Need advice on career path.

I'm a Mechanical Engineer and I currently work for the DoD but have found that the job is not what I expected. I like a job that is hands on and challenges me and I feel that this job does not provide that. Having worked in the automotive field, I find myself missing the challenges that I used to face back then so that led me to apply for new jobs. I live in MI because thats where I got my first job, if not I would be somewhere down south like FL. My current thought was apply to jobs in FL and to one of the big three OEMs here. If I had to stay in MI then I would move to the OEMs.

No I'm in a position that GM offered me a job which I would have to give my two weeks this coming Monday on my current job. I'm also under consideration by hiring managers for a few positions in Melbourne, FL and I have an interview with the hiring manager for another company in West Palm Beach. Ive talked it with the boss lady and she prefers to move to FL as do I, so I'm unsure if I should just withdraw from the GM offer and ride it out in my current job until I get something in FL.

What do you guys think? Any advice?

If you are having doubts, then it isn't what you should do. You both need to be in agreement on this. You both need to be onboard with this change. If it doesn't feel right location wise, then don't do it.

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^ +1

SVTdreamin04 said:

If you are having doubts, then it isn't what you should do. You both need to be in agreement on this. You both need to be onboard with this change. If it doesn't feel right location wise, then don't do it.

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Thanks for the reply.

That's what I feel. We have talked about it and we both agree that moving is what we want. She told me last night that if she was in my position she would withdraw from the GM offer since she doesn't want to live in MI. I think what puts doubt in my mind is the feeling that if none of the FL jobs come through then I will have to stay in MI on a job that I'm unhappy until something finally comes through and as I'm writing this I'm realizing that its sort of stupid, eventually something must come through.

What these guys said.

It is funny you post this. I am also an ME and work DoD. I work in Fl. and we're trying to get back to Mi. to get closer to family. Do you work at TARDEC by any chance? Being an Engineer in DoD is generally not a very hands on job. Our job is generally to serve as Project Engineers/Project Managers to ensure the warfighter is getting a product that meets cost/schedule/performance.

USMCTerminator said:

What these guys said.

It is funny you post this. I am also an ME and work DoD. I work in Fl. and we're trying to get back to Mi. to get closer to family. Do you work at TARDEC by any chance? Being an Engineer in DoD is generally not a very hands on job. Our job is generally to serve as Project Engineers/Project Managers to ensure the warfighter is getting a product that meets cost/schedule/performance.

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Damn, now with the hiring freeze everything is on hold. Yes I do, the problem is that the job they have me doing is more of a designer tech, so I just sit on a desk and work on CAD so I'm not even doing the Project Engineer/Manager jobs.

SVTdreamin04 said:

If you are having doubts, then it isn't what you should do. You both need to be in agreement on this. You both need to be onboard with this change. If it doesn't feel right location wise, then don't do it.

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This

I like CAD work, but I would not want to do it as a fulltime position either. I like running projects though as you get to ensure something goes out to the warfighter and you know that you have put a lot of effort making sure they are getting something that will make their job easier/better. I have been in a holding pattern waiting for the freeze to be lifted. Good luck in your search!

USMCTerminator said:

I like CAD work, but I would not want to do it as a fulltime position either. I like running projects though as you get to ensure something goes out to the warfighter and you know that you have put a lot of effort making sure they are getting something that will make their job easier/better. I have been in a holding pattern waiting for the freeze to be lifted. Good luck in your search!

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Good luck to you as well. I agree, its a good feeling knowing you are helping the soldiers out in the field. I have tow friends that are active and directly use what I work on. The two jobs Im looking at in FL are also military oriented.

Where in Michigan are you located?

CV355 said:

Where in Michigan are you located?

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Live in Livonia, work in Warren

GTCobraClone said:

Thanks for the reply.

That's what I feel. We have talked about it and we both agree that moving is what we want. She told me last night that if she was in my position she would withdraw from the GM offer since she doesn't want to live in MI. I think what puts doubt in my mind is the feeling that if none of the FL jobs come through then I will have to stay in MI on a job that I'm unhappy until something finally comes through and as I'm writing this I'm realizing that its sort of stupid, eventually something must come through.

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I've been there my friend. You feel torn about the situation, and your mind is going 100 miles an hour thinking about the change. But, when it comes down to it, if it doesn't feel right, then chances are it isn't what you're after. Good luck! Keep the boss lady happy, that is your number one priority.

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You are in great field and it seems like their are always Engineering jobs out there in just about any state. I know I have never had a problem switching jobs. My only suggestion to you is don't rule out a smaller company. I am an Mechanical Engineering Manager for small OEM that produces slicing and bagging equipment. After working for a much bigger operations in the past, I love the smaller company sizes hands down. I get so much more hands on experience / versatility. I feel it also helps you gain more broad knowledge. Another plus is their isn't as much workplace politics or hiring freeze type of stuff that goes on from my experience. Only potential drawback is you most certainly will be driven to work that much harder and probably longer hours but in the end if you love what you do it doesn't seem to really bother.

I agree with others though don't settle for GM. Someone like that you'll more than likely just be "a number" in my mind.

I lived in West Palm Beach for 25 years.

It's an over priced shit hole.

Have you considered staying in the DoD side of things by going to suppliers? Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman are both excellent companies to work for. High pay, great benefits. I've been with one of them as an Aeronautical Engineer for 11 years now. They're always looking for ME and EE. I assume since you worked for DoD, you have a clearance, so that makes things even easier.

aaron97 said:

Have you considered staying in the DoD side of things by going to suppliers? Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman are both excellent companies to work for. High pay, great benefits. I've been with one of them as an Aeronautical Engineer for 11 years now. They're always looking for ME and EE. I assume since you worked for DoD, you have a clearance, so that makes things even easier.

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Im under consideration for Northrop in Melbourne and have an interview with Aerojet Rocketdyne on Monday. Im trying to stay in the DoD since a have a clearance.

Fellow DoD ME here, I understand your plight. The great thing about being civilian is the ability to move around within the DoD if you are unhappy/unfulfilled. Granted a government ME is not going to stay 100% technical. We are inevitably shoved into PM/COR roles because MEs are inherently good at that, generally speaking. If your problem is lack of hands-on, technical work, I can assure you groups still exist where you can stay technical if you're good at it.

shit....i'd leave MI for FL in a heart beat. But that's JMO.

nxhappy said:

shit....i'd leave MI for FL in a heart beat. But that's JMO.

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Haha, me too. The problem was making a decision if I should have withdrawn from GM while I waited for the FL job to come through.

Follow your heart or you'll be miserable. I avoided my dream of having a hot rod shop for 20 years to stay in the controls and automation game. I'm now at the top of the field for process control with numerous large cap projects and white papers under my belt, but have never been happy designing control systems so it's all for nothing. Now, with everyone trying to get me to be a PM, I'm even more miserable.

There is truth in the adage "do what you love and you never work a day in your life".

I've been mulling it over for the last couple of years and after being approached by numerous people, I've decided to start slowly turning my hobby into a career. Mind you, it will just be something on the side for now, so very little risk.

The point is, don't wait until it is too late to switch careers if you aren't happy doing what you doing.