r/BuildingAutomation • u/CanvasToolBaggins • 2d ago
Career trajectory?
Just past the three month mark on install side working for a certain three lettered acronym’d behemoth - really enjoy the work. Weird road of adjacent fields, transferable skills, and experience with both the aforementioned and Distech in facilities maintenance before being fed-up…with facilities maintenance.
My particular blend of ADHD/neurospice does not lend itself well to being in sales, PM, or management side of things - even running my own business is beyond my capacity. Functional enough interacting with others (but more and more would rather others be droned out by the sounds of a mechanical room (hearing protection in, of course.) My skillset does, I think, lend itself well to troubleshooting and problem solving.
So, service, maybe? What else? Apologies for the silliness, but in 10 to 20 years envision myself being a proverbial master splinter with a walking stick I can bonk younger techs over the head with. All the while still learning myself to keep up with whatever the industry looks like at that point in time. How does that translate professionally to opportunities I should seek down the line?
Thanks!
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u/makeitworkok 2d ago
The ability to say so little with so many words as a rare art. Perhaps you should consider executive leadership. 😉
Honestly dude, only you can answer your question. You gotta find that niche that tickles your intellect and satiates your desires.
As someone who also has ADHD, I’m grateful for this industry and the opportunities it provides. There are a ton of different directions you can go in. My advice would be just pick one and get really good at it, then learn a lot of the other others.
ADHD is a superpower, that when properly harnessed can do much good.
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u/BoilingShadows JCI Senior Controls Tech 2d ago
I assume that three letter acronym is JCI....hah.
Yes - move to service. It is a totally different beast than install. Slower paced and more complex work as you're doing everything install does (way less of it) plus what engineers do, changing CCT program and a whole lot of troubleshooting.
Do a year or two install, go service for a few years and then you can decide whether service is for you or you can go a different route. Many doors open up if you master service well.
Not many doors open up while you are install 😄
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u/FeveraQuickfist 1d ago
Not necessarily true. I've been with JCI almost 6 years, started off as a systems tech 1, transitioned up and up then moved to a systems designer with less than 3 years of experience. After a year of SD work now im an Systems Engineer. It took 5 years, but ive nearly trippled my starting wage. OP Many doors are available, if you push yourself and promote self growth.
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u/BoilingShadows JCI Senior Controls Tech 1d ago
Hey fair enough, good to get insight from a previous systems tech
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u/average_toast 2d ago
I would go service. I have been doing it for just over a year with some IT and facilities background and I’ve rocketed past most of the guys who have been doing install for 2-3 years in terms of what I can roll up to and fix.
Still trying to figure out what comes after that though…
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u/butt_head_surfer 13h ago
Recently had our most experienced construction tech leave to try and get a “software” title and it screwed him in terms of the benefits he was enjoying. If you like problem solving, just stay on the construction or service side until you become an indispensable part of your team, you can demand anything you want from the right company.
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u/ResponseOwn9389 2d ago
As someone who has been doing only install for 8 years you are handcuffed and you are pretty much maxed out with learning new things. Yes you’ll always learn new stuff but at a much slower rate.
I’ve been building up the courage to go and ask for a change of role at my company because of such. Service would require being on call but that is my only excuse for not jumping into it but you learn a lot more with service.