Industry Change Advice
Industry Change Advice
(OP)
Hello all,
I'm new here, but am looking for advice on possibly starting the search for a new job. A short summary of my situation:
I graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree back in May. While I was in school, I wasn't entirely sure what field I wanted to go into, but felt like I would probably like to do something with energy / oil and gas (and had a good summer internship with a large energy company). Unfortunately, I needed to stay in the area after graduation due to personal obligations, so I took a took a job with a mid-sized company in the automotive industry. The job isn't terrible, but I've realized that there's little room for career growth in the long term. Additionally, the personal obligations I mentioned earlier are no longer a factor, so I'd like to start looking at jobs in energy / oil and gas.
I've heard that a general guideline is to wait 2 years before taking a new job, but I'm also worried about staying too long with a company where the experience I'm gaining doesn't really relate to the industry I want to be in.
Should I stay a certain amount of time at my current company, or take off at my first opportunity? Does staying at a first job for less than a year look worse to a potential employer than unrelated experience?
Any advice would be helpful. Thanks.
I'm new here, but am looking for advice on possibly starting the search for a new job. A short summary of my situation:
I graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree back in May. While I was in school, I wasn't entirely sure what field I wanted to go into, but felt like I would probably like to do something with energy / oil and gas (and had a good summer internship with a large energy company). Unfortunately, I needed to stay in the area after graduation due to personal obligations, so I took a took a job with a mid-sized company in the automotive industry. The job isn't terrible, but I've realized that there's little room for career growth in the long term. Additionally, the personal obligations I mentioned earlier are no longer a factor, so I'd like to start looking at jobs in energy / oil and gas.
I've heard that a general guideline is to wait 2 years before taking a new job, but I'm also worried about staying too long with a company where the experience I'm gaining doesn't really relate to the industry I want to be in.
Should I stay a certain amount of time at my current company, or take off at my first opportunity? Does staying at a first job for less than a year look worse to a potential employer than unrelated experience?
Any advice would be helpful. Thanks.





RE: Industry Change Advice
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Industry Change Advice
Cheers
Greg Locock
New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
RE: Industry Change Advice
RE: Industry Change Advice
Just to clarify, I'm not asking whether or not to leave my current job without a better offer lined up. I've just seen that jobs available to new graduates are typically less specific in what skill sets are required than jobs for "professionals". I guess I'm just afraid that having a couple years experience designing brackets and building extrusion caging at my current job might be a hindrance for what I want to do long term. Also, I wanted to balance this concern against applying for jobs right now, and possibly creating a bad impression for a recruiter who sees that I haven't been at my current job very long.
Anyways, it seems to me that the general consensus is that it can't hurt to look, but don't quit my day job?
RE: Industry Change Advice
So, yes, it can't hurt to look.
Jeff Mirisola, CSWE
My Blog
RE: Industry Change Advice
The happiest and most successful people I have known are those who pursue what they want, not what they think other people might want to see. If you are lucky enough to know what you want, don't take that for granted. Go and get it.
RE: Industry Change Advice