I've been in the aerospace field for more than 8 years as a design engineer.

Anonymous

August 22,2023 at 3:18PM UTC

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I've been in the aerospace field for more than 8 years as a design engineer. I've done bachelors, masters and recently joined a big MNC in the US in a good position. However shiny and perfect it might look like, I am suffering with imposter syndrome, I always thought I got everything with luck and I don't know anything. Infact most of this comes from my lack of interest in engineering. I never liked it, but my life has been such a way that I had to take up that engineering degree/ opportunity to keep going, else I had nothing to do/ no one to support/ will lose my respect and self worth. I am married since two years, my husband recently lost his job, so again I am back to my same pattern, I have to keep my job to continue.

Everyday I sit and think about every other career which looks interesting. Specially the ones where you interact with more people/ women/ cultures while making a difference and helping people. I am also very much interested in jobs which has a bigger picture, working with multiple teams, multiple areas, and general management. With my current job, I can never do all that. Its all about focusing on a single design, analysis, components etc. etc.. I just want to move out of this one specialization job!

I have no idea what I am capable of doing or where can I even try to get a job with this truck load of engineering career behind me. People will say, I'm dumb to leave high paying job and all the career I built until now. But no one knows how incompetent, dissatisfied I am with my current career.

How do I approach doing something else/ pursuing anything. Will career coaches/ mentors help? What should I do.

I am very low on friends/ family or any sort of mentorship.

I'm new to this community, any small or big help is highly appreciated. Thank you!

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Barb HansenAugust 22,2023 at 3:29PM UTC
Here are some thoughts that crossed my mind reading you post:
There are plenty of good paying jobs other than your current job, you don't need to stop planning a better career path b/c of what "people say"
You can learn about lots of other career paths while you are working at your current job. YouTube and Google are your friends - you can search for "other careers paths for aerospace design engineers" and see what pops up. Jump down search rabbit holes and see where you end up.
Startups in the aerospace field might be a good place to look for non-engineering jobs like program managers, product managers or account manager roles, where your experience in the aerospace field would be invaluable but you would be doing a different type of job.
Don't know what Program, Product or Account managers do every day? No worries, youtube and google can teach you.
Eight years into your career might seem like a lifetime, espeically if you don't really like your job, but you are just getting started. You can change careers at any time. I did at my 13 year mark, I switched from bench work in a hospital laboratory to Product Management in startup tech (which I have been doing for the past 27 years).
You've got this!
Grisel Scarantino, Career and Work-Life Fulfillment CoachAugust 22,2023 at 3:44PM UTC
Yes, Career Coaches can help. Especially the ones that specialize in helping people find their Career Calling.
As Barb mentioned in her comment on this thread, you can change careers at any time. Although you’re thinking about your job in strictly an engineering kind of way, you have also developed transferable skills that can be applicable in other areas aligned with your values and passion outside of engineering.
The question is: what is the area that you want to take your career into?
I help professionals answer this question and quickly make a career pivot. There are other coaches out there that can also help. We’re all a little different so it would be a matter of finding someone that can help you solve the specific problem you’re experiencing and has good chemistry with you.
Check out my profile here on FGB. I’m happy to chat with you over a complimentary call to share strategies and see if we are a good fit.
AnonymousAugust 22,2023 at 4:22PM UTC
You might consider a
Side hustle to explore interesting opportunities in a consulting capacity. Pod casts, blogs and lectures might help you explore new topics and areas of interest. Sitting on panels and committees will also help you network.
Many times people think they need to make a 100% pivot into a new job but that is only one of many ways to pivot. You can get creative and explore opportunities on a smaller stage to test out ideas.
AnonymousAugust 22,2023 at 5:05PM UTC
Take the Gallup assessments. It really helped me to confirm the things I like to do, want to do, and am burnt out from doing.
LilianaAugust 22,2023 at 7:15PM UTC
Impostor syndrome is very common among highly succesful people. Luck has nothing to do with your success, you worked hard for it. You would probably benefit from working with a therapist to help you reassess and modify thinking patterns which don't serve you well. There is meaning in every career, you just have to engineer yours to find it and a position which satifies you. Service or helping careers are over rated and easily lead to burn out if your goals and motivation are not clear. Work on yourself 1st!
Maegan, Nike Sales Rep & Career CoachAugust 23,2023 at 1:50PM UTC
Hey anonymous ! I'm a coach and I can help you with this.
I specialize in helping women experiencing imposter syndrome and get better more fulfilling roles.
My consult call is completely free and I can help with two things. 1 - show you how to take steps in lessening the impact of feeling 'imposter-like' so you can feel more hopeful and excited in your work and career future. 2- Gain clarity on what you might want next step could be and how your experience can transfer to another industry/role using a simple exercise I will walk you through. I'll show you some actionable steps you can take immediately. You are talented and do not have to have this experience.
I look forward to talking to you! https://maeganmillercoaching.as.me/consultcall
AnonymousAugust 23,2023 at 2:13PM UTC
You are not dumb for being unhappy. Even the 'best' careers/skills may not fulfill your internal needs and it is perfectly okay to move on to something that makes you feel fulfilled. It's okay to feel how you feel, don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.
Zeecil KimmelAugust 24,2023 at 12:45PM UTC
I had 20+ years of post-sales experience and was dying to move to pre-sales. Everyone told me I could not do it. I worked on highlighting the parts of my current job that are similar to what I would do in the future and found a company willing to take me on. A year later I love what I do and the company I work for is a small place where I can swim in all lanes and do the right thing. It's out there - breathe deep, access all your superpowers and go for it.
AnonymousAugust 24,2023 at 1:52PM UTC
First, congrats on your accomplishments! I know it sucks always hanging around men and Engineers lol. I can bet that while you feel like an imposter your colleagues admire your experience and education. Hands down — Project Management. You’d be a liaison between the stakeholders, designers/engineers, and end users. It will not get boring, as a PM there are many variables to deal with and people to communicate with, critical paths, and budget. You understand the design lingo and can communicate the stakeholders ideas/ requests of the design team. PM is multidisciplinary it will encompass everything you’re looking for. Depending on the field, PM make just as much as Engineers. Sometimes more (at least from my experience in construction). I would start with looking at the positions within the firm you’re currently and talking to a Project Manager there. Also look into PMP Certs, or basic PM courses to get started.
Rose Perez-RuizAugust 24,2023 at 2:24PM UTC
Given the circumstances you are in you may consider keeping your job and pay during this time. Volunteer in the types of activities you think will bring you joy and fulfillment. Perhaps join an organization like GirlStart which mentors school age girls who are interested in STEM. You may discover that you are far more impactful in that role and your cup is filled by helping young girls.
RachelAugust 24,2023 at 3:14PM UTC
Hi there. As a female engineer, I get this. I had a moment a couple years ago after leaving the Aerospace field where I thought maybe I was meant to do more than Engineering. I believe after so many years, you have to keep growing and learning other things or have other outside interests that differ from your career or youll get burnt out really fast. I actually thought that maybe I was meant to be a doctor. And fun y story, I went to my doctor around that same time and turns out she used to be an engineer as well but decided a doctor was where she wanted to be. All this to say, what youre feeling is very valid. I've actually moved out of Engineering into Manufacturing Managment and it challenges me in ways I wasn't expecting which I love. I get bored easily and that's why aerospace wasn't for me. I didn't like being compartmentalized into doing one thing - I needed more. It's possible Engineering is still for you but maybe it's just time to leave that business and try something else. Engineer's are needed all over the place. Good luck!