If you're in a technical role at Conoco and not chasing management, things start to stall once you hit your 40s. Development slows down fast, even if your reviews are solid. The worst part is, a lot of the folks in charge barely understand the work and none of them are interested in helping you grow. They’re focused on climbing, not leading. I guess retention, or lack of, tells the story better than I can.
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On the bright side, you haven’t been shoved out the door for being over 40 yet?!
Same goes for those on the business track. You run out of things to do by your 40s if you aren't keen on chasing mgmt positions. And in 20 years, those mgmt positions keep shrinking so there hasn't been as many to go around. Even if you are chasing those, all you can do is wait until one of the shrinking population of mid-mgmt retires or gets the boot during a layoff (they have to su-k pretty bad to get laid off, we are notorious for letting people stay past their useful life which on one hand isn't efficient, but on the other hand sounds good as I near the end of my useful life).
What is left for the older, 'seen-it-all' worker that the company previously valued? There should be spots left open for these problem-solvers with years and years of valuable experience under their belts.
@jh you’re exactly the manager type that shouldn’t be in that job.
Whining not leading. Unfortunately, COP is and has been full of people like you in those positions. Nothing will change, it’s COP culture.
@jh I feel sorry for the folks who have to work for you.
Well dang OP. I’m closer to 50 than I am 40 so thanks for the shoutout, I guess. But the 275k in total comp as just a director sure does help me sleep right in the technical disciple you so just so eloquently described. My tip to get to mid mgmt is mass departures.
Whatchu talking about Willis? At least this company picks its ring leaders from within for the most part. Most corporations these days have 3-4 yr tenure at very best on average, so at least this one of TWELVE whopping years of average time spent with company. People at Citation in line for a VP role have store managers coming in from a Target store manager role leap frogging them. You gotta fly rainbow colors in today’s world, ya hear The lack of relative situational awareness on here and all over is pretty frightening.
OP is on point.
Plus, the people they pick to
be supervisors, managers, or
management are
not leaders in fact usually the opposite. They don’t lead
people they don’t protect their people. They are sheep and only do what’s best for them
personally.
Who cares if it slows down and stalls if the work performed for the pay still outpaces everyone in industry short of Enron Oil & Gas out of desperation measures over there. Are you this dense? Invest every dollar you don’t save. Anyone less than a GM by 50 there is absolutely no winning to be had in any of this. Look more at the haves and have nots. Every E&P is 95% have nots. But the nots make more than 95% of other people not in E&P. It’s about the long game and it always has been as a W-2. The goal is being able to retire before parting from this world.
My experiance has been completely opposite of this
This is true everywhere though.