really enjoyed the switch and as of today I have built up a 10 person team and we are accomplishing things that no other water utility in the state have been able to do. I've learned all about an entire new field while still being able to pull from my previous experience to make sound decisions. I've changed so much policy here for the better due to my past experience and hearing people compliment my team and what I've built is always feels like a top tier accomplishment.

So maybe think about how you can pivot. Is there something in a different field that's still related that could be tempting to get into? I would have a hard time starting over from scratch in a field I have no experience in. I'm not against it if that's what I need to do but I've been able to leverage my work ethic, personality, and drive to make it in any experience that I've been put into. At the end of the day, it's a job. I think it's a bit of a fairy tale to think you're going to do something that you love everyday.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

I went through a career change a 29yrs old. Was a financial advisor and then took a job with the feds in the financial sector. Massive pay cut initially, but now 13 years later it is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I feel like my job has meaning and even though very few people see what happens behind the scenes, I am providing a tremendous value and service. Plus I make really good money and have a great work life balance (plus awesome benefits).

 

[Pecosray]

Well I watched my son go through this, He was a late bloomer Partied hard drinking and getting in trouble with law until he was 30 yoa, Them finally the light in his head came on and went to work for an electrical company and so now 10 years later he is a licensed electrician make crazy money just in time to really do something with his life. So the trades... Great place to go... Peace..

 

[ELKhunter60]

man - this is a topic I'm quite familiar with. I could write a book. Started out as an apprentice right out of high school. Did the trade for about 6 years. Started to hate it - got bored. Went into management at the skilled trade business - after about two years - hated it - got bored. Moved around a few more places. Ended up starting my own business related to the skilled trade I learned. Was very successful. It was interesting as I built the business - but after about 10 years it felt like a ball and chain that paid well. Can't quit your own business - especially when your house is collateral on the loan you have for the business. Eventually sold the business. Did engineering management, plant management, continuous improvement management and eventually went back and got my degree so some additional doors would open that were not there without it. I've now worked at Nissan for 10 years and for the most part - have enjoyed it. I'll share what I have learned about myself over the past 40 years of my career in a quick nutshell.

1) I am a life long learner. If I am not given opportunities to learn new things on a regular basis, I get
bored. When I get bored, I loose interest in my job. If this goes on for more than about 12 months - I
start looking for new opportunities. Nissan is a large company making a complex machine. I've had the
opportunity to learn a lot about making vehicles.

2) I like teaching people. Nissan has provided me the opportunity to make my own training material and
train engineers in both the US and Mexico. They also give me young folks to mentor - which I like. I
have been able to move around to a few different rolls within Nissan that are related but different. All
of this variety allows me to continue learning while being a valued asset to the company at the same
time.

3) For me, working with good people makes a huge difference in how you view your employment
situation. I've worked with/for some great people over the coarse of my career and I've had three
situations where I found myself with people that weren't the type of folks I enjoyed being around. I
didn't really pay attention to this part of the career equation when I was young, but learned to look for
this over time.

If you are somewhere around 30 and don't like your job - figure out what your next move should be and take it. You have way too long to go to keep doing something you don't care for.

 

[ndfb35]

I didn't read all the pages but if you are looking for something different have you thought about joining the National Guard of your state or a neighboring state?

Serving in the military can give you many opportunities that you will never get in the civilian sector while still working your engineering job. I am over 13.5 years in the Guard and I still find it as satisfying as I did many years ago.

 

[Rich M]

Started my own company. 4.5 yrs later on unemployment.

Worked out okay, 8 yrs of 60-80 hr weeks landed me a partnership and i might be able to retire at 65. Coulda done that if i just stayed w my original job.

Stay in the money. Folks w low stress are usually low income. Cant retire on low income if you start during the 2nd half of your life. Need time to invest.

That or just shut yer eyes and leap. You might never hunt or such again. You might be happy and satisfied. Only 1 way to know for sure.

 

[BRDHUNTER]

I decided to make a huge change in my career in order to live where I want and hunt when I want. I went from making stupid money to pennies. I have mixed feelings about it. My happiness has leveled up, but it has set me back big time financially. I have been able to shoot some slobs with all the time to hunt, so you could argue it was worth it. I say go for it. Live the life you want to live.

 

[OKHunter84]

This thread is getting a little old, but I'll throw my two cents in.

Five years ago I decided to make a career change and get out of oil and gas, use my degree in manufacturing. I was hoping to be able to be more present in my wife and kids lives. I have mixed feelings about it. I'm just now getting back to the same financial compensation I was making before, which is worth less thanks to covid. I have had more time, but I've also enjoyed the work less. That in turn might possibly make me less fun to be around at home.

I would just make sure you are cognizant of the fact that you might be wanting a change because you're going through a phase. It might not be your job, but rather just something you're going through that might pass. You don't want to wake up in five year and realize you should've stayed put. Every job is going to suck at some point. I'm sure there will be someone that disagrees and is totally fulfilled and living their best life .

 

[fragment]

So many men I know and talk to regularly are feeling this same slump. If my dad was still alive I'd love to ask him if he ever went through it too, as he stuck out the same career for his entire working life and was the model yes man, he took care of everyone and was the guy to call when you need help.

I think, for me, it's not just the work that is tedious and boring in corporate hell, but also the tedium of personal responsibilities. I'm everyone's "guy". I make sure my wife is free to go play with horses. I am active in both my kids (11 and 6) schools and activities. I'm active in taking care of my mom because she's a good woman and I promised my Dad I would. I take care of my in laws because I love my wife and I promised her I would and her half siblings can't be bothered to even show up when they say they will, let alone do anything useful.

It all boils down to maybe a handful of days a year for me to do things that I want to do. Literally a handful. I might get guns out of the safe 3-4 times a year. Archery gear even less. Cars even less. I wonder why I keep any of it. Hopefully as my kids age and become more independent there will come a time I get to use it again, but I often have little hope of having my health by the time I have time.

I speak of quitting my job almost daily, but as someone else in the thread posted it pays decent, is secure, I have an aptitude for it, and despite my company trying they are yet to find anyone with the skill set overseas to off shore me, so I keep riding the wave while and socking away as much money as possible so that when the window opens to make a change, I'll see it for what it is and take it.

The 40s are hard, very hard, and I'm only 2 years into them .

 

[pacoalcracker]

There are no perfect jobs. Every single one of them has things you like and dislike, coworkers and bosses you like and dislike. You will not escape that by changing jobs, and accepting those facts will go a long way to forgo job hopping. You don't look for happiness in a job, you look for income and educational opportunity, the real reasons to change jobs. Happiness and contentment are found in the rest of your life, outside of your job.

 

[pacoalcracker]

fragment, you only have yourself to blame for the situation you are in. You allowed it to happen and only you can change it. No part of life is hard..it's what you make of it.

 

[fngTony]

I don’t believe in a perfect job. It’s natural to think about the what if’s. Getting away from an aspect that you don’t like about your job will bring unforeseen new irritants.
Money is important to a point depending on where you live, lifestyle and personal circumstances such as children. Most jobs don’t pay as much as you think they do. For every person that says they make great money at what they do there’s another ninety people in that field who don’t make great money.

Struggled with this for years and just recently took a job in sales even though it’s the same industry. I really just needed away from the physical stuff and needed to exercise my brain, felt like I was rotting away.

Some advice that can either help your sanity while finding something different or maybe it alone is enough to satisfy. Find something else besides your job. Volunteer for something, dive into a new hobby.

 

[JeffRaines]

My take on all of this as a 38yo.

I think people who have good paying(or even just “passing”) jobs they’re actually passionate about are the exception. This isn’t to say you need to be okay with being miserable, but there’s a balance to be had between money and time off for your actual passions. At least for me, the things I’m passionate about I’m most likely never going to make money with them(outside of family - hunting, fishing, backpacking).

For now, I work a job that pays the bills, gives me some spending money and time off so I can go chase my passions. If I stick with it, there’s a pension and a number of other benefits. Is it perfect? Nope. Are there days I wish I didn’t have to work? You bet. But it could be a whole lot worse. I put in my hours and I go home every day.

For me, this is probably gonna be about as good as it gets outside of winning the lottery(that I never play).

 

[Tradchef]

I opened a business 3 years ago. I’ve worked my ass off In kitchens all over at the highest level of cuisine and just got sick of working 90 plus hour weeks, never a vacation in 30 years, benefits that are complete shit if you ever were offered any at all, staffing issues for years, margins that were unrealistic and only being able to Bowhunt for a total of about 2 days a year. I still cook at the highest level but on my terms and my schedule and I have no one to answer to except the person looking back at me in the mirror. It’s not easy and it can be a total mind f$&k some days but I can hunt, I can cook, I can forage, I can pay my bills and support my lifestyle and that’s what’s important to me. I wanted time. Something I never had and it’s truly amazing. Good luck man. If you seriously feel the need to change and up your game inside you’ll thank yourself in the long run. If you have the wife’s support you’ll be just fine

 

[Hunt_Jefferson]

This thread hits close to home. I don’t know if it’s a mid life crisis (just hit 40, wife & two young kids, sole breadwinner) or just extreme somewhat self-inflicted burnout but I’m getting ready to put in notice only 18 months after being promoted into what I thought was my “dream job”. Pay & benefits are great but I have taken on so much responsibility over the years as an individual contributor - now in a leadership role and the organization won’t backfill my old roles or allow me to outsource citing budget issues.

So I’m faced with the impossible task of doing 2-3 FTE plus leadership responsibilities or leave. I’ve worked nights and weekends to try and make it work but the toll it’s taken on me and my family just isn’t worth the pay anymore. I’ve been fighting for resources for 5 years and just can’t anymore. I’m not burned out on the career/industry just my employer however I’m in a very specific niche where it’s incredibly difficult to find a similar role without relocating (which is off the table).

Trying to pivot within the industry using the network I’ve developed but nothing has developed into an offer yet. Lots of interview opportunities and bridesmaid rejection emails.

I’ve looked real hard at completely changing careers - Surveying in particular looks really interesting and seems to fit my working style but the thought of going back to school & starting from the bottom is daunting when you have a family relying solely on you for financial support.

Long post and a bit of a vent but knowing I’m not alone in feeling this way is helpful. Keep on keeping on.

 

[JS.Fletch5]

That is what I’ve thought would be a next good step. However, it just doesn’t click or stick when I’m tried the simple volunteer (haven’t tried EMT, firefighter)

I still struggle to put it into a single career/job but random ideas I’ve had were remote power line installers (lineman) that bring power to rural communities, something along the lines of firefighter (forest or traditional but I struggle with gore and people passing away so I haven’t pursued those careers)


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If you struggle with gore/death, you may have a hard time in EMS or RN (depending on if you’re ER vs ICU, cath lab, etc.) I’m an EMT in a busy urban 911 system, finishing up paramedic school and have my eyes on fire as a paid career. You will encounter heavy gore, violence, and death. I would consider doing ride alongs with EMS and/or Fire to see if it’s for you.

 

[Mike Islander]

If volunteering to make a difference isn't motivating, imagine doing it for a living, having far less free time and flexibility, and being poor to boot.

 

[SaltiestRomo]

I say 100% go for it. Life too short to be unhappy. I made a career change to firefighting around your age and I think it’s a great career and worth looking into. PM me if you have any questions. But no matter what career path you choose I say go for it. Easy choices hard life, hard choices easy life.

I can second this. I've seen many people change their careers and take massive pay cuts to enter the fire service. As the saying goes, if you enjoy what you're doing, then you'll never work a day in your life.