@edmundang interesting story as an engineer. I graduated as a civil engineer, a long long time ago. Like very long.
Then I went into a totally unrelated field for 21 years in sales, plus doing some stuff online.
In any field when you have done your job, it is just a pat on your back. When "shitake" happens, you are blamed. Its the norm. That's life.
At the end of the day, whether you are in engineering, sales, entrepreneur, in any profession, the role is to solve problems.
Some of my friends who are engineers do very well today. Learn all you can, build up your network with friends, suppliers, competitors etc. to increase your value.
I agree, at the end of the day, our job is to solve people's problem no matter which field we are in. Others are just something that we could learn in the process. =)
I often chuckle when someone would have the perception that an engineer earns a lot. Which is the opposite of true.
Once you are good, you can earn quite a lot. It will take 10 years or more. The problem is sometimes we want it fast, me included. haha. Starting pay of engineer consider not too bad already, but yes cost of living is crazy.
A few people I talk to tells me that by now (age around 50), only they can say they know their stuff and it is the prime of their career. I tend to agree.
If you are a fast learner maybe earlier. There are very few at the level of Zuckerberg & Musk.
Find good people to be your mentors. If you have a good boss, learn all you can from him. Ride along a rising star.
well said =)