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Calvin Asks: Is there space for a mature student in engineering?

CalvinTheEngineer
After moving countries I took the "any job to pay the bills route".


I was previously a recording engineer and once arriving in the UK I took a bar job. This bar job evolved to me being promoted to restaurant manager, earning a very comfortable salary. But I hated the job. Long hours that would often go into the night were not my long term plan.


When I was offered the position of general manager I had a decision to make. I knew that if I accepted it I would probably stay for the money. So I decided to quit, enrolled in college and then in a EEE course at university.


By the time I graduate with a masters I will be 40 years old and I fear that I might be rejected by most companies due to my age. I also fear that I'm at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to being chosen as my grades aren't excellent (although I believe I will graduate with a 2:1) I have very little outside projects under my belt (as time is a little limited when you have to support yourself and have time to spend with family) and I didn't manage to secure a summer placement in 3rd year.


Is there a place for me in the industry?


Sound man - Sheffield

 
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    So your question is - is there a space in the engineering industry for a 40 year old experienced manager, used to coping with difficult clients in high stress environments, and with up-to-date technical education? Good grief yes there is!! Customer focused engineers with management experience are like gold dust.


    BUT you will almost certainly find that big companies don't want to take a risk on you just yet. (Don't let that stop you applying to them, and keep positive during your applications, but be prepared.) So find the small companies. You may well find that your way in is through project management or customer technical support - doesn't mean you have to do those roles forever, for the moment it's finding a way in. 


    You might want to look at food processing technology companies (bigger business than you might think it is). Or, of course, audio / visual equipment companies are flexible in the way they take on staff from interesting backgrounds - but that is a very competitive field. In either of those you have the selling point of knowledge of the target customers.


    I jumped from the recording studio industry to the railway signalling industry in my 30s - took a little while to get back up to the same level but not a ridiculously long time. The key was finding a small company (actually a small division of a big company) willing to take a risk on me.


    Cheers,


    Andy
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  • 0
    So your question is - is there a space in the engineering industry for a 40 year old experienced manager, used to coping with difficult clients in high stress environments, and with up-to-date technical education? Good grief yes there is!! Customer focused engineers with management experience are like gold dust.


    BUT you will almost certainly find that big companies don't want to take a risk on you just yet. (Don't let that stop you applying to them, and keep positive during your applications, but be prepared.) So find the small companies. You may well find that your way in is through project management or customer technical support - doesn't mean you have to do those roles forever, for the moment it's finding a way in. 


    You might want to look at food processing technology companies (bigger business than you might think it is). Or, of course, audio / visual equipment companies are flexible in the way they take on staff from interesting backgrounds - but that is a very competitive field. In either of those you have the selling point of knowledge of the target customers.


    I jumped from the recording studio industry to the railway signalling industry in my 30s - took a little while to get back up to the same level but not a ridiculously long time. The key was finding a small company (actually a small division of a big company) willing to take a risk on me.


    Cheers,


    Andy
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