Industry/Career Change (Mechanical)

[lostengineer2]

I'm a relatively early career ME working in the aviation manufacturing industry. With ~2 years under my belt, I know this isn't where I want to be in 10 years, let alone 10 days from now. I've worked in and with several small suppliers, and I'm currently working for "The" major OEM. After working 55+ hours minimum, with plenty 60-65 hour weeks, and screwy hours (5 am production meetings) in an industry and job I despise I'm looking for a change.


I'd like a meaningful career actually using my education and to obtain my PE license as soon as possible. Construction and mechanical systems has always interested in me, and I have some experience on my resume working in that field while I was finishing my degree.

Has anyone else moved from manufacturing into another career path? What advice could you offer? It seems I've created a niche for myself where I'm highly desireable (and contacted regularly) for other manufacturing positions but passed over for even entry level positions in other fields.

 

[bigTomHanks]

I moved into manufacturing from other career paths and have to say that it is by far better. The reason being is that a lot of manufacturers have shut downs around most major holidays and the work environment is decent. My advise would be to go to your boss and take a week of vacation to clear your mind and get out of the grind. I've done this in the past when I was burnt out. At a minimum I would call in on Monday and take the day doing something you enjoy.

 

[lostengineer2]

Perhaps it's the companies I've worked for but the 24x7 6-7 days a week of production (3 shifts of shop employees), put out the fire mentality is what gets me. Not to mention, I have a hard time accepting manufacturing as a real engineering profession; I've designed tooling / fixtures / gages, programmed every machine under the sun, inspected parts with manual layout methods, state of the art lasers/scanners and CMM's, and not used a single principle taught in school nor relevant to obtaining a P.E.

Vacations were foreign to me, never using the time in previous jobs but in the last 6 months I've taken 3 weeks off because I can't wait get out of the place.