Career Advice Please

[Japher]

I've been a process engineer (chemE) in the biotech industry for 8 years now, and it's really becoming the same thing every day. I start business school in January and I figured that in order to have to use my new MBA degree I would have to change careers in order to reach my goal; start a biotech company of my own.

Well, turns out that a friend of mine in insurance is actually a district manager (much to my surprise) and he is trying to recruit me to become a regional manager in this area. While insurance is not my area, insurance generally is a supplier of venture capital revenue.

Personally, I would love to get into underwriting and risk management and eventually start moving into VC in order to fulfill my dream. Yet, it's scary and it's not the field I am comfortable with.

Still.... If I take the position I will be able to use what I will be using in business school more so than as an engineer and I will also be making over 6-figures. On top of that,the friend recruiting me is a very talented sales agent and wants to go into business for himself within the next 5-years and wants me to be his quant/tech dude, which I and he both know I would be good at.

It's scary, IMO. So, what do you think. Insurance? I always get that sleazy salesman image in my head. However, it's not what it use to be when you add in risk management, capital underwriting, and VC prospects. Also, I'm an engineer, not a finance guy, at least I never see myself that way... though I have an active interest in economics and most books I've bought since college have been on finance and business.

Any encouragement, thoughts, ideas?

[snoopy369]

Not an unreasonable idea Make sure it's a good company, do some research on what people who have left have said (taken with a grain of salt as often people leave with a bad taste, hence the leaving; but it can be instructive.)

[snoopy369]

Also remember, if it's "regional manager", you aren't going to be selling insurance... you're going to be managing. Do you like managing? You'll basically have a boss telling you every day "why aren't your guys selling more insurance", and you will be telling your district managers every day "sell more insurance", and trying to figure out ways to do so (and to tell them how to tell their managees how etc.).

Do you like that? A lot of scientists hate managing... but are you one of them?

I personally don't like managing other people very much... but plenty of people enjoy it and are good at it, so you just have to figure that out

[Japher]

It's a Fortune 100 company with over 35,000 employee so I think researching the employee satisfaction might be tough.

I spoke about the management ordeal, and I think I would do fine. I hate being managed, and I am told that is what would make me a good manager. The guy recruiting me is a friend who I hang out with, and he seems to think I'm ideal. I have never had the opportunity to lead anything but projects, so I can't tell. I don't hate telling ppl what to do, though I would rather them do what I need them to do to get what we need done without having to tell them what exactly to do. And, I think that comes with getting the right ppl working for you.

However, I like to think I could care less about ppl. Still, I seem to know everything about every tech and operator I work with, more so out of genuine interest. When I ask them to do something it is generally done before I expect it, and the like to do those things for me. I can't explain it, I guess I am just like that.

I am really leaning towards doing it. My major concern is a) leaving biotech which many engineers strive to get in to, and b) being an engineer in a world that is more finance than anything else... I will be displaced. How will a manager who is an engineer be received? Most of these guys have years of experience before becoming a manager and the will be expected to accept me? I think that would be tough.

thanks for reading snoopy

[Kidlicious]

Japher,

I don't know enough about either being an engineer or a manager in the insurance industry to give you good advice. I think maybe the two aren't so different though.

Good luck whatever you decide.

[notyoueither]

Mortgage your home for every penny a French bank will give you and buy long on Soylent Green futures on the Hong Kong market.

[Nugog]

Originally posted by Japher
Still, I seem to know everything about every tech and operator I work with, more so out of genuine interest.

That's the best way to manage people.

I think that would be tough.

Probably yes, to start with.

We all bring different skills to the area we work in. My industry/company is now, in many areas, specifically looking for "non-industry" people when we recruit, purely for the fact of the different experiences/skill stes they bring with them.

Taking a risk can be one of the best things you can do IMO - they have generally worked out for me in my career. It can be scary - but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

The only other advice I would give - do not do it for the money. I have seen so many people take roles they did not really want for money, and have ended up regretting it in a big way.

Good Luck!

[Lancer]

Japher, if you do this good luck, but keep one thing in mind. I have all the insurance I need.

[snoopy369]

Sounds like you could be a good manager. Not liking being managed can vary - don't forget, you will be managed here just like anywhere else, and you have to be *really nice* to your manager even when he/she makes asinine requests (and if insurance is anything like retail, which I think it is, he/she will constantly make asinine requests) - and do whatever that is, or at least enough that he/she forgets by the next time he/she visits. Even he/she is asking you to do the exact opposite of what he/she asked last time, and wonders why you're doing it that way. Thus is the life of middle retail management

Some people are really good at that (I am/was, actually) but it's where a lot of the more independent types get in trouble. If you've ever waited tables (and did okay) you'll be fine, imo, that's the closest comparison to retail/ish management I've ever seen (in relation to your boss anyway).

In terms of being "received" - just be yourself, and don't act like you are better at their jobs than they are; but at the same time don't act like you have no idea what you're doing either. The latter is a common mistake new managers make - trying to act like they know nothing to avoid stepping on toes - but it is a mistake because they need to have confidence you are leading them in the right direction, even if you don't really know what you're doing. It's a fine line to walk, but if you're aware it's there, you'll do fine.

Vault.com by the way is very good at giving exit comments by employees of major companies. You have to pay a bit for it if you want the full summary but it's not that bad, if you're making a multi tens of thousand dollar decision...

[Provost Harrison]

Re: Career Advice Please

Originally posted by Japher
I've been a process engineer (chemE) in the biotech industry for 8 years now, and it's really becoming the same thing every day. I start business school in January and I figured that in order to have to use my new MBA degree I would have to change careers in order to reach my goal; start a biotech company of my own.

Well, turns out that a friend of mine in insurance is actually a district manager (much to my surprise) and he is trying to recruit me to become a regional manager in this area. While insurance is not my area, insurance generally is a supplier of venture capital revenue.

Personally, I would love to get into underwriting and risk management and eventually start moving into VC in order to fulfill my dream. Yet, it's scary and it's not the field I am comfortable with.

Still.... If I take the position I will be able to use what I will be using in business school more so than as an engineer and I will also be making over 6-figures. On top of that,the friend recruiting me is a very talented sales agent and wants to go into business for himself within the next 5-years and wants me to be his quant/tech dude, which I and he both know I would be good at.

It's scary, IMO. So, what do you think. Insurance? I always get that sleazy salesman image in my head. However, it's not what it use to be when you add in risk management, capital underwriting, and VC prospects. Also, I'm an engineer, not a finance guy, at least I never see myself that way... though I have an active interest in economics and most books I've bought since college have been on finance and business.

Any encouragement, thoughts, ideas?

Good for you, go for it - we all need change. Personally, as I have mentioned a few times in the past, working in the science sector has been a bitter disappointment - it was something I wanted to do since I was a kid and I am only just now in a position where I can make my escape with the skills I have managed in the position I am in and get a decent income in the process (a better income than I am currently on now).

So get out, and anyone else who is thinking of going into science for a career, I strongly advise against it.

[East Street Trader]

Don't touch it with a barge pole.

[Japher]

We all bring different skills to the area we work in. My industry/company is now, in many areas, specifically looking for "non-industry" people when we recruit, purely for the fact of the different experiences/skill stes they bring with them.

That seems to be consensus I am getting from different sites on the interweb. I'm also seeing a lot of engineers getting out of engineering and into the business side of non-science related industries and being well received.

Taking a risk can be one of the best things you can do IMO - they have generally worked out for me in my career. It can be scary - but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Thanks for the encouragement.

The only other advice I would give - do not do it for the money. I have seen so many people take roles they did not really want for money, and have ended up regretting it in a big way.

Good advice. While the money has been a motivation factor to make me consider the position, the real reason for taking the job would be for the management and industry experience more so for the cash. My family and I are very happy with our standard and level of living the way it is. Thus, if we made more money, I doubt our lifestyle would change at all. However, it's the fact that I am content that makes me realize I need to do something.

Good advice crazy avatar dude.

In terms of being "received" - just be yourself, and don't act like you are better at their jobs than they are; but at the same time don't act like you have no idea what you're doing either. The latter is a common mistake new managers make - trying to act like they know nothing to avoid stepping on toes - but it is a mistake because they need to have confidence you are leading them in the right direction, even if you don't really know what you're doing. It's a fine line to walk, but if you're aware it's there, you'll do fine.

This is my concern. I am generally of the opinion that you shouldn't ask some one to do something that you wouldn't do yourself. However, I am coming to the realization that you really should be asking people to do stuff that you shouldn't be doing because they do it a whole heck of a lot better.

Thanks again Snoopy.

Good for you, go for it - we all need change. Personally, as I have mentioned a few times in the past, working in the science sector has been a bitter disappointment - it was something I wanted to do since I was a kid and I am only just now in a position where I can make my escape with the skills I have managed in the position I am in and get a decent income in the process (a better income than I am currently on now).

So get out, and anyone else who is thinking of going into science for a career, I strongly advise against it.

Yeah, I am completely on the same page. I struggled to become a chemical engineer, and then I strived to become a chemical engineer whose skills were valued. I did that, so I'm thinking it's time to move on. I like manufacturing, I like pharma, and like my company. However, for me to contribute any more I need to develop different skill sets that I can't learn in my current role. Even were I to earn an MBA and still be here the best I could hope for is Ops management, which isn't helping me develop a broader sense of the business, just giving me more control of the parts I'm already familiar with.

Thanks for the help

[Nugog]

Originally posted by Japher
Good advice crazy avatar dude.

[Zopperoni]

Originally posted by Japher
It's a Fortune 100 company with over 35,000 employee so I think researching the employee satisfaction might be tough.

If you're lucky enough, this company is on this list: http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortu...007/full_list/

However, I like to think I could care less about ppl. Still, I seem to know everything about every tech and operator I work with, more so out of genuine interest. When I ask them to do something it is generally done before I expect it, and the like to do those things for me. I can't explain it, I guess I am just like that.

It's actually one of the principles in Dale Carnegie's book "How to make friends and influence people". This is a great character property

My major concern is a) leaving biotech which many engineers strive to get in to

Would you be happier if you stayed? I asked myself that question before deciding to leave my old job. You need to answer the question yourself, but I can tell you this: I feel much happier at the place I work now

b) being an engineer in a world that is more finance than anything else... I will be displaced. How will a manager who is an engineer be received? Most of these guys have years of experience before becoming a manager and the will be expected to accept me? I think that would be tough.

Your amiable social style will likely make you get on well w/ these people. Play receptive, get things done on your end, and things will work out fine

[Japher]

It's actually one of the principles in Dale Carnegie's book "How to make friends and influence people". This is a great character property

I finished that book last month. I found a lot of it "duh"-ish, but the ancedotes were good. I actually printed out the bullets from his book and have them pinned to the wall in my cube.

Would you be happier if you stayed? I asked myself that question before deciding to leave my old job. You need to answer the question yourself, but I can tell you this: I feel much happier at the place I work now

I'm happy here and it's hard to say if I would be happier somewhere else when i don't even know the somewhere else. I like to think I would be happier knowing that I was moving closer to where I ultimately want to be, rather than being where I have always been with no real prospect of moving.