engineer in to other industries?

[motorsportbeng]

Hi all, has anyone made the move from being a degree qualified automotive/motorsport engineer into other industries?

I've heard how other industries, such as the finance industry, value the systematic problem solving skills and general competancy with numbers associated with being an engineer and wonder if anyone has made the switch and if so the route they took?

I'm a motorsport engineer, data analysis is one of my strengths, and I'm looking at the possibility of changing careers in order to earn the money to allow me to have the means to compete and have motorsport as my own hobby instead.
I live in a London commuter town and if the pub talk I over hear is true well then financial data analysts etc. can earn in a week what I take home in a month currently.

[Slinky1989]

I graduated in Motorsport Engineering from Bath in 2013, got onto the Jaguar Land Rover Manufacturing grad scheme, and now do project management for a thermoforming packaging machine company that mainly work with food companies.

Certainly what I learnt with regard to motorsport hasn't been of huge use, but the soft skills such as critical thinking, data analysis and time management all leant toward what I'm doing now, and plan is to develop my project skills and move to other industries.

It's just all about advertising yourself in the right way and make sure you single out the skills you have which are relevant for that industry. I don't do anything to do with cars at all any more!

[The Beaver King]

Exactly as Slinky has said; don't focus on the role, focus on the skills that the role has given you.

If you're targeting a particular field, look at attributes and skills that are desired for that role and see how you stack up.

[rog007]

Whilst focusing on the money isn't a sin, for a sustainable career, make sure you'll enjoy what it is you choose to switch to. Good luck!