I'm approaching five years in the commercial woodworking industry under various roles, currently as an engineer. I'm always looking to step on the right stone so to speak and am at a point where I need to weigh my options and decide on my next move. I’ve really enjoyed the problem-solving aspect on my job and the satisfaction of producing work that works and works better.

As it stands in my current situation, I feel I'm being spread a bit thin branching into managing work for the shop floor, project management, overhauling -- nay, creating -- our engineering and drafting standards and now managing even more junior team members.

Without getting too deep into the negative, my situation has clarified where I want to focus but I am not sure *what* I need to focus on. I see ads for experience with Cabinet Vision, WoodCAD/CAM, Microvellum and have spoken to a few people who believe there isn’t too much difference in the applications so I feel my Microvellum experience is very relevant, but is there a better direction to go? What other skills would/should I work on to rise above my peers? Does anyone ever quiz applicants on their knowledge of AWI standards or are shops fine with knowing how to use them? Does anyone really care just so long as there’s a warm body getting stuff out the door?

I may be overthinking things and just need to put myself out there but if there is anything I can do to get a leg up, I will. I may be unrealistic in thinking I can find a place where I can develop the engineering, machining, and software parts of my repertoire without having to comb spec sheets day in day out and fix the printer for the millionth time in a week (!)

Maybe think in terms of finding the right company instead of the right job? The situation you describe sounds like many smaller shops where people need to be able to do many things all the time. As companies get larger the roles get more specialized. Also, companies with good culture find a way to make the employees feel appreciated.

I’m with Paul on finding The right shop.
Additionally you need to have knowledge and skill as a solid base, after that though it becomes how good are you at getting stuff down and what kind of attitude do you have. Find that place that values that and that you can work well in.

Very much a result of the size shop and yes, it comes with the territory. The upside is all I've learned and how it's helping me tune in to what I want to be doing in the long run.

I would agree with others, you should strive to look for a good company. You always read about great companies, they are the ones where their greatest assets are their employees. These companies have tons of positive attributes for employees, right from morale to benefits, retirement saving plans, etc.

Secondly you have to decide what do you want to do for the rest of your life? Do you want to own one of these companies, or do you want to be a partner in one? Maybe you want to be an employee, big companies have tons of roles, there are the production shop people, sales, estimators, project managers, designers and the list goes on.

I told my kids 30-40 years is a long time to get up and go to work, try find a job that you love doing. My dad new a guy who worked in a chicken eviscerating plant and he would cut the butt of the chicken before a giant vacuum cleaned it out. He did thousands of chickens every day over and over, to me it seemed like it would get old fast, but he loved his job.

It also depends what drives you, some people when looking for a career are looking for job satisfaction, others are driven by only compensation.
Anyways set a goal and go after it, good luck.

My 2 cents,

A good company is about being an organization with the various hats being well worn by different people (avoiding the one maistro as the character in Paul's book).

The lack of that makes for chaos.

A well organized company makes for things being predictable and content employees. Not that that is easy to achieve.

I have always followed the same strategy - work hard to make myself indispensable. Then work harder to make myself irrelevant. Here's what I mean - from what I can gather from your post, there are a lot of things that either weren't being done or weren't being done well. You have stepped up to do them, or do them better than they have been done. That's great, step one done. Next, turn these things you are doing into a teachable system. Then teach it to someone. You will find that all these things that you have been running around doing yourself are being done well. Elevate yourself above your peers by being someone who wants to elevate their peers - it will be noticed by the chiefs, and will be appreciated by your fellow spear carriers. At that point you can pretty much punch your ticket for whatever area of the company you want to work. I worked at one shop for 15 years, the last review I had with the owner he asked "What exactly do you do for me anyway?" I replied "The most important thing that needs to be done that no one else is doing yet." And no, it wasn't my last review because he hated the answer, it was my last review because I had to cross a border to marry the love of my life. Take care of those around you, the rest will take care of itself.

I hear a lot of spot on points here. I started to write/vent but I just think it's not healthy to bang my head against a wall. I have a clearer picture of what I need to do so thanks for listening and offering wisdom.