Seeking Career Advice: Stuck in Quality Control at 36, Should I Switch to Sales or Start a Business?

Ans: You should first try to get yourself a job related to your core competency, ie Engineering. If you have done well in the sales dept so far, I do not see why you haven't risen to managerial position. Your question isn't too clear and that is why this answer!

Ans: If you have the clarity about what you want to do - that's a start. Note down what your choices are - reflect on whether you have the courage to make the choice and finally if you are ready to face consequence of your choice. 4Cs - Clarity, Choice, Courage and Consequence. If you do decide to startup - do ensure to build a solid team of co-founders, especially a mix of experienced as well as younger folks, do consider putting in seed capital to start the business yourself. Once your product is ready, you can go looking for investors - I must add, investors are very selective about the bets that they are taking these days, so chose a space which is uncluttered ! All the best !

Ans: It sounds like you're feeling disengaged and stressed in your current role as an instrumentation engineer at a CPP power plant. Transitioning to a sales engineer or sales role could offer a change of pace and environment, but it's important to consider whether it aligns with your interests, skills, and career goals. Deciding between a sales engineer role and a traditional sales job depends on your interests, skills, career goals, and personal preferences. Here's a comparison to help you make an informed decision. Sales engineers combine technical knowledge with sales skills to sell complex technical products or solutions. They often work closely with engineering and product teams to understand product specifications, features, and capabilities. In traditional sales roles, professionals focus on building relationships with clients, understanding their needs, and persuading them to purchase products or services. Sales engineers help customers identify their technical needs, address challenges, and find solutions that meet their requirements. They may conduct product demonstrations, provide technical support, and offer customized solutions based on client needs. Traditional sales roles may involve selling a wide range of products or services to clients across various industries. The client base may include individuals, businesses, or organizations. Sales engineers engage with clients who have a technical background, such as engineers, architects, or IT professionals. They communicate technical information effectively, answer technical questions, and build credibility by demonstrating expertise. Sales professionals typically have sales targets or quotas to meet, incentivizing performance and results-driven behavior. 

Ultimately, the "better" option depends on your interests, strengths, and career objectives. If you enjoy blending technical expertise with sales skills, solving complex problems, and working closely with clients in technical fields, a sales engineer role may be a good fit. On the other hand, if you excel at building relationships, driving sales outcomes, and thrive in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment, a traditional sales job may be more suitable. A sales engineer job is more promising considering factors such as job responsibilities, earning potential, career advancement opportunities, and personal fulfillment.

Ans: If you are interested in the data analytics domain, shifting after 4 or 5 years of experience with Java would be a perfect move. Numerous resources are available for free on YouTube and at nominal costs on platforms like Udemy, Coursera, etc. I would suggest learning SQL, Python, and one of the business intelligence tools like PowerBI or Tableau, which will serve you very well. I am happy to provide further advice if you have any follow-up questions on this.