Career Change - Time to Move On? 1

[95yukon]

I’m working as an ME in for a major Fortune 500 corporation and seldom look forward to going to work. I’m very valuable to management and they would prefer I take on more management responsibility and I really want no part of it, but soon have to make a decision.

I always enjoyed working on machines and still do. I began a career working on all kinds of heavy equipment, growing up on a farm working on machines, getting my associates in Diesel Technology and later my BMSE when a great career in oil exploration was coming to an end. I had significant experience in all areas of heavy equipment support working on electro hydraulics, major overhauls, welding, etc., domestic and international.

I always wanted to work as an engineer, and enjoyed doing so immediately after I graduated but it seems career development discussions always seem to be pointing towards “leadership” and “management” positions. The day-to-day work is less engineering and more chasing others or suppliers to get something done. Clerk work & paper pushing that does not involve much engineering.

At a time when the global marketplace demands improved quality, I see foreign competition focusing on the right things while we are spending an inordinate amount of time adding more and more “processes”. Our quality is horrible, yet our processes will bury us unless someone gets a grip. Some coworkers received upwards of 150 emails a day, many of them requiring actions and responses which management either doesn’t understand or chooses to ignore. If not that, it’s back-to-back meetings with no time to work on issues.

I’m not alone in this, and not only hear this from colleagues, but those I graduated with as well as two family members who are engineers working for other Fortune 500 corporations.

Although quality and reliability are supposed to be the focus, my background constantly clashes with what I consider an out of touch corporate mindset as it seems more important to throw out what really is needed to get there (build on what has worked and don’t implement anything unless it is fully demonstrated to be robust). The flavor of the moment quality processes come and go, Six Sigma is important then it isn’t, etc.

Although you are supposed to get support when raising issues to management, they don’t want to hear about it and just want to push back on it, challenge, or ignore it – many times because it was not their idea. Those who have 30+ years of experience offering potential solutions are sincere, but it seems to be ignored. When providing an opinion on something you have significant experience with for decision making / problem solving, it leads to challenges, meeting rooms filled with people usually leading to reaching the right conclusion but at a huge expense in time / resources. One colleague simply dropped out completely and is now pursuing his love of photography – but at a huge cost.

I’m finding myself more focused in escaping the “cube farm” and getting back in touch with technicians and mechanics in the field, looking for a smaller company, or starting my own business.

I would like to hear from anyone who has been through this and moved on. Is career coaching in order? What approach has worked?

 

[sms]

Sounds to me like it it time to go into business for yourself!

-The future's so bright I gotta wear shades!

 

[MikeHalloran]

Once you've rejected an offer to join management's coven, you'll be treated as a threat, not an asset. Beware of their flattery; you are not "very valuable". They are drawing you closer to get a better angle for the knife.

I get the impression that, like most engineers, you're an honest person. That alone would doom you to failure as a manager. Don't bother trying to change your spots.

Smaller companies have less visible, but not less vicious, politics.

Maybe you can start your own business as a side job. You don't have a lot of time, so don't delay.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[DaveVikingPE]

"management's coven"

Far out.

 

[ajack1]

95yukon a year ago I started my own company, well with a partner actually but under different circumstances to you. Hear are my thoughts for what they are worth.

Things obviously differ depending on what type and size of company you are considering setting up but, expect to at least double the number of hours you currently work and then take home book keeping and the like. Don’t expect to take a salary for at least the first six months and even after that don’t expect anything like what you are currently earning.

In the UK 50% of all start up businesses go bankrupt within the first six months; is this a risk you wish to put on yourself and your family if applicable? Having said all that it is the most I have enjoyed going to work for years and I am one of the guys you talk about with 30+ years experience.

Depending on how you wish to structure your company it will not be just the hands on work that you seem to want to get back too. You will be responsible for ALL the managerial decision making, there is no one else to do it, you will spend many hours dealing with accountants, banks, health and safety officers, preferring quotes in fact everything that is done to run a company before you even start doing any “hands on” work.

You really have to love your job; it will become your whole life, at least in the short term. Ask your friend who now does the photograph where they are going on holiday next year, chances are they will not be able to have any time off, or be able to afford to go anyway, ask them if they would go back and the chances are they will say no.

Good luck whatever you decide to do.

 

[GMcD]

Having worked both sides of the fence- for very small companies, to large multi-national Dilbert companies, I share your pain. I find that the smaller companies DO offer more hands-on experience, and direct action/results opportunities, howver, that is tempered with the "chief cook and bottle washer" situation where, as an experienced employee, you are tasked with picking up many menial tasks as well as marketing, team management, and dealing with Clients. A typical day in my building design and construction consultant's job can consist of mucking around on a construction site, then typing up and e-mailing the site review reports, then dealing with an in-office planning session, then off to meet a Client or hold a design team meeting. One's choice of attire and schedule must be flexible enough to deal with that range of environments.

One thing stays the same- technical experience isn't valued in this industry any more- the punishment for being a good, experienced technical engineer is to be made "management". I've met very few engineering managers who were both excellent technically as well as having good management people skills.

If you can find a small firm that values actual technical work rather than administration and overhead, then take it. However, the business management side of things is ever more complex with taxation and workers compensation requirements, such that that the company you join better have a good admin. dept. with people that actually can think. My motto, taped up in my cubby, is "Policy and procedure is the refuge of those who cannot think".

 

[MedicineEng]

This is the clear example of how to turn a excellent technician in a lousy manager.
Double loss.

 

[BelspringKen]

I wish I could offer some advice. I am interested in moving up, but not sure if I want to deal with all the redtape and politics.

I was on a small team where I had more experience than the others, including the PM. A few times I was able to help get everyone going in the right direction, but I had no real authority. The few times I got things moving in the right direction we had to meet and debate about it for a long time on it.