Mid life career change

<p>I'm in the middle of a mid life career change. I was a commodities broker for about ten years before the recession hit and wiped my little corner of the industry out. Instead of trying to find another crappy sales job, I decided to go back to school. I originally intended to major in accounting or finance, but I immediately rediscovered my love for science and math classes. I chose to major in Chemical Engineering and 3 years later, at the ripe age of 38, I've been accepted to UC Irvine as a junior ChemE major.</p>

<p>I read the articles about starting salaries for new bachelors degrees, and I wonder: Will my previous job experience translate to a higher starting salary? I realize the job experience that I have does not involve any engineering. And I'm not really looking for an engineering job that involves sales, I frankly never want to sell a damn thing again! </p>

<p>Also for anyone reading that may hire engineers, how do you view older recent graduates? How do you think the industry responds to them?</p>

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<p>I don’t think so initially, but your maturity and your sales background may give you the tools to rise faster than your peers, so five years out I can see you being more of a leader, and compensated for being one. </p>

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<p>For me it depends on the individual. First of all it’s rare. I had one women who went to a special program at BU who sounded great on the phone, but a few days before the face-to-face interview she called to tell me that she had accepted another position. </p>

<p>I would think that technically, your GPA and your ability to explain what you did as an undergraduate would matter the same as for a younger new grad. The role of a new grad is to execute the technical stuff. I would take whatever time you need to try to master your new craft, and by all means have fun doing it. </p>

<p>However, I believe that technical things being equal, investing time and money in you would have a much higher immediate return than a new grad. </p>

<p>The upside for you is that your sales background is very valuable as an engineer, not because you will be literally selling any products, but because you probably have a very strong EQ- a measure of emotional intelligence. The ability to read people, build good working relationships, and explain the benefits of your ideas will allow you to function more effectively. Your understanding of the sales process will allow you to interface with “customers” (be they internal like your own sales and marketing team, or external like customers of your company). </p>

<p>I’m an EE and work in R&D on very technical work, yet I have to make powerpoints all the time to “sell” ideas that I have to both internal and external customers. It’s not the same kind of selling, but it’s vital to maintain my team’s research funding. </p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

<p>My engineering coworker graduated at 35 after a stint as a biologist. He had 18 interviews and 17 job offers. A history of steady work, even in another field, means less risk for a company.</p>

<p>You will likely be hired as a first year engineer along with all the other new grads. Pay is usually standardized in a company, with occasional bonuses for exceptional grades.</p>

<p>I just turned 36. I started a 2nd B.S. in Industrial Engineering in January and so far, it has been the best decision of my life.</p>

<p>Like you, I have a background in Finance, did my first B.S in Economics but became very disillusioned with the Finance industry overall-so I decided to go back to school for a career change.</p>

<p>In my opinion, our age group is the perfect time for a career change- we are not too old, not young either. Also, if you don’t do it now, you may never get another oportunity!</p>

<p>Imagine a recruiter talking to a 20 year old kid who probably has never had a “real job” other than an internship versus a 40 year old seasoned professional with 2 degrees and relevant professional work experience.</p>

<p>In addition, you have been a broker, so obviously you must have developed good people skills along your career and that is something that a lot of young engineers simply do not have. I think you will definitely stand out in a good way!</p>