How to move Industries when you are a Field Engineer
How to move industries when you are a Field Engineer? Is that something you have considered?
Changing industries as a field engineer can seem like a daunting challenge, but it is far from impossible. The experience and expertise gained in a field engineering role are valuable across many sectors.
Job hunting as a Field Engineer – how to move Industries
Introduction
With careful planning, a clear strategy, and a willingness to adapt, a transition into a new industry can be both smooth and rewarding. This article outlines the key steps to help you make the move successfully.
Assess Your Skills and Make an Inventory
The first step in any career transition is honest self-assessment. This is more important when you are considering how to move industries.
As a field engineer, you are likely to possess a strong mix of technical, analytical, and interpersonal skills. Begin by creating a detailed inventory of your current skills. As well as specific technical knowledge and skills, these may include project management, troubleshooting, quality assurance, technical writing, systems analysis, and customer service. If you have worked in another country, or in a challenging environment (in heat or cold or at height for example), then include that too. Keep adding to the list and don’t analyse anything yet. It may help to ask a colleague or friend to help you with this list as they may include things you haven’t.
Identify Transferable Skills
Once you have listed your skills, identify which ones are transferable to other industries.
For instance, your ability to manage projects can be applicable in construction, information technology, and manufacturing and will help you move industries. Your hands-on experience with complex systems may be valuable in the energy sector or telecommunications. Soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving are universally appreciated across all sectors and will help you to move industries.
Use frameworks such as the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to reflect on past experiences and clearly articulate your competencies.
You might also consider seeking feedback from colleagues, mentors, or supervisors to get an external perspective on your strengths.
Research Target Industries
Once you understand your skill set, the next step is to identify which industries could benefit from your experience and capabilities. Consider sectors that align with your interests, values, and long-term career aspirations. If you do not want to relocate, then it makes sense to focus on industries which are local to you. If you are happy to relocate or travel globally, you can consider more sectors.
For example, a field engineer in the oil and gas industry may choose to move into renewable energy due to a growing interest in sustainability. Similarly, an engineer with experience in telecommunications may find a natural fit in the tech industry. You should also consider which industries are growing, and which offer greater job security and advancement opportunities.
Resources to use
Use a variety of sources for your research. Industry reports, job advertisements, and company websites can offer insights into the skills that are in demand. Professional forums, online communities, and industry publications are also helpful in understanding the culture, challenges, and expectations in your desired field.
Update your CV or Resume
A CV is more than a list of past jobs; it is a marketing document designed to showcase your suitability for a role. When changing industries, it is important to tailor your CV to highlight your transferable skills and relevant experience. If you are targeting more than one sector to move to, consider having more than one version for your CV/Resume.
Start with a personal statement that outlines your career goals and explains your motivation for moving into a new industry. Use this section to show your enthusiasm and to reassure potential employers that your transition is a strategic and considered move.
In the work experience section, focus on achievements rather than duties. Use quantifiable results wherever possible to demonstrate your impact. For example, instead of stating “responsible for installing equipment,” you could say “led the installation of high-capacity telecommunications equipment across 15 client sites, improving service uptime by 30 per cent.”
Consider creating a skills-based CV, which organises your experience by skill sets rather than chronological job history. This can help draw attention to how your capabilities align with the requirements of roles in your target industry.
Take Training Courses
Learning new skills or deepening existing ones can significantly improve your chances of breaking into a new industry. Training courses, certifications, and workshops can bridge knowledge gaps and show prospective employers that you are proactive and committed to your professional development.
Identify the qualifications and competencies commonly required in your target industry. For instance, if you are moving into the IT sector, courses in programming languages, cybersecurity, or cloud computing may be beneficial. If you are entering the medical sector, then courses on cybersecurity, safety testing of medical equipment, may be useful.
There are numerous platforms where you can access high-quality learning content. Websites like Coursera, edX, and LinkedIn Learning offer courses from leading universities and organisations. You might also explore industry-specific certifications such as PRINCE2 for project management or CompTIA for IT skills.
In addition to online courses, consider attending seminars, workshops, and webinars. These can be valuable for both learning and networking.
Network and Build new Connections in your Target Industries
Networking is a powerful tool when changing industries. Building relationships with professionals in your target field can open doors to opportunities that are not advertised publicly. It can also give you a deeper understanding of the industry’s culture and expectations.
You could start by updating your LinkedIn profile to reflect your career goals and the skills relevant to your desired industry. Join professional groups, attend industry events, and participate in online discussions. Do not hesitate to reach out to people for informational interviews where you can learn more about their roles and seek advice.
You can also engage with professional bodies and associations. For example, if you are transitioning into the energy sector, organisations like the Energy Institute in the UK can provide access to resources, events, and a network of professionals.
Volunteering for projects, contributing to industry forums, or writing articles on topics related to your target industry can also help establish your presence and credibility.
How to move Industries – Examples of Transitions
There are many inspiring examples of individuals who have successfully transitioned across industries by leveraging their engineering background.
How to move Industries – Aerospace to Healthcare
James, a former field engineer in the aerospace sector, transitioned into the healthcare technology industry. His understanding of complex systems and rigorous testing protocols translated well into medical device manufacturing. He supplemented his skills with a course in biomedical engineering and connected with professionals through LinkedIn.
How to move Industries – Oil and Gas to Renewables
Victoria, who worked in field engineering within the oil and gas industry, made a successful move to the renewable energy sector. Her deep knowledge of energy systems, combined with her passion for sustainability, made her a strong candidate. She completed a certification in wind energy and joined a green energy startup where she now leads installation projects.
How to move Industries – Telecommunications to Software Project Management
Tomas, after ten years as a field engineer in telecommunications, moved into a project management role within the software industry. By gaining a PRINCE2 certification and attending tech meetups, he was able to build the network and credibility needed for the switch.
How to move Industries – Semiconductor to Biomedical
Miguel had built a career working as a field installation engineer in the semiconductor industry. He transitioned easily into a role installing biomedical equipment. His attention to detail, and ability to learn new products and technologies made the transition smooth.
These stories demonstrate that with planning, continuous learning, and the right mindset, moving industries is achievable.
Conclusion
Transitioning from one industry to another as a field engineer is a strategic move that requires planning, learning, and persistence. By assessing your skills, conducting thorough research, updating your CV/Resume, undertaking training, and building a strong professional network, you can successfully navigate the shift. The evolving job market values adaptability, and your experience as a field engineer equips you with a solid foundation to thrive in a new sector.
List of Resources for How to move Industries
Here is a list of useful resources to support your transition.
Coursera
Online courses across a wide range of disciplines.
edX
High-quality courses from universities around the world.
FutureLearn
UK-based online learning platform.
For networking, job searching, and professional development.
Energy Institute
Professional body for the energy sector.
Engineering Council UK
For recognised qualifications and standards.
PRINCE2 Certification
Widely recognised project management certification.
Further reading
Robotics Field Engineer – What are the opportunities now?
Why being a Catering Equipment Service Engineer is a Great Choice
16 years ago, I move from 19 years as FSE in Graphic and printing industry to healthcare. As the paper was less used as information support media, it was clear to me that I must move to some different.
Healthcare and Printing may seem quite different, but they were not so much for me. In both cases, optoelectronics is the basis of the technology, and it was not radical from the technical point of view. What was different is the customer. In industry, customer uses to be technically skilled. In healthcare, doctors and nurses are not in the top tech savvy, but they’re more focus on their medical skills. Of course, there are exceptions in both cases.
So, my two cents if you like to switch industries:
1. Try to get an overview of the technology used in your target industry. It can be surprisely familiar to you.
2. Get an idea of final user behavior and skills. Maybe you’ll need extra dosis of patience and communication skills to explain issues or user instructions to persons not really interested in tech, or you will have to be very precise in your explanations because the customer has a higher knowledge of tech than you.
3. Get feedback of another FSE working in that field. This site is the right place for this!
4. Set a list of new skills you will need in the new field and train on these. There are a lot of resources in the internet, but if you’re in active job searching and you need also training, Linkedin Premium with the access to the LinkedIn Training is a good investment.