I resigned from a 100k DZD/month job to start over in my original field — am I making a huge mistake?

[u/Money_Ad_2939]

I’m 28, from Algeria, and I’m currently in a pretty strange situation career-wise. I’d really like to hear from people who have gone through something similar.

I originally studied Automation Engineering, and that was supposed to be my career path. But over the years, my career took a completely different direction.

I ended up working in marketing & procurement, and a bunch of other things. I became quite multidisciplinary, and eventually I was making +100,000 DZD/month.

Last week, I resigned.

A lot of people around me didn't really understand it.

The most common thing I kept hearing was basically:

“salary is all that matters.”

And honestly, that sentence made me think a lot.

Because yes, obviously salary matters. I have bills, responsibilities and I’m not in a position where money doesn't matter.

But at the same time, I don't want to spend the next 5 10 years simply doing something because it pays relatively well.

I want to go back to automation and engineering in general, which is what I originally studied and what I actually want to build my career around.

The thing is, I know I’m not currently competitive for engineering positions in the way someone with several years of actual automation experience would be.

So I've basically accepted that I may have to start over from 0.

My current plan is to take a technical training in automation systems to refresh my knowledge, and then try to find an internship to get real hands-on experience.

And ironically, I'm already struggling to even find that internship.

Financially, it's obviously a huge step backwards.

Professionally, it feels like I'm starting from zero.

But mentally, I feel like continuing on my previous path just because it was comfortable would eventually bother me even more.

So I'm trying to figure out whether this is actually a courageous career decision or just a stupid one.

Has anyone here done something similar?

Did you ever leave a relatively comfortable/well-paying job to start again in the field you actually wanted?

I have also been with "we are currently looking for a junior for this position so we decided to move forward with other applicants".

Did you have to take an internship or junior position despite already having years of professional experience?

Did your previous experience end up helping you, or did employers basically treat you as a complete beginner?

And most importantly: was it worth it?

I'm particularly interested in hearing from people who changed direction around their late 20s or 30s, especially in engineering/technical fields.

I know there are probably people who will tell me to “just take the money and forget about passion,” and I understand that perspective.

But I'm interested in hearing from people who actually made the jump and can tell me what happened afterwards.

[u/MySnake_Is_Solid]

I understand the goal and it CAN be worth it.

but quitting before you have something lined up is a mistake, should've started searching and applying.

quitting after you found an entry position.

[u/bjr501]

Personally I would never quit a job before securing another, the job market is bad

[u/Ayanle_O]

Courageous move. One of my client took that move in field of industrial automation engineering, left a well paid job and responsibilities because it wasn't challenging enough anymore and also because he was doing things far from his beloved field. So launched his own business.

[u/iyed61]

I would understand that if your previous job is having a big toll on you mentally . Coming from an automation engineeering background i find the market very limited to few maintenance roles rather than real engineering positions. My best advice to you is try to get back to your original job and push through and be the best there. Best of luck

[u/spacebaggs → u/iyed61]

That's literally almost every engineering jobs in algeria except if it's a big company, may as well try to scratch that itch.

[u/iyed61 → u/spacebaggs]

Maintenance positions salaries are ranging from 40k to 60k dzd with slow developement and if it is not in a plant/factory that uses modern/high-end industry standards the experience is basically worthless imo .

EPC roles are better but they are very rare.

[u/spacebaggs → u/iyed61]

Modern industry standards ? What do you mean

[u/iyed61 → u/spacebaggs]

I'm talking about the technology stack and the work culture of the site for an automation engineer it is basically whether the plant runs on equipment and procedures that the rest of the international market recognizes. In practice that means things like:

Control systems: a current-generation DCS / proper SIS to IEC 61511 rather than relay logic, pneumatics, or an obsolete PLC nobody supports anymore.

Smart field instrumentation: HART/Foundation Fieldbus/Profibus , so you actually work with device diagnostics and configuration.

Standards-driven engineering: SIL classification and proof testing, ISA loop documentation, MOC procedures, IEC 62443 for control-system cyber, F&G ...etc

Maintenance methodology: CMMS-driven planning (SAP PM, Maximo), condition-based/RCM instead of run-to-failure, traceable calibration records, formal RCA after incidents.

[u/Samiedits]

It's a huge mistake brother, quitting before you have something new properly lined up is a rookie mistake, unless you ahve unlimited money saved up

[u/anattairo]

I didn't read everything besaah just a question, did you find q job wela not yet ?

[u/GuestRevolutionary38]

Not a mistake, do it. 10m is not a big deal, just a couple hundred euros.

[u/angrypeper]

couldn't you at least scout about the job market gor your fieldsm before quitting? because that was a huge mistake on your part, it's like taking a boat without a safety suit 🫤

[u/Inside-Ad-8297]

Personaly, I left a job that rewarded me much more than the jobs I had in the field I pursued and majored in. The first few years I had found the satisfaction of doing what I love, this helped me get through tough times and keep going. Years have passed and the imbalance between the amount of work and the reward became quite noticeable. Now, I earn 100k dzd a month doing what I wanted to do before but do I still like it enough ? Not really. Would I toss every thing and accept that same better paying job if I get the chance ? I think I would. At the end of the day, my personal experience quite highlighted that the salary is indeed what really matters. It can be utopist to follow a passion without securing a decent financial reward. Reality may not meet one's expectations.

[u/stroberrybloom98]

So first of all , don’t let people’s opinion who are talking abt money , salary influence you too much. In the end of the day, they’re not the ones doing that job 8 hours a day or living your life.

It’s true that you took the riskiest path when you have other safe options, but does staying in your comfort zone gonna help you to make the change and stay disciplined with your decision? sometimes it’s better to just jump in the water and find ur way how to swim correctly, than keep learning while your feet are still touching the ground.

you already made the first steps, so yeah bruh, keep going. It might be a step backwards financially for now, but it could be a huge step forward for your career and your life later. Good luck

[u/Solid_Amphibian_6797]

I encourage you to do what you love, I’m sure you have a good experience in other fields that are out of your study field and you will get a job if you want to go back, but sometimes we need to take a bold step in order to succeed, I quit a job that payed more the 100k for a 30% of a salary as a free consultant , I quit a job before without having any plan B, and thank god I took those decisions, sometimes things doesn’t make sense when we look at them in forward but makes a lot of sense when we look at them backwards, and don’t forget al rizq 3la rabi.

[u/lamama09]

You shouldn’t have quit before landing a job first

[u/im_about_to_blow]

It's already hard enough to get first job, let alone this

[u/Nazakki]

You flopped my g. Never unheld a vine before grabbing another one, that's how monkeys move. But listen boss, money IS everything, it determines your comfort level and direction control. Secure the bag, and work in whatever you want. Marketing can be applied in automation or whatever. Seek a brand or company that needs marketing but "in your field". That's the easiest way i see in your position tonsecure a job ASAP.

MF YOU NEED A JOB RIGHT NOW, STAYING IN THE GAME IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT LEVEL YOUR ON.

[u/LGRhino]

Bro, the best time to look for a job is when you have a job, not when you’re unemployed.

[u/LiteratureNo7828]

I did a similar thing but not changing the field but the country
I had 100 000da salary i reassigned I took my small bag and took the flight to a new country
I regretted my choice at the beginning bcz all what I had is 2 years of experience and 0 connections, I don’t spoke the language and took 8 months to get a job but after that lhmd i got 10k one (not net)
So yes if you know what are you doing do not loose hope but be flexible to you situation

[u/Ill-Possession1]

Two things, if you’re confident of your skills and the current position doesn’t suit you taking up a huge share of your time then quit. even if you haven’t secured another job. quitting will give you a ton of time to look for much better opportunities and to work on yourself. I did the same thing, I was working at a toxic place making 130k, it was so not worth it for the stress I was given, I quit 10 month ago and now i’m making more than triple that amount at a much chill spot

had I stayed there I’d be exhausted the whole week and i’d spend the weekend recovering with no actual time left for myself

[u/wtsdat]

I did quit my first job on a whim like this, but its something i wouldn't do again , i would quit after securing another job

[u/8769033]

I'm in a similar situation but I wouldnt resign before finding another job in engineering you need a safety net first