Research & technical engineering background - Career Advice

Reader Question:

I am looking to change industries, and, most likely, entire career types. I am presently working in applied research, and would like to “go civilian” into the corporate world out of a technical engineering job and into more of a management role. What are the best company types to be looking for when I am trying to make such a big change?

Recruiter’s Advice:

Changing careers is always difficult and going into a different “industry” is even more difficult. Certainly you need to draw from your experiences in applied research. I would be looking at companies that manufacture products in which your past research could be pertinent…leverage your past to grow into a management role in the civilian space. Obviously, find a company that has a culture that is one you want to be involved with and do your due diligence in terms of how risky it might be at a potential company. You need to find an opportunity that has the right amount of risk for you and a family OR make certain that you are compensated aggressively to mitigate the potential risk.