Is it time to Reinvent the wheel? Back to School for Career Shift 4

[BravoCompany]

I am a graduate mechanical engineer who has worked professionally now for just over five years in HVAC design, and am finding myself increasingly discontent. I am now considering a return to school to attend a graduate program in hopes of further career development. I fell into HVAC design as it aligned well with my interests in problems of fluid/thermal nature. I am somewhat of an accelerated learner in many respects; I am now finding that the design work has become unchallenging in so many ways and I have concerns that I am now professionally pigeonholed into this type of work. I’m looking to affect some change and going back to school may be the best I’ve come up with so far.

The very foundation of engineering as taught in school becomes distorted in the real world of business. I have noticed a trend in which the businesses that I’ve worked for have become product oriented without regard to process. They are landing the work then scrambling to get it done. The rate at which services are being promised simply exceeds the capacity to produce such work in a quality manner. These are circumstances worth looking at and management simply sits back and grins at higher and higher bottom lines while the guys in the trenches doing the work are becoming increasingly stressed and dissatisfied. I enjoy the work just not the games that I’ve seen so far. I’m tired of reading hollow mission statements that speak of how companies embrace passionate, creative, entrepreneurial type individuals then do what they can to drive these very individuals away. I’ve watched so many projects “go out the door” in dire need of attention that its beginning to make my head spin.

I have come to believe that possibly going back to school might be a way out, although I am skeptical at present. I’ve considered possibly going back for an MBA degree to give me some latitude upon completion. I have many interests and could see myself making a transition out of my field at present. Does anyone wish to expand on this or offer any applicable advice or experience?

 

[metengr]

How about simply changing jobs? You didn't mention how many jobs you have worked since graduating. There are many large and small companies that could possibly offer you more challenging work, and career development. As for the corporate environment, it appears that we are all suffering from the same fate - do more with less. This too shall pass because the next crop of corporate MBA's and executives will figure out another program to enhance the bottom line.

You need to decide what you really want to do with your life, and decide if changing jobs would improve your situation before throwing in the towel and change careers. I have nothing against MBA's, but frankly, sticking with a technical career might be worth it in the long run.

 

[BravoCompany]

Thanks for the input. I’ve had three jobs to date, having made a recent move only to find the much of the same at my latest. All the jobs have provided me with good experience and a general fondness for the profession, and I’m grateful for that; I simply have an intuitive feeling that there’s got to be something more rewarding than cranking out commercial HVAC designs day in and day out. I’m trying to put my finger on that something.

A certain creative nature inside, seems increasingly under-challenged, hence my quandary. I may simply need to change directions within the discipline. This is no easy task when a reestablished set of qualifications makes one an ideal candidate for doing the very thing they wish to move away from.

I realize this sounds vague and I appreciate your input. My choice in engineering derived from a profound love of math and physics that seemed to lie in reason, sensibility, and truth. I’m simply trying to provoke discussion, hopefully to stir up some response from others who share similar feelings or who have made the leap into another line of work. Any and all input is welcome of course.

Thanks

 

[SomptingGuy]

BravoCompany,

Your predicament sounds much like mine was ~10 years ago. I worked for a firm of (automotive) consulting engineers. One of my reasons for working for the company was that I couldn't bear the idea of working on the same problem for year after year - I wanted to work on a multitude of rapid turnaround projects. This was good fun for a few years - my learning curve was steep and the work was challenging. But before long I started to see my horizons narrowing. I was becoming an expert at something really obscure. My learning curve was becomming flat. The final straws were 1) Being asked to repeat the same job for a different customer, and 2) Being asked to manage a junior engineer doing the same job for yet another customer. Sound familiar?

My solution was to take a long hard look at what it was that I really wanted to do. Most of my college friends have a scientific or engineering education, but none is an engineer. Status and cash led them into city jobs, doing the same kind of mind-numbing handle-turning I had ended up doing, only with better air conditioning and loads more money. I decided that engineering did still light my candle, but I needed to somehow steepen my learning curve again.

Luckily I was able to change jobs and countries without leaving the company. I moved to a long-term project team (engineering software development). Ten years later my curve is still satisfyingly steep and I can see my mark on our product(s).

My advice is to somehow extracate yourself from the handle-turning and invest in something long-term.

Phew, glad I got that off my chest.

 

[EddyC]

BravoCompany,

Its time to find an employer who gets involved in design of more leading edge products. Try some other industries than the one that you are currently in. Some folks though, would be content to have a job that pays well and is steady. If you have mastered HVAC you may wish to explore the possibility of starting your own HVAC firm. That would be sure to be a challenge in ways other than purely technical.

 

[EngJW]

Is it the design work you are bored with? Whether it is hvac or a transmission, there is a lot of initial learning and then you do the same thing all the time. Engineers usually don't get to be very creative except in how the details are executed. Really creative people do not last working for somebody else. You might be happier in management.

Management is a lot of games and politics- exactly as you describe. Any company you go to is going to have a culture and you have to please to people above you. Your chances of making a difference are nil. Some people thrive in this environment and to them it probably looks a lot better than engineering. If you go into it, it should be because you like all the people-related activity and not because you think you can change it.

Just the opinion of an old hippy.

 

[whyun]

I agree with EngJW that after the initial learning curve, engineering work gets pretty repetetive. In fact, isn't it true for most careers?

Hate to sound pessimistic, but for the most part, life itself is pretty dull. In between birth and death, we make lots of choices within our career - well paid but boring jobs, interesting but low pay jobs, etc.

In the end, what you do before and after work is what counts.

 

[metengr]

whyun;
Agreed.. However, what you do during work is equally important with your life because you meet some fascinating people and build relationships.

EngJW;
Well said on the part of corporate culture. Especially, the part of "an old hippy".

I can say with experience that when I first started out in engineering some time ago that I became torn between technical and managerial career opportunities. I had been on the technical side for a number of years that went it came time to apply for one of those upper management positions, I was told “we like what you are currently doing, your not upper management material”.

Well... after some time and several drinks later, it dawned on me that I do have the best job. No direct reports, I set my own schedule, and am basically like a technical consultant internal to our organization. Not too bad...living a simpler, nicely paid life style that allows me the pleasures of family, and periodic business travel to attend Codes and Standards meetings.

 

[SomptingGuy]

metengr: "am basically like a technical consultant internal to our organization"

That sounds like a no-responsibility, no-deadline, no-paperwork job involving giving opinions and going to meetings. Great if you can get it.

 

[metengr]

SomptingGuy;
Not exactly. The job is technical and there is tremendous responsibility. One bad recommendation and guess what..you're out of a job.

 

[BravoCompany]

I certainly appreciate everyone's viewpoints. It has been said, "that a manager pushes, while leader pulls individuals in an intended direction." I am looking for an environment governed by more leadership and less management. It is very possible that I might someday like to shift into management; I'm thinking that an MBA could facilitate this shift.

I envision the working environment as similar to a game of chess. One should understand the full potential of his employees/pieces and move them about in a meticulously well thought manner. One could not expect a pawn to do the job of a bishop, nor should one ever sacrifice a bishop when a pawn will do the job. And in any good game of chess, one arranges the pieces to mutually guard one another from outside threats ie assigning work groups, mentoring programs, continued learning etc.

I have noticed a general trend so far that emphasis is placed entirely on qualification and not on ability. Companies have become hyper-focused on the bottom line and are under utilizing vast potential which already exists within the organization. This philosophy exemplifies an underlying ignorance that causes a company and it employees to merely survive not thrive.

 

[EngJW]

BravoCompany- your thoughts are noble but I'm afraid you will become terribly disillusioned once you get there.

Metengr- I walked in those same shoes. After years of anger and frustration, someone finally got honest and told me I wasn't management material. Ever since, I have enjoyed engineering much more. You can develop expertise and carve out a niche, and people will come to you for help. After the managers have their meetings with all the sound and fury, they will turn to the ones who can solve the problem.