I just did that, switched from semiconductor manufacturing to oil and gas vendors. I join them as a junior position so it's kinda like I start all over again.

Honestly, technical experience in manufacturing doesn't really help in securing the place. I'd say soft skills, project management skills, multi-tasking capabilities would be at least useful. I leveraged on those points and the rest is history.

Know and understand your strengths. Good luck.

Almost 24. Graduated at 21, travelled in the states for almost half a year, worked in manufacturing for almost 2 years and, now under 3 months training for  design engineer for subsea division. I hope I'd be absorbed into project management team or after market team, so I'd have more on-site experience. See how it goes from here then..

Anyway, if you're with commitments such as family, kids, housing loans, then starting over could be very risky. It's not impossible with careful planning of cash flow but future career progression could be a disturbing issue.

What's your background and what are holding you back, if you don't mind?