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Automotive Industry Woes
I am currently working in the Automotive industry as a Design Engineer but have become disillusioned and frustrated at the lack of opportunity within my current company and the uncertainty of the automotive industry in general.I am looking at a complete career change, but have no idea what my qualifications will allow me to do. I have a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering and 8 years experience.
Has anybody else come out of this industry and what have you done? Furthermore, does anybody have ideas what I can do with my qualifications?
Any advice/thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Comments
Aerospace perhaps, you dont have to stick with automotive.
James - February 6, 2007 7:57 PM
You say that you are disillusioned and frustrated with the company/industry, but is this really the case? Have you evaluated all your personal factors as well - life, work, family, and motivation so that you can separate the environment from the personal needs and wants? The worst thing you can do is change to another industry, and then suddenly find yourself up against the same problems, but just in a different place. All industries are uncertain at the moment so there is no safe haven. When you say lack of opportunity, do you mean lack of management promotion, lack of personal development, or opportunities for good projects, or for learning new design skills, or for earning more, or for having good team members? I think it is time well spent if you get some feedback from an independent source ( a good career development agency for example, take a few personality aptitude tests, take the "what type of person are you" test on this site even!), on all the areas above and understand all the factors that get you through work/life. If you wish to stick with design then as the other poster said, there is plenty of work in aerospace,defence, consumer product design and the like. If you are going to change industry sectors entirely then you are probably going to need some additional qualifications as well. But remember in getting that new job that you will be up against other people that will already be qualified/experienced in that industry, (especially if business orientated)so you have to work on what is going to give you the edge. This may require extra effort and resilience skills as you make the step change, but you dont get "nowt for owt" as they say. From my personal experience, faced with a similar scenario many years ago, I used the problem solving/analytical skills developed from project engineering, moved them into product marketing, and then into business analysis/projects within IT. Also you need to consider whether you want to be employed as a permanent worker on a freelance temporary contract basis. Good luck!
Stuart - February 7, 2007 6:15 PM
Pursue your passion...and the money will follow.
Since automotive is no longer for you, try your hand at whatever gives you a kick; the theory being that you'll perform best doing something you really enjoy, particularly when someone else pays you for doing it.
Just because your speciality is design or mechanical engineering it doesn't follow that you HAVE to keep doing it. Remember that the best employers will select you for the skill you possess... but hire you for the passion you show.
Charlie - February 14, 2007 7:03 PM
There are a number of other industries (marine/rail/consumer goods and others) that actively look for ex automotive engineers.
Automotive has been the leader in bringing in modern design/manufacturing/quality techniques over the past 20 years and these industries are looking to emulate it.
Contact a few good engineering recruitment consultancies and arrange to meet them to discuss where you want to go next.
Andy - May 11, 2007 4:10 PM