An engineering degree has traditionally been viewed as one that offers job stability with good career prospects. While that remains true in most cases, the massive downsizing of the hard disk and semiconductor industries show that engineers must remain nimble and open to career moves beyond the engineering discipline as the global economy is constantly changing. These slides aims to highlight not just some of the attributes needed to make a cross industry/cross professional career switch but more importantly, how to remain professionally nimble so that you will always remain in control of your career.

1. A Career Beyond Engineering
Engineering Alumni Singapore (EAS) Career Development Series

2. Agenda
• Possible Alternative Careers
• Ways to Make that Change
• Approach the Change
• Skills or Experience Gap?
• How do I need to change to be successful?
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3. Possible Alternative Careers
Finance
Human Resources
Marketing
Public Relations
Entrepreneurship
Social Services
Events Management
Public Sector
Sales
“An Engineer can do
your job but you can’t
do the Engineer’s job”
Heard at a Board Meeting
Copyright © Engineering Alumni Singapore 2014

4. Ways to Make that Change
Internal
Related
Unrelated
• Rotation
• Transfer
• Promotion
• Ex-Boss, Ex-Colleague, Friend,
Relative
•Organization you volunteer in
• Volunteer who has worked with you
in that Organization
• Client or Vendor
• Head hunted
• Solicited Application
•Unsolicited Application
• Start own business or join a startup
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5. Approach the Change
• Money
• Challenge
• Job Scope
• Seniority
• Environment
What
You
Want
• Adapt to Culture
• Adapt to
Professional
Norms
• Learn Fast
• Work Harder
• Accept Social
Tradeoff
What
You will
Do
• A Sure Thing
• Adaptable to
Company Culture
• Growth Potential
What
They
Want
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6. Skills or Experience Gap?
Technical
Knowledge
Culturally
Adaptable
Strong
with
Numbers
Presentation
Skills
Personal
Brand
Mgmt
Systematic
Problem
Solving
Logical
Specific
Professional
Knowledge
People
Relevant
Negotiation
Experience Skills
Skills
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7. How do I need to change to be successful
• Within company
• Join professional association relevant to interest
• Volunteer in a VWO/NGO in area specific to interest
• Build rapport with vendors and clients whilst still being
professional
Network
• Be careful with your online profile
• Always do what you say you will do
• Always be committed and professional
• Listen first before speaking (but speak!)
• Get what you set out to do but without making too many
enemies…
Build Personal
Brand
• Always be in a learning mode
• Don’t be afraid to “Move Your Cheese”
• Purposely put yourself in unfamiliar and uncomfortable
circumstances to prove adaptability Adaptability
“I know him and think he is good”
“I know he has the ability to
do the job”
“I know he will fit in”
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8. Ultimately
Copyright © Engineering Alumni Singapore 2014
Errors in
Judgement
Only You
Know
What you
Want
Impatience
Environmental
Factors
Arrogance