If You Had It to Do All Over Again...

I chose my career because I was interested in design, testing and manufacturing. I've had my ups and downs, and moved around a lot but, generally, I'm pleased with my life. Headhunters are constantly calling; it appears I've made a name for myself in my city's manufacturing industry.

However, if I had to do it all over again, I would probably have picked a recession-proof job.

Ever since sticking a bobby pin into an electrical outlet at the age of 2 and then sitting there laughing hysterically after it went BBBZZZZTTTTT (so says my older siblings), I have had an intense interest in electricity.

Electrical engineering and construction has always been good to me and my family. The times that I have been faced with lay-offs due to lack of work over the years, I was always able to muster up plenty of side work.

I would not change a thing

What else is there?

- We get reasonably well paid to use other peoples money to build things

- We get to constantly learn new stuff.

- Our work is often challenging, actually useful and sometimes important.

- We often are the "smartest people in the room".

- We get to stick our noses into anything that takes our fancy from shop floor to senior management.

OK, so we don't have the status of accountants but I wouldn't swap.

The replies so far largely echo my experience. I went into something I already new by backfilling a degree in mathematics. Fortunately the Navy had taught me to teach myself about anything.

So that is 30 years in aviation so far and going strong. Interestingly (to me) I was not an airplane nut, but so enamoured of the people I worked with at every level in aviation I stayed in the industry.

Downside is the need for mobility as one company rises and another sinks, aviation does not have a centralized geographic base. You are moving.

One of the more interesting aspects is the heavy regulation in the industry; the first question is rarely "Can we make this work", but is usually "Can I make a certification basis for this under current regs"