Switching from a ChE or ME role to a software engineer or tech project manager role seems night and day to me. Some people love being out in the field, working with the control room, and everything else plant engineering comes with. For anyone who has made the switch how did you come to terms with this? Sitting down coding and going to meetings all day is quite a contrast. For an engineer there are days where you are hardly or not at your desk all day. Some of us love that.
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Switch to tech? Yea right! The Indians control that industry. They work for beans and are decent programmers. Why would anyone hire an Exxon "field engineer" that knows nothing about modern software engineering and is demanding an ultra high salary! Reality will set the delusional straight.
Switching to tech roles honestly feels like going backwards.
There are other options besides big tech. We can’t get caught up in what other people think what we do as long as we are fulfilled. Diversifying your skill set with certifications like safety, environmental and etc may can help out. Money as a leading factor can make you miserable.
If you like field work there are many non O and G opportunities. I suspect people are flocking to programming due to the perception of high pay and career longevity.
The don’t switch. Clearly you wouldn’t like office work.
What are you twisting yourself in knots about?
Life is hard and we have to be able to adjust.