Depends, if you have better options at other big companies(outside of the big 3), I’d say go there, even if it means less money. If Ford is your best option vs a bunch of startups, you’ll probably have better job security as an FCG. There’s a seismic shift happening in IT, and it’s causing a lot of bitterness as we switch to a product driven model, but over time all the bitter people will leave or retire. I’ve been noticing pockets of good areas start to grow, making the bad areas a cesspool if bad and bitter “old Ford” management
My guess is most of the negative comments are from people that were let go and want to see Ford fail. There’s some truth that it depends on your management BUT as an FCG you’ll rotate from c-ap managers and can always leave with a Fortune 10 company on your resume
13 replies (most recent on top)
As a 20 year vet of Ford & Ford Credit IT, I'd say "Don't do it"....but since it seems as if you may have already joined, stay for about a year or two, then leave for somewhere else.
Seriously RUN! Don't walk, RUN! Ford will woo you with talk of how you are the valued future and the company is your oyster. All lies in order to get you into the meat grinder. Only a very select few will progress- and it has more to do with popularity than skill or talent. All others will be beat into the ground until you are no longer of use. If you are truly talented, take your skills where you will be valued and appreciated.
The main problem FCG have is rotations are a crop shoot. The good rotations are few and far between.
Then after three rotations you must find, apply for and succeed at finding an open position.
If you land in a bad position under a horrible LL6 you will be stuck as the LL6 will not allow you to apply for other positions and will sink your career as soon as he determines you do not want to work for him long term. Your only option at that point is to leave the company. Happens all the time at Ford. HR and LL5+ know it is happening and look the other way.
People will tell you that you must manage your own career at Ford, which is true. But there is little you can do once you land under one of the bossholes.
I had 10 years of good bosses and then the boss from hell. 3/4 the group retired / resigned, HR and LL5s were in regular meetings with GSRs and did absolutely nothing. The LL6 is still torturing employees with LL5 and HRs knowledge.
Go somewhere else! you will get shoe horned into a job where the bureaucracy will s— the life out of you and your skills will go to waste. Most FCG's that I have run into have stated a couple of years and then left the company. It used to be a fun and dynamic place to work, but that all changed @10 or 12 years ago.
No longer does having Ford on your resume show your expertise. Go elsewhere. Those days are long gone.
Don't accept an offer to be a Soft Engineer unless the salary is > 100k.
Just like any large company there are good and bad groups, both with challenging and pointless roles. You do have to lead your own development and make sure you are apart of groups that do challenging / relevant work.
Seek employment elsewhere.
You will progress slowly at Ford in terms of skill acquisition.
Ford treats IT like a factory where each employee does one tiny thing. If you attempt to do
anything but that one tiny thing you will be flogged. The IT silos result in employees who are
have very limited skills and are not marketable.
Ford breeds bad habits of low output, poor teamwork and bad attitudes. Initially new workers are
frustrated by lack of opportunity and accomplishment then they settle in, adopt the entitlement attitude and coast for decades
The days of get a job at Ford and coast for life are likely over. So don’t get caught in the trap.
Why would working at Ford ruin a career? If you keep your expectations in check, then it can be a way to get valuable experience. I have seen the grads from the FCS program do really well.
There are much better places to work. At Ford IT, you will be surrounded by miserable people and led by clown management. Ford is a failing company with just one product, the F150.
you will destroy your career if you join FORD. I can guarantee you.
DON’T!!!