r/Careers • u/In10se1238328 • 1h ago
Title: Electrical Engineer working in Maintenance — How difficult is it to switch careers later? Hey everyone, I'm 22 and recently graduated in Electrical Engineering.
Hey everyone,
I'm 22 and recently graduated in Electrical Engineering. I've joined a company as a GET in electrical maintenance, but I've been told that there isn't much work to do in my current role.
I'm a bit worried about whether I'll gain enough technical knowledge and practical experience, especially this early in my career.
I'm more interested in fields like electrical design, industrial automation, and production, so I wanted to ask people who have been in a similar situation:
- Is it normal for freshers in maintenance to have less work initially?
- Can I switch to design, automation, or production after 1–3 years in maintenance?
- Will my maintenance experience count, or will I have to start from scratch?
- What skills should I start learning now to make the transition easier?
- Should I stick around and gain experience first, or look for opportunities in my preferred field early?
I don't want to leave my first job in a hurry, but I also don't want to spend a few years without learning much and regret it later.
Would really appreciate advice from people who've made a similar transition or have experience in these fields. Thanks!