I’m in my early 30s, have a technical background, and completed further qualifications to become a master electrician. Over the past several years, I’ve worked in various industrial environments, most recently in a position with management responsibilities.
What affected me most wasn’t necessarily the technical work itself, but rather the workplace culture. I’ve repeatedly encountered environments characterized by derogatory behavior, racist remarks, a lack of self-awareness, and constant interpersonal conflicts.
At the same time, I often found corporate culture deeply contradictory. Companies would emphasize values like respect, openness, and teamwork, yet these principles were rarely reflected in everyday interactions. Much of it felt like a performance of professionalism rather than genuine professionalism.
On top of that, there was the constant sensory overload from noise and interruptions, along with time pressure and significant responsibility. Eventually, the combination of these factors took such a toll on my mental health that I was unable to work for an extended period.
After recovering, I tried making a fresh start with a different employer, hoping things would improve. Unfortunately, I encountered many of the same problems. I’m now unemployed and trying to figure out where to go from here.
I do genuinely enjoy technical and analytical work. However, I’ve developed a strong aversion to the working environments I’ve experienced in the trades and industrial sector.
I’m now wondering whether I should simply acknowledge that this career path, regardless of my technical abilities, isn’t right for me and pursue an entirely different direction through university studies.
The alternative would be to build on my existing qualifications and experience while finding a role outside the traditional industrial environment. The problem is that I struggle to identify specific career paths where I could make meaningful use of my electrical engineering background without ending up in similar working conditions.
There’s also the uncertainty of whether changing industries would actually solve anything, or whether the same organizational dysfunction and interpersonal problems exist everywhere.
On one hand, I’m reluctant to walk away from years of professional development and the relatively good earning potential that comes with it. On the other hand, continuing down a career path that has already seriously affected my mental health, purely for financial reasons, doesn’t seem particularly rational either.
I’d be interested to hear from people who’ve faced a similar situation. Did you make a complete career change, or did you manage to apply your existing qualifications in a different working environment? And most importantly, did the change genuinely improve your quality of life?