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Career Change Advice

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Viewing 16 posts - 1 through 16 (of 16 total)
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  • August 5, 2003 at 2:25 pm #32976

    Jim Guerin
    ★ 10 Years ★
    Participant

    I am at a point in my career where I desire to make a change.  I have a Masters in applied statistics and ~ 15 years experience in the quality field.  My recent employment (~ 5yrs) has been as a Quality Manager.  However, I feel the need to get back to a position where I can use my problem solving skills in a fashion that aligns more with typical balck-belt / six-sigma skills.  As a Quality Manager, I find myself consumed with standards and policy writing / enforcing.  I am beginning to feel that I am on the wrong track for what I feel are my core skills.  I am looking for suggestions from individuals that may have experienced similar career changes.  Ultimately, I believe I need to transition to a career that allows me to focus more on process / business improvement.  I am uncertain how to attain this.

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    August 5, 2003 at 5:42 pm #88629

    DaveG
    ★ 10 Years ★
    Participant

    Jim,
    Perhaps you have the right career with the wrong company.  Can you change the company, meaning will your management allow you to change directions and improve performance?  If not, seek a company that will allow you to fly.
    Ironically, this is the very criterion I use to evaluate potential employers, which is the main reason I’m out of work.

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    August 5, 2003 at 8:33 pm #88634

    David Oakley
    ★ 10 Years ★
    Participant

    Jim
     
    This isn’t a real good time to be trying to change jobs. On the other hand it might be a real good time to be getting out of manufacturing.
     
    The best way to land a job is through talking to people and tell them what you are looking for. If you don’t belong to any profesional societies, join a couple. Be active in your profesional societies. Attend meetings, chair a committee, etc. Every time you talk to someone or send an email, say something about that you would really like to be better using your skills.
     
    If your wanting to change careers, taking some continuing education classes. This will give you some knowledge of the material, something to put on a resume, and a chance to meet people that might be looking for someone just like your self.
     
    Be aware that none of this has worked for me yet. The plant where I had been working closed in January and I haven’t landed anything yet.
     
    Good Luck
     
    David

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    August 5, 2003 at 8:47 pm #88635

    vb
    ★ 10 Years ★
    Member

    Hope you have had some significant project/problem solving opportunities during your career. Make sure you quantify your accomplishments on your resume. Do not hesitate to talk to recruiters and respond to postings on Monster etc.
    Focus your effort, do not give up.
    Good luck. VB

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    August 5, 2003 at 8:50 pm #88636

    vb
    ★ 10 Years ★
    Member
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    August 5, 2003 at 11:14 pm #88641

    David Oakley
    ★ 10 Years ★
    Participant

    VB
     
    Thank you for the offer. I’m in Atlanta and not wanting to relocate at this time. Does your recruiter have anything in the area?
     
    The first Six Sigma classes that I took were before the belt thing got started. My last employer wouldn’t pay for any training. I got the Green Belt on my own but the cost of a Black Belt course would be kind of steep. I have had several succesfull (through implimentation) projects but I don’t have a certificate to show it.
     
    Thanks
     
    David

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    August 5, 2003 at 11:24 pm #88642

    DaveG
    ★ 10 Years ★
    Participant

    Dave,
    Why not certify thru ASQ?  Buy the QCI CD and you’ll do well.

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    August 5, 2003 at 11:32 pm #88643

    David Oakley
    ★ 10 Years ★
    Participant

    VB
     
    Thanks for your reply. I’m not giving up but I am changing my focus. I had been looking for manufacturing engineering positions. A couple of weeks ago, I discovered that a lot of non-manufacturing companies are getting into Six Sigma. That opens up some new possibilities for me. My resume is a list of successfull projects and the amount of savings that resulted. Each week I run 24 search engines, check 32 companies, attend a networking meeting and volunteer at two different places where I might meet people and get job leads. I have also researched companies and sent blind letters to them. At the networking meetings I meet a lot of people that have been out of work for over two years. I am going to work harder and be smarter than them and get a job in less than a year.
     
    Thanks for the reply
     
    David

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    August 5, 2003 at 11:37 pm #88644

    David Oakley
    ★ 10 Years ★
    Participant

    DaveG
     
    When I was doing my research on getting the Black Belt I didn’t think about ASQ. I will look into that.
     
    Thanks
     
    David

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    August 6, 2003 at 3:44 am #88647

    Aquinas
    ★ 10 Years ★
    Member

    Hi, VB
    Can you give me a reference? I am looking for an opportunity in six sigma too.  Thanks

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    August 6, 2003 at 8:09 am #88648

    Riaz Rasul
    ★ 20 Years ★
    Member

    I am in a same situation. I am a quality manager for last 5 years and in quality total 10 years. I am bore with daily operational issues. I feel my skills are not utilized even at 10%. I want something more interesting where I can use my problem solving skills.
    However, I can tell you changing a career is not easy. It is very hard to convenice the employers that you can do something different. I have tried a lot not succeeded so far.
    Wish you good luck and all the best.
     
    Riaz

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    August 6, 2003 at 5:16 pm #88658

    vb
    ★ 10 Years ★
    Member

    Need your email address. Which city are you in? Are you willing to relocate?VB

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    August 7, 2003 at 12:03 am #88663

    Aquinas
    ★ 10 Years ★
    Member

    thanks, my email is [email protected] I am currently in singapore and willing to relocate.

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    August 7, 2003 at 3:10 am #88667

    ggevgergekge
    ★ 10 Years ★
    Participant

    Hi I am looking for the same pls note my Email id is [email protected] pls let me know ur’s so that we can interact and discuss the same..
    Thanks for your support in advance.
    ggevgergekge
     

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    August 7, 2003 at 6:22 pm #88688

    jacy
    ★ 20 Years ★
    Participant

    To Those of You This Concerns:
    As a quality professional for nearly 20 years, I have already experienced what you are going through.  Many years in management pushing papers and developing “Quality Management Systems” (everything from Ford Q-1, ISO, QS, cGMP, etc.) made me  focus on what made me happy.  I did make the jump back to where I was happiest, that is manufacturing processes.
    How did I do it?  First off focus the resume, with numerical data (money saved is best) on what you did.  Understand the company or job you are applying for and tailor the resume to that job.  Once you get the interview (I know you will somehow get your foot in the door) focus on what you can do for the company and not what you did for the company.  Don’t let them focus on your over-qualifications for the job.
    Next be prepared to take a step down on the management and/or pay ladder.  While it may not happen you must be prepared for it.  When I left management I suddenly became overqualified for most positions. I no longer had multiple departments reporting to me.  So I did take a small pay cut however I’m much happier.  That is how I did it and I’m sure there are lots of other ways to do it.
    As a last note be prepared to (because of your past experience) to be asked by the new company to do the policies, procedures, etc. again.  It will probably happen because management knows you’ve done it before. 
    Never give up.

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    August 9, 2003 at 9:45 pm #88749

    k.bhadrayya
    ★ 20 Years ★
    Participant

    Dear Jim Guerin
    Bu now you might have seen many replies. Where ever you go the situation is the same. Being in the same organization you can become a poineer in changing the management thinking. While doing the present job it self, you can squeeze out some time by deligation and spend some time how to bring a change in the management thinking that there is a need to go for PROCESS IMPROVEMENT. Though usually the higher managements always listen the high fi people in the field, you are capable of chaning their thinking if you take initiative in convincing for PROCESS IMPROVEMENT. As you know very well that the process improvement is a part of any quality system if one has to go for continuous improvement.(CI).There rae many classes in the quality system it self about the need for process improvement.
     
    k.bhadrayya
    [email protected]
     
     

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