I don't feel that my current role is a great fit. How should I bring up my desire to change in an industry that is currently in a downturn?

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I'm currently a mechanical engineer in one of the very large oil & gas companies. Because of the price of oil, there have been massive layoffs recently. I survived the latest round of layoffs which involved every engineering group in the company.

I've been with the company for a few years and have been feeling like the engineering role I'm in is not a great fit for many reasons that have to do with job content and team culture. This is not my first job in the oil industry and I feel like by now I have a pretty good inner compass in order to be able to determine a more suitable role for me. I would like to look within the same company for a new role, however, since the mass layoffs, I feel like there is no ability for me to move. I've talked to our Ombuds office to get strategies for dealing with my current role, but I feel like they have not worked due to cultural issues. Should I reach out to someone else within the company? Or, should I just look for work in another industry? I missed my chance to move back to my previous company in 2014 before the downturn and now I'm regretting it.

job-search work-environment career-development new-job job-change

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asked Jun 11 '16 at 16:42

LSUEngineer

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I'm currently a mechanical engineer in one of the very large oil & gas companies. Because of the price of oil, there have been massive layoffs recently. I survived the latest round of layoffs which involved every engineering group in the company.

I've been with the company for a few years and have been feeling like the engineering role I'm in is not a great fit for many reasons that have to do with job content and team culture. This is not my first job in the oil industry and I feel like by now I have a pretty good inner compass in order to be able to determine a more suitable role for me. I would like to look within the same company for a new role, however, since the mass layoffs, I feel like there is no ability for me to move. I've talked to our Ombuds office to get strategies for dealing with my current role, but I feel like they have not worked due to cultural issues. Should I reach out to someone else within the company? Or, should I just look for work in another industry? I missed my chance to move back to my previous company in 2014 before the downturn and now I'm regretting it.

job-search work-environment career-development new-job job-change

share|improve this question

asked Jun 11 '16 at 16:42

LSUEngineer

61

suggest improvements | 

up vote
1
down vote

favorite

up vote
1
down vote

favorite

I'm currently a mechanical engineer in one of the very large oil & gas companies. Because of the price of oil, there have been massive layoffs recently. I survived the latest round of layoffs which involved every engineering group in the company.

I've been with the company for a few years and have been feeling like the engineering role I'm in is not a great fit for many reasons that have to do with job content and team culture. This is not my first job in the oil industry and I feel like by now I have a pretty good inner compass in order to be able to determine a more suitable role for me. I would like to look within the same company for a new role, however, since the mass layoffs, I feel like there is no ability for me to move. I've talked to our Ombuds office to get strategies for dealing with my current role, but I feel like they have not worked due to cultural issues. Should I reach out to someone else within the company? Or, should I just look for work in another industry? I missed my chance to move back to my previous company in 2014 before the downturn and now I'm regretting it.

job-search work-environment career-development new-job job-change

share|improve this question

asked Jun 11 '16 at 16:42

LSUEngineer

61

I'm currently a mechanical engineer in one of the very large oil & gas companies. Because of the price of oil, there have been massive layoffs recently. I survived the latest round of layoffs which involved every engineering group in the company.

I've been with the company for a few years and have been feeling like the engineering role I'm in is not a great fit for many reasons that have to do with job content and team culture. This is not my first job in the oil industry and I feel like by now I have a pretty good inner compass in order to be able to determine a more suitable role for me. I would like to look within the same company for a new role, however, since the mass layoffs, I feel like there is no ability for me to move. I've talked to our Ombuds office to get strategies for dealing with my current role, but I feel like they have not worked due to cultural issues. Should I reach out to someone else within the company? Or, should I just look for work in another industry? I missed my chance to move back to my previous company in 2014 before the downturn and now I'm regretting it.

job-search work-environment career-development new-job job-change

share|improve this question

asked Jun 11 '16 at 16:42

LSUEngineer

61

share|improve this question

share|improve this question

asked Jun 11 '16 at 16:42

LSUEngineer

61

asked Jun 11 '16 at 16:42

LSUEngineer

61

asked Jun 11 '16 at 16:42

LSUEngineer

61

61

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suggest improvements | 

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Have a word with a manager or HR and tell them that you want a new challenge, you really like the firm, feel a valued member of the team having been kept on despite layoffs but after a few years you want some new opportunities/ chances to learn & grow - it's always better to frame these things positively rather than "I hate my team I want a new one".

If you are considering looking for work in another industry then there is no downside to being a little more direct with your current firm if the first approach doesn't work- you can play hardball with them knowing you would be happy enough to leave anyway. If nothing has happened within a few weeks of the first chat, then have another meeting and let them know you'll have to look around elsewhere if they can't improve your conditions

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answered Jun 11 '16 at 16:51

user26491

44123

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I agree, if you're unhappy enough to be contemplating a total move then you can afford to push your luck.
  – Kilisi
  Jun 12 '16 at 1:38
  

  
  
  
  

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up vote
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Have a word with a manager or HR and tell them that you want a new challenge, you really like the firm, feel a valued member of the team having been kept on despite layoffs but after a few years you want some new opportunities/ chances to learn & grow - it's always better to frame these things positively rather than "I hate my team I want a new one".

If you are considering looking for work in another industry then there is no downside to being a little more direct with your current firm if the first approach doesn't work- you can play hardball with them knowing you would be happy enough to leave anyway. If nothing has happened within a few weeks of the first chat, then have another meeting and let them know you'll have to look around elsewhere if they can't improve your conditions

share|improve this answer

answered Jun 11 '16 at 16:51

user26491

44123

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I agree, if you're unhappy enough to be contemplating a total move then you can afford to push your luck.
  – Kilisi
  Jun 12 '16 at 1:38
  

  
  
  
  

suggest improvements | 

up vote
3
down vote

Have a word with a manager or HR and tell them that you want a new challenge, you really like the firm, feel a valued member of the team having been kept on despite layoffs but after a few years you want some new opportunities/ chances to learn & grow - it's always better to frame these things positively rather than "I hate my team I want a new one".

If you are considering looking for work in another industry then there is no downside to being a little more direct with your current firm if the first approach doesn't work- you can play hardball with them knowing you would be happy enough to leave anyway. If nothing has happened within a few weeks of the first chat, then have another meeting and let them know you'll have to look around elsewhere if they can't improve your conditions

share|improve this answer

answered Jun 11 '16 at 16:51

user26491

44123

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I agree, if you're unhappy enough to be contemplating a total move then you can afford to push your luck.
  – Kilisi
  Jun 12 '16 at 1:38
  

  
  
  
  

suggest improvements | 

up vote
3
down vote

up vote
3
down vote

Have a word with a manager or HR and tell them that you want a new challenge, you really like the firm, feel a valued member of the team having been kept on despite layoffs but after a few years you want some new opportunities/ chances to learn & grow - it's always better to frame these things positively rather than "I hate my team I want a new one".

If you are considering looking for work in another industry then there is no downside to being a little more direct with your current firm if the first approach doesn't work- you can play hardball with them knowing you would be happy enough to leave anyway. If nothing has happened within a few weeks of the first chat, then have another meeting and let them know you'll have to look around elsewhere if they can't improve your conditions

share|improve this answer

answered Jun 11 '16 at 16:51

user26491

44123

Have a word with a manager or HR and tell them that you want a new challenge, you really like the firm, feel a valued member of the team having been kept on despite layoffs but after a few years you want some new opportunities/ chances to learn & grow - it's always better to frame these things positively rather than "I hate my team I want a new one".

If you are considering looking for work in another industry then there is no downside to being a little more direct with your current firm if the first approach doesn't work- you can play hardball with them knowing you would be happy enough to leave anyway. If nothing has happened within a few weeks of the first chat, then have another meeting and let them know you'll have to look around elsewhere if they can't improve your conditions

share|improve this answer

answered Jun 11 '16 at 16:51

user26491

44123

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

answered Jun 11 '16 at 16:51

user26491

44123

answered Jun 11 '16 at 16:51

user26491

44123

answered Jun 11 '16 at 16:51

user26491

44123

44123

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I agree, if you're unhappy enough to be contemplating a total move then you can afford to push your luck.
  – Kilisi
  Jun 12 '16 at 1:38
  

  
  
  
  

suggest improvements | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  I agree, if you're unhappy enough to be contemplating a total move then you can afford to push your luck.
  – Kilisi
  Jun 12 '16 at 1:38
  

  
  
  
  

I agree, if you're unhappy enough to be contemplating a total move then you can afford to push your luck.
– Kilisi
Jun 12 '16 at 1:38

I agree, if you're unhappy enough to be contemplating a total move then you can afford to push your luck.
– Kilisi
Jun 12 '16 at 1:38

suggest improvements | 

 

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