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Joel Orr Coaching

Engineering Careers Management

sponsored by Joel Orr Coaching

Want to move to en engineering career
Posted by Santosh from Secunderabad, IN on May 21, 2009

Dear Joel,

I’m basically a mechanical engineer, i.e. I have done my graduation in mechanical engineering. I worked in the machine-building division of a company which was manufacturing machines for cleaning cotton and wool. I was a trainee engineer in that company for a year. After that I planned to do my CAD/CAM/CAE course which was a master’s certificate course for six months full time.

Since I could not get a job immediately after finishing the course and due to some family constraints I had to move into a job of audio engineering. The organaization I joined offered me hands-on training in Nepal for two months after which I had to come back and help the company get digital gear for the audio studio they had. I had to get this equipment from Singapore. I was also involved in the construction of two speech-only studios, one in India and another in Bangladesh. During this period I have been involved in a lot of technical audio-related work which was for the Short Wave (SW). I have also been a part of many of the audio/radio related confrences in India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.

I had reached a level where I had done a lot of audio work and was wanting to look to do something more exciting, and so after six years in the audio field I left that organaization and jumped to an IT company at the beginner level in an HR job where I have to do some data entry in SAP (HR). I took this plunge with the intention of moving to the engineering division after two years. This company has a policy where they allow a person to have a change in role after two years. Now I have completed my two years and would like to know if I’m on the right track.

I’m wanting to do some CAD/CAM/CAE courses again and move to the engineering division in this company or elsewhere. I’m aware of the economic meltdown’s effect on the manufacturing industry and would like to prepare myself. The economy now seems to be picking up, and I want to be ready when the market is up. Please guide me as what move I should take next. I would be thakful if you can tell me specifically how I need to manuver myself for the rest of the career. I would also like you to mention which CAD/CAM/CAE courses are up-beat in the market and which would help me get a job immediately. My total experience is about nine years now. I know I should have been at a managerial position by now, but I would be starting from the beginner level.

Looking forward to your help.

Wow! You have certainly covered a broad range of topics, and have built up a great deal of engineering experience in your career so far. And I want to congratulate you on being willing to take a more junior position, when necessary, to further your long-term career goals.

I wish I had the wisdom to answer your questions directly. But you see, nobody but you can say if you are "on the right track." It sounds like you are being very thoughtful about your transitions and direction, so my guess is that you are, in fact, on the right track. You must be the judge of this: Do you feel like you are advancing in the direction you want for the long term?

With regard to specific CAD/CAM/CAE courses: Again, the answer is, "it depends." In your location, what CAD programs are in use? What CAE programs? This training is software-specific. While it is not too difficult to convert between, say, Inventor and SolidWorks, companies seeking to hire people with training in one or the other will prefer those who have specific training in the product they use.

And of course, there is no training that I know of that can guarantee you a job, anywhere. You must be sensitive to local needs and choose accordingly. I am confident that a person of your resourcefulness and broad experience will not be without work for long. I wish you success in your choices!

Warmly,
Joel