- Earn an advanced degree in your targeted field
- Learn on your own pace
- Take on stretch assignments within your current company
A quick qualifier before I discuss these methods: I assume that you already have an undergraduate degree in a STEM field. You have a basic understanding of science and mathematics. I'll discuss these three methods in detail.
Earn an Advanced Degree
Of your three options, earning an advanced degree requires the greatest effort. It will focus you provided you know in general what field you want to move into. You will specialize within a specific field. For example, you could earn a Master Degree in Computer Science with a emphasis on machine learning. If you to earn a PhD, you will perform ground breaking research in a field, and you will become an expert. In my case, I performed research in applying genetic algorithms to adapt antenna array hardware that spatially focused wireless energy in a signal of interest while simultaneously minimizing energy towards interfering sources. Don't let my research description frighten you: you can develop a fulfilling career in Industry with a PhD. You will develop skills important to advancing your career while earning your PhD.
If earning an advanced degree takes so much effort, why pursue one? I can give you several reasons:
- Your employer offers tuition assistance or reimbursement
- You realize that you need an advanced degree to move up quicker
- You have the time to pursue the degree
- Your career has flatlined
- You enjoy learning in a classroom setting
- For a PhD, you enjoy researching and teaching others
The first three reasons apply if you work at a company that encourages continuous learning. Clearly, you need time to read textbooks, study for exams, and develop class projects. You won't do classwork during normal office hours, so you need to set aside hours during evenings and weekends. Not an easy option if you work for a startup or have a young family to raise. It can be done if you can set clear boundaries.
What do I mean by one's career flatlining? This could be a euphemism for unemployment. It could mean you've been stuck in the same role for years. You see no clear path to promotion. In this case, an advanced degree could be a good option for you. It won't be easy especially if you are unemployed. However, you can get fellowships for PhD's in STEM majors provided you put together a strong application package. In spite of it's difficulties, a PhD represents a better option if you are unemployed and on limited income. If you feel stuck at your current employer, you should take advantage of your work's tuition reimbursement program. If you enjoy research, get a PhD. Otherwise, earn a Master Degree. Remember, a PhD can take four to five years in a full-time program. Should you have a family, you must communicate your educational intents with them because it will eat into family time.
Learn on Your Own Pace
Learning on your own pace involves taking online courses without credit towards a degree, reading books, and do it yourself (DIY) projects. You can find online courses offered through your company's continuous learning program, or you can find free classes offered by universities. MIT and Stanford both offer their classes online free. MIT offers free lectures on MIT Open Courseware. Stanford offers free courses on iTunes via Stanford on iTunes. You take these classes online as if you're a student, yet you do not receive credit for the classes.
I enjoy reading books, and I choose books in subjects unfamiliar to me. If you are interested in learning about machine learning, you can read a plethora of books on the subject. For a high-level overview of AI, I suggest that you read AIQ: How People and Machines Are Smarter Together. Read as many books as you can and focus on the field that you want to enter. As you read books, take detailed notes. It doesn't matter if you write in physical notebooks or apps like Evernote. You must write down and organize your thoughts, impressions, and references when immersing yourself in learning materials. Otherwise you will soon forget what you read.
DIY projects can be physical or virtual. They can be a combination of both. It depends on what you want to learn. Interested in building robots or automating your home? Buy a Raspberry Pi and learn to program in Python. Do you want to program Alexa Skills to make Alexa do cool things? Go through the tutorials in the Alexa Skill Kit. Yes, these examples are specific to computer programming, software engineering, and computer engineering. However, you should pick projects relevant to the field you want to transition.
Stretch Assignments
This option depends on availability. Your employer might not allow employees to take on temporary assignments outside of their defined roles. If this is your situation, you will need to focus on the other options I described above. However, I encourage you to take rotational assignments outside of your specialty. This will challenge you and allow you to grow. Speak to your manager and see if you can take a temporary assignment. It will be difficult at first. However, your peers will want you to succeed, and they will help you get on track. They will make sure you know information you need to succeed.
Employees face challenges during stretch assignments. Challenges include rapidly learning new skills while subjected to a project deadline. Of course, therein lies the difficulty of first convincing one's manager to allow for a stretch assignment. This couples with finding a team lead or program manager willing to risk bringing in a novice into their organization. It helps if you establish a track record for excellence prior to seeking rotational assignments. If your assignment lasts nine to twelve months, you can expect the first three months to consist of learning on the job. This helps convince your rotational manager to bring you on. Whatever challenges you face, you will find the stretch assignment to be worth its troubles. You will challenge yourself and learn skills in a new field. The power in stretch assignments is that you can try out a new field. If you do not like this field, you can return to your previous assignment, or take on a different role for a year.
Summary
You can move into a new field. It will take work, and you will need to prove your capability along the way. In this post, I discussed three ways you can move out of your current are of knowledge into a different line of STEM work You have options depending on your situation. You can earn and advanced degree, learn on your own pace, or take on stretch assignments at work. Whichever path you choose, you will succeed.
I enjoy reading books, and I choose books in subjects unfamiliar to me. If you are interested in learning about machine learning, you can read a plethora of books on the subject. For a high-level overview of AI, I suggest that you read AIQ: How People and Machines Are Smarter Together. Read as many books as you can and focus on the field that you want to enter. As you read books, take detailed notes. It doesn't matter if you write in physical notebooks or apps like Evernote. You must write down and organize your thoughts, impressions, and references when immersing yourself in learning materials. Otherwise you will soon forget what you read.
DIY projects can be physical or virtual. They can be a combination of both. It depends on what you want to learn. Interested in building robots or automating your home? Buy a Raspberry Pi and learn to program in Python. Do you want to program Alexa Skills to make Alexa do cool things? Go through the tutorials in the Alexa Skill Kit. Yes, these examples are specific to computer programming, software engineering, and computer engineering. However, you should pick projects relevant to the field you want to transition.
Stretch Assignments
This option depends on availability. Your employer might not allow employees to take on temporary assignments outside of their defined roles. If this is your situation, you will need to focus on the other options I described above. However, I encourage you to take rotational assignments outside of your specialty. This will challenge you and allow you to grow. Speak to your manager and see if you can take a temporary assignment. It will be difficult at first. However, your peers will want you to succeed, and they will help you get on track. They will make sure you know information you need to succeed.
Employees face challenges during stretch assignments. Challenges include rapidly learning new skills while subjected to a project deadline. Of course, therein lies the difficulty of first convincing one's manager to allow for a stretch assignment. This couples with finding a team lead or program manager willing to risk bringing in a novice into their organization. It helps if you establish a track record for excellence prior to seeking rotational assignments. If your assignment lasts nine to twelve months, you can expect the first three months to consist of learning on the job. This helps convince your rotational manager to bring you on. Whatever challenges you face, you will find the stretch assignment to be worth its troubles. You will challenge yourself and learn skills in a new field. The power in stretch assignments is that you can try out a new field. If you do not like this field, you can return to your previous assignment, or take on a different role for a year.
Summary
You can move into a new field. It will take work, and you will need to prove your capability along the way. In this post, I discussed three ways you can move out of your current are of knowledge into a different line of STEM work You have options depending on your situation. You can earn and advanced degree, learn on your own pace, or take on stretch assignments at work. Whichever path you choose, you will succeed.
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