Career change advice-Electronic Engineer

Azbubu

Azbubu

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Hi. I've been working for 3 years as an Electronic Engineer (hardware development) and I really want to get out of this field now and into something else, preferably completely different. Which other industries would welcome an Electronic Engineering degree?
 
You can do almost anything you want with a engineering background.

More importantly, what would you like to do?
 
Pretty much anything, but you need to be aware that a career change usually entails starting at the bottom.
 
abzo said:
I'm not really sure. All I know is that I'm tired of designing Circuit boards and would like to try something different.
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You may fins it is the company you are tired of, not designing circuit boards. Try apply for the same position else where and see if you enjoy the new job. You might even get more growth opportunities, if your current employer does not offer that.
 
what a coincidence, i was thinking of changing from java developer to electronic engineer
 
abzo said:
Hi. I've been working for 3 years as an Electronic Engineer (hardware development) and I really want to get out of this field now and into something else, preferably completely different. Which other industries would welcome an Electronic Engineering degree?
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I was in the same boat (although, i only worked a year in the field). Moved around a bit, a lot of doors are open with the degree so like ppl are saying, find something you like.
I moved into IT, seemed to be a good move. I enjoy the work a lot more, the pay (for me anyways) was better and increases came faster. My only regret is not going straight into my field, i would have been doing very well. Whereas now, because I started late, I am only doing about average financially.
 
skippydox said:
what a coincidence, i was thinking of changing from java developer to electronic engineer
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I used to love programming in high school (turbo pascal :) ). Would like to try and get into programming but currently have no experience in that.
 
tau1z said:
I was in the same boat (although, i only worked a year in the field). Moved around a bit, a lot of doors are open with the degree so like ppl are saying, find something you like.
I moved into IT, seemed to be a good move. I enjoy the work a lot more, the pay (for me anyways) was better and increases came faster. My only regret is not going straight into my field, i would have been doing very well. Whereas now, because I started late, I am only doing about average financially.
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Are you formally qualified in IT or Engineering?
 
tau1z said:
I was in the same boat (although, i only worked a year in the field). Moved around a bit, a lot of doors are open with the degree so like ppl are saying, find something you like.
I moved into IT, seemed to be a good move. I enjoy the work a lot more, the pay (for me anyways) was better and increases came faster. My only regret is not going straight into my field, i would have been doing very well. Whereas now, because I started late, I am only doing about average financially.
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i personally dont think the pay in IT is better than in engineering...thats jus my experience, me being in IT and most of my friends in engineering, but mayb in you case it was different.
 
sigh im in the same situation, i do know that you can get a job working in a bank as an analyst also in a consulting agency, its quite varied, but good luck! :)
 
To leave electronic engineering for programming is a waste. As an engineer you are supposed to know how to program anyway or at least have the ability to learn it quickly. Why don't you go into automation/control engineering/systems engineering, etc?
 
depends mostly on whether you have an ACTUAL degree (BSc or BIng) or if you have a diploma... if it's a degree, it then depends if you're interested in management or something still technical
 
In my company Hardware, Software and Firmware are done by different teams so I haven't been able to develop my programming skills. I have a BEng. I want to get out of Engineering (technical) but don't want to get into research or management so i'm not sure what my options are. I'd like to get into a more "creative" field. The reason I studied Electronics is because I was interested in electronics and gadgets etc. big mistake. I'm more interested in the end product than the nitty gritty of it all. Maybe I should get into sales.
 
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R13, what's the automation market like at the moment? I have a B.Sc IT and currently work on SCADA/security systems for some rather impressive clients, including SANRAL and maximum security prisons. I'm not looking to move yet, but I'm curious as to how wide my options are.
 
abzo said:
In my company Hardware, Software and Firmware are done by different teams so I haven't been able to develop my programming skills. I have a BEng. I want to get out of Engineering (technical) but don't want to get into research or management so i'm not sure what my options are. I'd like to get into a more "creative" field. The reason I studied Electronics is because I was interested in electronics and gadgets etc. big mistake. I'm more interested in the end product than the nitty gritty of it all. Maybe I should get into sales.
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You could always design wire frame cars/radios/windmills for sale on the roadside :) Creative and suits the engineering bit.

Jokes, I think you need to possibly play around with other fields and decide what you want to do before quitting your current job.
 
skippydox said:
i personally dont think the pay in IT is better than in engineering...thats jus my experience, me being in IT and most of my friends in engineering, but mayb in you case it was different.
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earn t
I suppose it depends on where you go in IT and if you get lucky in a position (either engineering or IT). I am in touch with a lot of my varsity friends, even though I changed careers, I still the same or more than my friends. I also dont work in crappy african countries or on projects in teh middle of nowhere..

R13... said:
To leave electronic engineering for programming is a waste. As an engineer you are supposed to know how to program anyway or at least have the ability to learn it quickly. Why don't you go into automation/control engineering/systems engineering, etc?
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I was in process (even though i wanted to do digital), the work gets boring pretty quickly. There is a demand for them though. not a bad idea if he is interested in teh programming side of things

Messugga said:
R13, what's the automation market like at the moment? I have a B.Sc IT and currently work on SCADA/security systems for some rather impressive clients, including SANRAL and maximum security prisons. I'm not looking to move yet, but I'm curious as to how wide my options are.
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High demand from what I see, lots of travel work though
 
R13... said:
To leave electronic engineering for programming is a waste. As an engineer you are supposed to know how to program anyway or at least have the ability to learn it quickly. Why don't you go into automation/control engineering/systems engineering, etc?
Click to expand...

Say what? While I do agree he may just need a change of scenery, I'm a former Elec Eng (control systems) doing Oracle Apps consulting now & it was the best move I ever did.

I was dissillusioned at the time, worked in the steel industry & had effectively reached the end of the line in terms of promotion. Was told I had to switch to the management ladder in order to climb any further, told my manager if I wanted to be a manager I would have studied management in the first place & started making plans to get out. Nowadays I work much longer hours but I work for myself, pay's good, I've worked overseas a few times with the option of going again and 'though I work in the corporate world it doesn't own me.

Everyone's different, maybe explore your options in some other engineering field first but switching to programming is not the worst you can do.
 
abzo said:
Hi. I've been working for 3 years as an Electronic Engineer (hardware development) and I really want to get out of this field now and into something else, preferably completely different. Which other industries would welcome an Electronic Engineering degree?
Click to expand...

Go for your programming love. You will have an understanding of both sides of the equation and understand the limitations of the hardware. Avoid the management and sales path unless you want money only. You will spend your life working, so choose something you enjoy rather than simply money.
 
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