I tried this myself this summer, with no success. I also have a EE/CE
background with ten years experience in the semiconductor industry as
a circuit designer, chip architect, field applications engineer
(sales), and some managerial experience, too. (alas, no business
education). I have PP-ASEL with IR.

Anyway, I have no family or spouse, so taking the summer off was
eminently doable, and while I was having fun doing various things, I
also mounted a campaign to find a job in aviation, similarly, in some
sort of engineering/technical marketing role. I wanted to stay out of
defense.

I looked at airframe companies, avionics manufacturers primarily.

Well, lots of resumes went out and even a few phonecalls, but I never
got anywhere with it. It was a painfully disappointing experience. I
don't know if aviation-related business just aren't highering, or I
was simply unable to convince hiring managers that my skills in the
chip business might be transferable. (managers in the twenty-first
century seem even less imaginative than in the last)

Partly, I think I could have been more tenacious about the search. I
gave up and went back to my old business after the summer. I could
have kept going, and maybe should have. Also, I should have continued
to try to make contacts at companies, even if I had to result to cold
calling and making a general pest of myself.

I do remember one particularly memorably phonecall with a senior
executive at Boeing, that of all people, my mom helped me get through
the mom-network. For one full hour I got nothing but an earful of how
aviation is a dead-end industry, it's not a good time to pursue a
career in same, don't get it, everyone is getting out, you won't be
developed, you'll be dumped when the company's needs change,
everything is being outsourced, Boeing is out of the aircraft business
and is not only an integrator, etc, etc. Talk about depressing! This
guy had had a 30 year career at the company, too. Seems he did
alright.

That dude ****ed me off. I'm sure you'll find more energized people
out there. I be the vibe a company like Eclipse is more entrepeneurial
and exciting (if risky). Or Garmin, Avidyne, etc.

Good luck,
Dave Jacobowitz
jacobowitz73 --at-- yahoo --dot-- com


"Gary G" wrote in message ...
Hi folks,

Looking for some advise

This might seem strange.
I'm one of those guys who didn't have much "vision" earlier on in life in terms
of what I wanted to do. I got plenty-o-schooling, but feel now, nearing age 37, that
I didn't make the "best choices" in terms of a career that makes me happy.

I have a degree in Electrical Engineering, a bunch of graduate study in the field, a
fair amount of software experience, and a Masters of Science in Business
just to complete the lobotomy.

I live in the Baltimore-DC area, and desperately want to change careers into
the aviation industry. I'm enjoy my schooling, just not the field that I work in.
In fact, I'd like to keep a position that relies on my skills because it is what
I'm best at.

I'm very interested in Product/Project Management and or Business Development
or Marketing in the Aviation Industry. (Less defense and civil and consumer).
However, I'm not going to limit it! I have excellent communication skills (although
my typing is pathetic), and one fantastic attitude.

Oh - I'm a student pilot who intends to get my PPL by next fall.

How in the he!! do I look to get into that area.
I'd be willing to move, but would like to exhaust opportunities in the major
DC and Baltimore regions first.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
(Should you actually help me find a job, I'll make sure you get one fantastic REWARD! Ha!
I call it a finder's fee, but it won't be a just a dinner!)

Thanks to all who contribute to this fantastic newsgroup (I only found it about
3 months ago).

Regards,

Gary