How I Became a Director at Ford After Switching Careers During the Recession: 3 Secrets to Future-Proof Your Job

• Mike Crabtree, who serves as the data engineering director at Ford, assumed responsibility for more than 25 online courses to skill up.
• He stated that acquiring new abilities is essential for safeguarding your position during economic downturn concerns.
• Taking online classes enhances your problem-solving and communication abilities, which can be utilized across various industries.

This interview-based article is derived from a discussion with Mike Crabtree, who serves as the Director of Data Engineering at Ford. It has been condensed and clarified for brevity.

In 2008, after obtaining my associate's degree in industrial mechanics and electronics engineering, the economic downturn inundated the job market.

Amidst intense competition, my degree along with my CV—which primarily highlighted retail work—didn't catch the attention of potential employers as significantly as I had hoped.

While pursuing my Bachelor’s degree in Business and Computer Information Systems, I realized the importance of distinguishing myself further. I began taking paid online courses from platforms like Coursera , edX , and Udacity , obtaining certifications ranging from business analytics to leadership skills which I showcased on my LinkedIn.

Although my field of study wasn't data science I enrolled in additional online courses which allowed me to differentiate myself and switch careers successfully. Ford reached out months after I graduated in 2016. The company hired me as a data scientist that November, a role I stayed in for five years before becoming the manager of a data engineering team. After leaving Ford to work for a data-specific organization, I returned in 2023 and eventually became the director of data engineering.

These days, the job market is a little tougher to break into, let alone stay in. Some people are looking to recession-proof their jobs amid concerns of AI disruption and economic uncertainty .

My experience taught me that the key is to keep learning. By choosing challenging online courses, I tapped into skills I never used before, from technical ones like programming to soft skills that helped me grow as a manager. Taking classes in everything from entrepreneurship to self-driving car engineering also signaled to managers that I was proactive and willing to learn — qualities that are important for feeling secure at a job or getting a promotion .

There are three strategies to make your job as resilient as possible against a recession or secure a more dependable position.

Find your gaps

To feel confident about your performance at work or ready for future interviews, you should aim to be as versatile as possible. If you have strong self-awareness, you may already understand your own strengths and weaknesses. skill gaps Personally, I didn’t acquire mine until I began pushing myself with online classes.

Since statistics and the scientific approach form the bedrock of data science, I enrolled in a statistics course. However, I struggled with probability concepts and found myself needing to enhance my grasp before progressing further. Subsequently, when I joined a machine learning class, I discovered that linear algebra was another area where I lacked proficiency. Alongside acquiring essential technical abilities through these classes, I gained insight into identifying my weak points—prompting me to address them by dedicating additional study time.

This could pertain to every field. For instance, you may hold a managerial position and require additional assistance. leadership training If your work doesn't frequently provide chances for growth beyond your comfort zone, taking courses can assist you in swiftly identifying areas where you face challenges.

Grow your problem-solving skills

The ability to engage in critical thinking, tackle challenges, and trust your instincts enhances your value as a team contributor.

The positive aspect is that you don't have to cram your mind with as much information or programming methods as you might believe. What matters most is being capable of evaluating directions, developing business insight, and making decisive choices.

You could be equally skilled at constructing a linear model compared to AI. However, when you have access to resources for looking things up, it becomes more crucial to recognize that a linear model may not even be the most suitable approach to solving the issue at hand.

I enhanced my critical thinking abilities by enrolling in a quantum computing course led by IBM , which deeply involved physics — an area where I had zero expertise. This experience pushed me to think rapidly and grasp numerous theoretical concepts. Initially, I believed I would acquire just one skill, yet I departed with mastery over four different skills.

Be communicative

Forming strong workplace relationships is important, especially in a tough job climate. After I worked at Ford as a data scientist, I left for a managerial role at a data company. When I exited that job, some old coworkers at Ford started reaching out the moment they knew I was back on the market.

Throughout my career, I've seen many brilliant technical professionals struggle to move up — not because they're mean or ornery, but because they're super quiet and keep their heads down. Because they weren't assertive enough ,, many were not well-informed about them.

In my own career, I've taken public speaking courses to improve my communication and confidence Beyond just voicing your opinions, it’s equally important to convey your ideas in an understandable and accessible manner. This holds particularly true if you work in a field with complex technical aspects.

You can be the smartest person in the room, but if no one knows your name or understands your ideas, it doesn't really matter. Bridging that gap by building up your soft skills is the best way to set yourself up for success.

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