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Calvin Asks: Should I play it safe or take a leap of faith?

CalvinTheEngineer
I’m a 30 something and I’m looking to change careers. I’ve been working in aerospace since I graduated and my job has become stagnant and unfulfilling. I’ve been thinking about a change and moving into the nuclear industry


I’m afraid that starting from scratch will mean exactly that for my salary. I can probably afford a small pay cut, but not going back to graduate wages. I’m also worried when looking for a job that I’ll fall into that trap of being ‘over-qualified’ that lots of recruiters use as a reason not to hire someone!


I know I’m going to be working for the next 30/40 years of my life and I want something that excites me, but should I play it safe or take a leap?


Undecided – Durham

 
Need advice but  too shy to ask? Have a question of a ‘sensitive’ nature and would prefer to remain anonymous? Need to get something off your chest but worried about the boss (or your colleagues) finding out? Then ‘Ask Calvin’ !  

Submit your questions confidentially to AskCalvin@theiet.org and Calvin will ask the community on your behalf to give you the anonymity you want to find the advice you need.

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    I suggest taking a wider view of your life goals and personal circumstances. You also have to “call the market” for your existing skills and those that you might develop in future.  

    Perhaps to date you have been very fortunate in growing strongly through university and into the early part of your career, but this has plateaued.  Almost everyone’s career follows this kind of pattern, although those with exceptional talent and opportunities may grow more steeply and plateau later, perhaps at a more strategic level (Jaques and Stamp).  Your question suggests that your organisation values your contribution, but does not see strong further potential. Does that seem reasonable to you? If you are ambitious, then you need to make that clear and seek other opportunities, if your current employer can’t offer what you want.  However, I sense that you are just bored of carrying out the same type of work, perhaps more variety would help to restore your mojo.

    You mention “the nuclear industry”. Is this because you see opportunities for work in your target location(s), because it seems to be an area with growth potential in the areas of skill that you would like to exercise in future?

    Your first option if possible, should be a conversation with someone in your existing organisation responsible for “talent management”, or whatever alternative description is used by HR. If that doesn’t make a difference, then your personal circumstances may limit your choices. Most careers are compromises between personal or family situation and work. As Alex highlighted there may be several different options, which might align differently with your needs and personal style preferences.  

    “Recruiters” can mean several types of people such as; in a large organisation a line manager asking an HR function to recruit someone, an external recruitment consultancy retained typically to create a final shortlist, who may engage in sales and marketing, such as advertisements, telesales etc. So knock-backs often come from someone who just doesn’t think that you best fit their client’s brief compared to someone else.  Some organisations keep everything in house. Some SME’s rely on more informal means like talent spotting and informal approaches. You could even become a business partner with someone or self-employed.  A larger organisation may be able to sustain paying you beyond your level of productivity for longer than a small one, but again as Alex highlighted, you may have transferrable skills, which may even be more valuable elsewhere.


    It appears that you haven’t moved before, so lack experience of marketing yourself in the employment market. A sales and marketing job with the product being you. For that reason it is important to put any negativity about your current role behind you and adopt good positive reasons why you want the target role(s) that you have identified.

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  • 0
    I suggest taking a wider view of your life goals and personal circumstances. You also have to “call the market” for your existing skills and those that you might develop in future.  

    Perhaps to date you have been very fortunate in growing strongly through university and into the early part of your career, but this has plateaued.  Almost everyone’s career follows this kind of pattern, although those with exceptional talent and opportunities may grow more steeply and plateau later, perhaps at a more strategic level (Jaques and Stamp).  Your question suggests that your organisation values your contribution, but does not see strong further potential. Does that seem reasonable to you? If you are ambitious, then you need to make that clear and seek other opportunities, if your current employer can’t offer what you want.  However, I sense that you are just bored of carrying out the same type of work, perhaps more variety would help to restore your mojo.

    You mention “the nuclear industry”. Is this because you see opportunities for work in your target location(s), because it seems to be an area with growth potential in the areas of skill that you would like to exercise in future?

    Your first option if possible, should be a conversation with someone in your existing organisation responsible for “talent management”, or whatever alternative description is used by HR. If that doesn’t make a difference, then your personal circumstances may limit your choices. Most careers are compromises between personal or family situation and work. As Alex highlighted there may be several different options, which might align differently with your needs and personal style preferences.  

    “Recruiters” can mean several types of people such as; in a large organisation a line manager asking an HR function to recruit someone, an external recruitment consultancy retained typically to create a final shortlist, who may engage in sales and marketing, such as advertisements, telesales etc. So knock-backs often come from someone who just doesn’t think that you best fit their client’s brief compared to someone else.  Some organisations keep everything in house. Some SME’s rely on more informal means like talent spotting and informal approaches. You could even become a business partner with someone or self-employed.  A larger organisation may be able to sustain paying you beyond your level of productivity for longer than a small one, but again as Alex highlighted, you may have transferrable skills, which may even be more valuable elsewhere.


    It appears that you haven’t moved before, so lack experience of marketing yourself in the employment market. A sales and marketing job with the product being you. For that reason it is important to put any negativity about your current role behind you and adopt good positive reasons why you want the target role(s) that you have identified.

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