how to make that career switch for engineers

A Career Beyond EngineeringEngineering Alumni Singapore (EAS) Career Development Series

Agenda

• Possible Alternative Careers

• Ways to Make that Change

• Approach the Change

• Skills or Experience Gap?

• How do I need to change to be successful?

Copyright © Engineering Alumni Singapore 2014

Possible Alternative Careers

Finance

Human Resources

Marketing

Public Relations

Entrepreneurship

Social Services

Events Management

Public Sector

Sales

“An Engineer can do your job but you can’t do the Engineer’s job”

Heard at a Board Meeting


Ways to Make that Change

Internal

Related

Unrelated

• Rotation

• Transfer

• Promotion

• Ex-Boss, Ex-Colleague, Friend, Relative

• Organization you volunteer in

• Volunteer who has worked with you in that Organization

• Client or Vendor

• Head hunted

• Solicited Application

• Unsolicited Application

• Start own business or join a startup


Approach the Change

• Money

• Challenge

• Job Scope

• Seniority

• Environment

What You

Want

• Adapt to Culture

• Adapt to Professional Norms

• Learn Fast

• Work Harder

• Accept Social Tradeoff

What You will

Do

• A Sure Thing

• Adaptable to Company Culture

• Growth Potential

What They Want


Skills or Experience Gap?

Technical Knowledge

Culturally Adaptable

Strong with

Numbers

Presentation Skills

Personal Brand Mgmt

Systematic Problem Solving

Relevant Experience

People Skills

Logical

Specific Professional Knowledge

Negotiation Skills


How do I need to change to be successful• Within company

• Join professional association relevant to interest

• Volunteer in a VWO/NGO in area specific to interest

• Build rapport with vendors and clients whilst still being professional

Network

• Be careful with your online profile

• Always do what you say you will do

• Always be committed and professional

• Listen first before speaking (but speak!)

• Get what you set out to do but without making too many enemies…

Build Personal Brand

• Always be in a learning mode

• Don’t be afraid to “Move Your Cheese”

• Purposely put yourself in unfamiliar and uncomfortable circumstances to prove adaptabilityAdaptability

“I know him and think he is good”

“I know he has the ability to do the job”

“I know he will fit in”


Ultimately


Only You Know

What you Want

Errors in Judgement

Impatience

Environmental Factors

Arrogance