Looking for advice from you career changers

[chemenger]

OK! After 26 years of on-again, off-again employment as a chemical engineer I'm fit to be institutionalized. I've never been able to secure a permanent position that has lasted for more than 2 years; most of my recent positions have been contract.

I hate this profession almost as much as I hate the Republican Party and I want out! Problem is I don't know how to do anything other than what I've been doing all these years. I don't even know what I might like to do. I figure that there are DU'ers (possibly even some engineers) out there who have successfully changed careers and who might be willing to advise, counsel, or even mentor me in making a career change.

Barring that, if you should know of any opportunities for a professional engineer with 13 years experience in water and wastewater treatment please let me know. 15 weeks of unemployment left and I'm starting to get a little concerned. I am from the Pittsburgh suberbs and am willing to relocate.

[NC_Nurse]

1. Maybe you should move to a place that's gaining

population like down here in NC. Our water/sewer companies are scrambling to adjust to a burgeoning population. I bet other areas like that need people with your talents.

There's always nursing, if you don't mind going back to school for a bit. They have accelerated programs for those who already hold degrees in other areas. You'll never be without a job, that's for sure!

[radwriter0555]

2. Or Las Vegas.

Check the job boards for civil servant jobs.

http://www.engineermax.com/jobdetails.cfm?jid=6915

http://www.thinkjobs.com/think.nsf/JONumAlpha/32044?Opendocument

http://www.engcen.com/other.htm

[Sporadicus]

3. Oddly Enough, I Know of a Chemist Position

in the town where I work. It's likely a QA-type position, which may be a bit more laid-back than that to which you're accustomed. The company is Brenntag (Germany).

http://www.jobsearch.org/seeker/jobsearch/quick?action=JobSearchViewJob&JobSearch_JobId=16585733&JobSearchType=JobSearch

[FloridaPat]

4. I'm still trying to find a career to last until I get SS. I've been trying

to start a business. For several years actually since I hated computer programming. Working on starting a photography business at this point. Do you have any hobbies? Things you like to do? that's a good start. Any job you always wanted to do but couldn't over the years?

[Cary]

5. Get creative.

Find some niche. That is, find something that big companies aren't doing, or aren't doing well. It should be something that has fallen between the cracks. Given your skills it should obviously be something technical.

Then create a business on a shoestring.

Big corporations cannot innovate worth a damn and they know it. Your next move should be to sell this company for $3 million to $10 million, which of course is spit to some large corporation.

Then go out and do it again.

Got any ideas? Maybe I'll go in with you.

[hangemhigh]

6. Friend, do you want a line of BS or do you want...

some friendly objective insight? I'm no good for the BS but I can tell you that I have been a hiring manager and or general manager for 3 Fortune 500 companies. Of course, all that's in the past and I work for myself now, so take it for what it's worth, but I am good at evaluating resumes-Based upon your post, the big red light is that in 26 years, you haven't maintained more than 2 years of ongoing work in your profession-Your dislike for the profession is not only obvious, but it likely impacted your performance, interpersonal skills and other areas where you were measured. Frequently what we are trained and educated at isn't what we are GOOD at....Have you ever gone back to former employers (regular AND contract) and asked them how you could have improved? The issue may be a mismatch. It may also be your own ability or lack thereof to work well with others in this profession. And I say this with all respect-What is the root cause of this problem? The one common denominator in this story is you-and that's where breaking free of it begins. Just my .02

[Cary]

7. Maybe he's only worked for pukes?

[chemenger]

8. Thanks to all of you for your input!

Here's a brief summary of my past experiences.

Did contract (project) work for 6 years during the recession of the mid 80's and 7 years during the mid-90's.

Worked for a local environmental engineering firm (from the late 80's thru early 90's)for a little over 4 years until our department manager assigned myself and several coworkers to a field project for which we all were totally and blatantly unqualified for (cataloging low level rad-waste). We lodged a complaint against him. A month later got laid off due to lack of work.

Worked for a water/wastewater treatment engineering firm (twice) that, during periods when there were few projects to keep people busy, promptly dumped staff.

Worked for three companies that went out of business.

Worked for three companies as a contract engineer where the management promised me permanent employment and then wouldn't deliver.

My attitude for my profession is a result of these experiences , not the other way around. I think that my only mistake was in trying to stay in (the) Pittsburgh area. And I know, I'm whining 'victim' here but ... (this has been my reality thanks to missed opportunities and my own stupidity)!