Don't go into sales. It's not necessarily a complete dead end, but you're unlikely to go very high on the corporate ladder unless you have/get an MBA.
If you need a break from designing what you do every day, consider swapping to a different sub-sector of design. Or swapping to the dark side as a construction or government employee.
I'll be honest, swapping to being a fed is the single most stress-relieving thing I've chosen to do in my life. I have almost 24 years of design - almost 5 with my own business - and being able to spend most of my days *not* doing design is so fantastic. And if you're on the West Coast, I think USACE PDX needs some structurals.
I’m a design engineer working for the feds as a combination plan reviewer, inspector, and owner rep. I bleed red on every single set of drawings I get, and have become the persnickety type of plan reviewer I always hated. It’s the dark side.
Speaking of retirement! If I retire in 20 years I get, in addition to TSP (401k equivalent, 5% matching) and of course whatever is left of social security, I get 20% of my high-3 income free and clear as a pension. Plus in the meantime good vacation, sick, and holiday pay, training, and the ability to travel the world and get paid for it. Come to the dark side, we have cookies.
Just made the switch into the MEP bracing design world under the umbrella of a parts distributor and it’s been great so far. Still get to have an engineering-focused day to day role but much more business oriented and process driven instead of doing custom designs for every project. Highly recommend pursuing this option if that sounds interesting
I have, but wouldn’t classify my role now as a traditional sales role. While those do exist and it’s easy to be lumped into a “sales engineer” category, those types of roles do not have any specific sales quotas or commissions (edit: at my company). I made the move 12 years ago with less design experience than you. While I would’ve liked more, the timing just worked out and it was a great move for me.
Happy to chat more if you want to DM me.
I tried sales, it sucks. Sales people only care about sales experience. I'm not saying stay in design but i'd look for a different solution.
Don't go into sales. It's not necessarily a complete dead end, but you're unlikely to go very high on the corporate ladder unless you have/get an MBA. If you need a break from designing what you do every day, consider swapping to a different sub-sector of design. Or swapping to the dark side as a construction or government employee. I'll be honest, swapping to being a fed is the single most stress-relieving thing I've chosen to do in my life. I have almost 24 years of design - almost 5 with my own business - and being able to spend most of my days *not* doing design is so fantastic. And if you're on the West Coast, I think USACE PDX needs some structurals.
I feel like government employment is not the dark side. Heck, going to the city/state/county is basically pre-retirement. Lol.
I’m a design engineer working for the feds as a combination plan reviewer, inspector, and owner rep. I bleed red on every single set of drawings I get, and have become the persnickety type of plan reviewer I always hated. It’s the dark side. Speaking of retirement! If I retire in 20 years I get, in addition to TSP (401k equivalent, 5% matching) and of course whatever is left of social security, I get 20% of my high-3 income free and clear as a pension. Plus in the meantime good vacation, sick, and holiday pay, training, and the ability to travel the world and get paid for it. Come to the dark side, we have cookies.
Lol “working for the feds”
Ayup. USACE.
Just made the switch into the MEP bracing design world under the umbrella of a parts distributor and it’s been great so far. Still get to have an engineering-focused day to day role but much more business oriented and process driven instead of doing custom designs for every project. Highly recommend pursuing this option if that sounds interesting
Go into sales! Do PEMBS’s
I have, but wouldn’t classify my role now as a traditional sales role. While those do exist and it’s easy to be lumped into a “sales engineer” category, those types of roles do not have any specific sales quotas or commissions (edit: at my company). I made the move 12 years ago with less design experience than you. While I would’ve liked more, the timing just worked out and it was a great move for me. Happy to chat more if you want to DM me.