[Closed] Getting out of a dying industry

Most people who graduate fro Industrial Design are good generalists. I'm sure you'll do fine in a great many roles.
I find that it's my ability to understand the needs of business that gets noticed as much as my design talent.

Hard to know exactly what suits you, but it sounds like you'd prefer a 'job' rather than carry on being self-employed.
Retail Display will be still around for a long time - are you sure you couldn't be one of the survivors?

If not, then have you picked up other skills along the way? Manufacture/print fulfilment/3D cad work/web design?

Go for stability? Salisbury and Tesco's will still be fighting to the death for a while longer.

General advice before you go and speak to somebody is make a list of what skills you have, what you enjoy and what you are good at. That should give you an idea of what skill sets you have, what do you customers think of the future?

Most people who graduate fro Industrial Design are good generalists

This is true, I am a bit of a jack of all trades, master of none. Design, project management, procurement, account management and loads more I can turn my hand to. I like being involved in everything to do with a project just not one area where I easily get bored.

I'm not wanting suggestions from STW as to what career, but what is the best way for me to identify what it might be?

I’m not wanting suggestions from STW as to what career, but what is the best way for me to identify what it might be?

What do you want to do?

Although your current skillset may suggest potential other careers, if you have something in mind that you fancy doing, then look at ways of getting the skills to achieve it (evening classes, etc).

I wouldn't have thought a career coach would be of much value in your situation. You've said you can't afford to start from scratch so that means you need to be looking at roles within the same area (and likely initially in the same industry) to what you're currently involved with and no one should know what those other areas are better than you.

You might need to look at specialising a bit more, at least in terms of role (e.g. project management or account management) and being able to switch industry that way. I get that it's often boring doing that (I'm an IT tech architect but I find the documenting designs bit incredibly boring, give me a problem to solve that involves investigating (googling...) and hands-on lab testing type stuff and I'm much happier) but at the end of the day it comes down to what you need to do to for the role rather than fitting the role around you - apart from in a few rare situations where you have niche but highly desirable skills so the employer will bend to your requirements.

I'm sure some people will say you need to find something you enjoy doing even if it's 'just' for the next 20 years but personally I think few of us have that luxury much less the opportunity (especially with all the various life commitments we have). I don't like my job, haven't for the last 5 years or so and the thought of another 20 years of it myself before I can retire makes me want to think about something else before I get really depressed :p

Simple question: What marketable skill do you really enjoy doing now, that you'd like to have all the fun drained out of over the next 25 years until you utterly despise it?

Go with that.

In terms of career coaching, there are plenty of books / online resources - most coaches will use one of these common analysis techniques and then have a few conversations based on your results. I run a coaching programme with employee volunteers through my work, there are also lots of people keen to gain experience so you might be able to find a trainee coach keen to get their hours for free rather than paying someone. One analysis is Career Anchors by Edgar Schein - you can find the questionnaire online, complete it and it'll help you identify the areas / types of roles that best suit your preferences.

I started my career in industrial design 30+ years ago, I've spent the last 20 years doing a 'corporate' job and will be receiving my formal redundancy notice tomorrow - at 53 I'm looking forward to the career change, so at 40 you're not too old.

Design, project management, procurement, account management and loads more I can turn my hand to. I like being involved in everything to do with a project just not one area where I easily get bored

sounds like a Project Manager type role to me

I work with a very good Flow Manager (agile project manager). His background was managing Tesco store builds and refits. He's transferred very well to banking IT.

I went to see a careers advice person, it all became clear after that

Come join me in local newspapers....  errrr

It's the skills you have to offer rather than the industry you work in. It is the skill that are ultimately transferable and what experience improves. So be open minded about which 'industry' you might end up working in and think more about skills and I think you'll find that you are probably suited to a wide range of industries.

The company I work for, which is a fairly specialised industry, has basically had a programme of redundancy for many years and everyone I know who has left has managed to find other jobs in a variety of industries. Also we take in people from a wide variety of industries too. So it's not a bleak as you might think.

"What do you want to do?"

plus

"It’s the skills you have to offer rather than the industry you work in"

At the age of 30 I left science behind and joined the police.

At the age of 46 I've just handed in my notice and will be leaving the police to be the general manager of a posh bike shop.

Zero retail experience but I manage teams, solve problems, meet deadlines, resolve conflicts etc. You bring the skills and learn the business.

Thanks for the comments, I'm struggling to see the wood for the trees at the moment but i have some time step back and really think about the skills I do have. Ive not had many job appraisals so have never had much feedback from others on my skills.

I've been a mining engineer, metallographer, window cleaner, motorbike courier, freelance ad designer in that there London, windsurf school owner, sail tester, magazine designer, editor, tech rewriter, cigar "alternative route importer" in the Caribbean, journalist, photographer, newspaper designer, crêpe maker and all of them were 'proper' jobs. If you want it you can make it happen, just find out what you really want.

disclaimer: I started doing this back in the 70s. A lot easier then.

Have you tried looking at this from a different angle?

Is retail design really dying out, or just changing? Retailers are struggling, and the high street is a tough place to be, but the big retailers still need to invest heavily to win that battle.

In and amongst the retail doom and gloom of store closures in the last 3-6 months, my business has invested heavily in store refurbs to gain some traction. Someone somewhere is doing that work for us, and even after we complete our refurbs some other retailer will be doing there's.

The industry you're in is getting tougher no doubt - but how do you fight it out? You're small and agile and in theory well positioned to beat the big guys.

Let's say the industry is dying though and you're right... your skills will be highly transferable. How could your traditional retail skills apply to the online world? That market's growing by 15%-20% per year and struggling with a talent shortage. I'd value someone with a good traditional retail background to be on my e-commerce team, providing they could show an ability to learn quickly.

It doesn't seem like you really need to get out - just adapt quick enough.

Hmm .. I'd assumed this was going to be about the oil industry, and clicked in the hope of finding some good tips!

Move back to Bristol and work it out over a pint of cider.

Is retail design really dying out, or just changing?

You're correct, retail isn't dying out anytime soon, I was just trying to simplifying it for people who don't understand the industry (sounds like you do). Retail is becoming more experiential and concentrated on fewer, higher footfall stores. The same amount of suppliers are chasing after less and less work, I'm sure that there is enough work for a  few more years but I'd rather plan an alternative now.

Move back to Bristol and work it out over a pint of cider.

Best suggestion yet!

Are there any areas of retail design that are expanding?  Are these of interest and is there a chance you could easily gain the necessary skills to offer new services?  Learning some new skills and adapting to the demands of the sector might add some excitement also.

I work in a similar(ish) industry (suppliers of promotional POS for retail) and we are always looking at the threat of "digital solutions" removing the need for all things printed.

As such, keeping up-to-date with the latest stuff (digital signage, etc) is something we have to be aware of, and capable of supplying if needed.

It might be an ideal opportunity for you to do something similar.

Hmm .. I’d assumed this was going to be about the oil industry, and clicked in the hope of finding some good tips!

Ha, you and me both!

I actually work in POP / Permanent POS, I rarely get involved in whole stores as there are specialists in that who have different skill sets and experience.

Who do you work for?

"Hmm .. I’d assumed this was going to be about the oil industry, and clicked in the hope of finding some good tips!"

Me too haha.

I'm working in oil in a dying product .

Just need to transfer my skills to another product.....just need to relearn.

"Hmm .. I’d assumed this was going to be about the oil industry, and clicked in the hope of finding some good tips!"

Damn it - me too!

Join NATS as an air traffic controller.  The 'infographic' on their site shows people joining in their late fifties.  I start in May.

I actually work in POP / Permanent POS, I rarely get involved in whole stores as there are specialists in that who have different skill sets and experience.

Who do you work for?

It won't by anyone you'd be familiar with, we just supply resource to the printing industry (not related to print, it's just the sector we operate in).

I'm just aware of the challenges facing the print industry.  Companies such as Adare, for example, having to adapt to changing times.  I guess it's the same for many sectors.

"“Hmm .. I’d assumed this was going to be about the oil industry, and clicked in the hope of finding some good tips!”

And me.... No tips yet on that front from here.....

I've been having the same thoughts re. journalism. At least I know not to go into oil now.

Come back to Bristol Rob!!!!! Its a very creative city (as I'm sure you know) and I'm sure a clever chap like yourself would find something cool to do.

Failing that you could always go and work for Jen as her office bitch 😉

“Hmm .. I’d assumed this was going to be about the oil industry, and clicked in the hope of finding some good tips!”

Me too haha.

I’m working in oil in a dying product .

Just need to transfer my skills to another product…..just need to relearn.

I'm still trying to get back in! (currently working in the weird world of TV documentary production, wouldn't recommend it). I reckon there's a few decades left in it, and once it does die off there'll be an equal amount of work in the energy sector either building big power stations or smaller co-gen type stuff.

My four step plan for transferring to a new industry:

1) Get made redundant with a crap package which leaves no option of re-training, gaining qualifications, taking a sabbatical or doing anything useful with your enforced time off except applying fro jobs and the soul crushing experience of going to the job center to sign on.

2) Get deperate

3) Take a 61% pay cut

4) Crawl up into a ball naked and cry your eyes out to the point the bedsheets need changing (several times, preferably to be found by your OH)

5) Decide that whilst money can't make you happy, a lack of it can make you really ****ing miserable and anyone that uses that phrase is delusional and/or rich and set about trying to get your old job back.

Which is why I have not launched my laptop out a window....

How ever my pay hasn't shown up this month so it's not far from going out....

It won’t by anyone you’d be familiar with, we just supply resource to the printing industry (not related to print, it’s just the sector we operate in).

I’m just aware of the challenges facing the print industry.  Companies such as Adare, for example, having to adapt to changing times.  I guess it’s the same for many sectors.

I worked for Williams Leas for a few years (they were trying to get into POP and I was trying to get out). I learnt a bit but working in outsourcing left me feeling hollow.

Come back to Bristol Rob!!!!! Its a very creative city (as I’m sure you know) and I’m sure a clever chap like yourself would find something cool to do.

Failing that you could always go and work for Jen as her office bitch

I try not to regret decisions I have made. I don't like hills, or the 3 Bristol job offers I had immediately after I decided to leave...

I meant to reply to this earlier, I almost took a very similar path, I graduated in Product Design in 2003 and went straight into POS/POP as a way to get a foot on the ladder, I worked for a few Leicester based companies but met a girl from Wales, moved for the girl, stayed for the mountains and have never left.

Since moving to I've worked in automotive and medical design, both jobs were basically just off the type of CAD package I could use, a lot of the higher end Auto/Aero will be on high level packages (Catia etc, if thats still current) but I'd assume your fine on the mid-range stuff? There all basically the same, could open a number of design options away from POS, CAD's always pretty high on the list of any recruiters questions.

There's a lot of medical in Cambridge and some decent all round consultancies usually looking in the Midlands/Worcester way, I'd lead with your CAD knowledge, backed up with your multi-hat experience (even in my Medical/SME job now your spinning 5 plates rather than just stuck being a CAD monkey all day) I've always led projects as part of my role as a designer so the communications experience with other depts should transfer well just from your current role.

Medical stuff will usually focus on specific ISO standards, a good knowledge of the standards etc of the sector your looking to get into will help but it's all learn-able on the job usually with pretty tight design constraints already established within the business.

I'd guess your process knowledge should be pretty varied to being POS, Fab metal / injection mould / vac form etc?

I'd concentrate on CAD/Process knowledge rather than sector, back it up with your management / coms skills and get applying, there's plenty of jobs in other sectors, I'd be tempted to move into another design role and have a change of scenery while thinking about the bigger picture

@ crashtest monkey, interesting career choice. I have just completed my 21st year in " The Job" (OFC Sgt) and was wondering what skills I would have to offer in a different job. Been in uniform since 18, RAF Police then Old Bill...

Best of luck with the change of direction and I completely understand why you may have left...:)

I have no experience in retail but bizarrely have on a few occasions been involved in designing labs (as a researcher). Its a hard job to get right. I often wondered why we didn't get in proper experts to guide us through the process. Could you turn your hand to things like offices, labs, industrial spaces. The list is endless  when you consider every space where people work. The skills from retail would be transferable just the customer motivation a little different.

People bring in management consultants to improve their businesses but very rarely refresh working environments to make them more engaging and productive. Think google office as opposed to Dilbert cubicles.

Obviously some risk but you could look for cont(r)acts while continuing with your current work.

Failing that project management is always needed. It isn't a skill that smaller companies keep in house as they don't run big projects that often. Seen plenty of project/design engineers on temporary contracting jobs where new facilities are being built.