Career Path Advice: Transitioning from Electrical Engineering to Security System Design?

Dear All, I need your series guide line I have Bsc Electrical Engineering degree purely related to the electrical field. and i have two years of working experience. now I am getting new job in security system designing, gate barrier control, CCTV design what should i do???

should i go in new field or should i find any job related to my own field???

Hi Asad Ali,
I remember that you are in the UAE then keep in mind that also your present sponsor must agree if you are in the 3 year time frame from start of contract.
End if the money is good you can only build up more experience.

To me the question is whether you can think. If you have lots of particular knowledge but no overall knowledge of how to understand and analyze systems then you need to stay in your field of expertise. The electrical field could be almost anything, from designing pc boards, the controls for washing machines, fly by wire for airplanes or a country's power grid. However in many ways the principles are the same.

In the end building complex systems from components is in many ways about the same, whether you are building with Legos, ICs, or different pieces of mechanical manufacturing equipment in a large factory.

I think that if you have a good understanding of how to fit components into a large structure the details will be the easy part.

When you say "getting a new job", does that mean you have already been hired, or that you now plan to look for a new job in this/these new field(s)?

If I interpret it as the former, then the question becomes did you faithfully represent yourself during the process of landing the job? This could show up in a couple of ways:

* You were honest about your lack of experience with such things as security systems, gate barrier control and CCTV design.
* You told a fib about your experience level, but with the inner knowing that you have the talent and/or acuity to acquire these skills in a timely manner [I still consider that as _faithfully representing yourself_ -- faithful to what you know you are capable of].

If the former, then they must have confidence in you, otherwise they wouldn't have hired you (or they are disparate for some reason [such as: engineering talent is sparse in your neck of the woods]). Either way, take up the challenge! If you succeed, you will have a new skill set -- if not, then at least you gave it a shot, so go for something else. If you back away without even trying, then you will doom yourself to a dull life!

You bit it off, so get chewing!!

Now, if it's that you plan to look for a job in one or more of these new fields, then go out and faithfully represent yourself (i.e. stay in integrity with who and what you are, what you know, and how adept you are at knowing new things). If they hire you, then you've been given a shot at steering in a new direction. All you have to do is supply the blood, sweat and tears required to earn your stripes in that new field. It's called _on the job training_.

Dear Steve i explained to my interviewer that i have not much knowledge about this field but he is actually hiring me for not only this cc tv field but he has plan to expand his business in electrical field as i am very comfortable in electrical designing and he explained to me that i will trained you in security system and he is very loyal with me. i have confirmation but meanwhile i have already applied for master degree in power engineering, so i am confuse now what should i have to do either go for higher education, in which i have 6 months of internship training in any German industry or should i accept this offer, because right now i have just applied for study and it will take some time in confirmation . i have 79.92% in bs engineering degree with four internships during my degree and 2 years of working experience... so i am thinking i shall get admission there but not sure....

Ah, yes... whether it is more lucrative to get the Master's degree or follow the immediate employment track. My advise is always to follow your heart -- or as Joseph Campbell used to say, "Follow your bliss!"

But, it probably comes down to your priorities. Do you want to be happy, or do you want security. Both are possible, but you have to be willing to settle for less money/security/"certainty" in order to do what you really enjoy doing. And it works best if you are doing what is in harmony with your "mode of service" -- i.e. your particular, unique contribution to life on this planet (like the boy scout credo to always leave a campsite cleaner than it was on arrival). Your particular, unique contribution is what comes of applying your unique set of abilities and preferences to the higher purpose of service. This is the track to ultimate satisfaction.

But, not everyone sees that, so go with what your level of vision guides you to do. And then do it well, whatever it is.

BTW, I put "certainty" in quotes, because _certainty_ is an illusion -- as is _security_. Neither really ever exist--even when they seen immutable (I live in Earthquake territory , so I know what I'm talking about ).