To all those fearful right now, Getting laid off (PIPed) in July was the best thing that could’ve happened to me. I was devastated at the time and thought I couldn’t get a job with only 4 years experience and no site experience but 3 weeks later I had a better paying job with more vacation in a much more stable industry. (And made a good amount of cash with the PIL) So don’t get too stressed out. We’re smart people and if Exxon can’t afford to appreciate our talent right now, trust me, there are a lot of people willing to! I had 2 offers within 3 weeks of being laid off. One in chemicals and one in Gas Turbines. Times are tough but an engineering degree is still valuable (and multi-functional) and Exxon looks good on a resume (whether it should or shouldn’t lol)
Stay positive. Everything happens for a reason! You’ll land on your feet at the end of this madness. And maybe even be better off.
3 replies (most recent on top)
Same. Let go end of July after only 2 years with the company (came straight from college with a BS in ChemE).
It was tough at the time, very dark period. But after a few weeks of applying, the interviews started rolling in. Got an offer after about 3 weeks, turned it down, got another one from one of my dream companies, accepted. Got even more interview requests even after accepting the job, had to decline them all.
My tips:
- Make a good resume (have others proof read and suggest improvements) before you go out applying.
- Apply to as many jobs as possible and keep track of them in an excel spreadsheet
- - keep your login creds in there bc believe me, you'll be making lots of accounts
- Apply to jobs as long as you fit >=50% of the requirements. This is a numbers game, improve your chances with more applications. Don't be discouraged by seeing 200+ applicants for a job opening. Who cares, apply anyway.
- Don't bother with cover letters unless it's a job you really really want. Again, quantity is the name of the game, apply to as many jobs as you can.
- Network. Cold messaging on LinkedIn with people you don't really know actually can work. Alumni's of your old school are tend to be pretty receptive. Frame it as a "I'm looking for advice on switching industries/companies. Can you tell me more about xyz" instead of just straight up saying you're looking for a job.
- Be patient. Sometimes it takes 2-4 weeks before an application gets back to you for an interview request. Don't panic. Keep chugging along and applying while you wait. It's ok to take a day or two off from the job hunt too. Rest your mind, go exercise, meditate (or pray as I did).
Now I actually like going in to work. What a strange feeling! The culture is sooo much more friendly and relaxed but the people are still super smart. Indeed it was a blessing in disguise. Thank the Lord I got out.
Exxon had a lot of great talent. You could probably all get together and start your own company.
Agreed, it’s not the end of the world at all. I was part of the cuts in late July in UIS, 1 year of experience with the company, ChemE degree. I had several interviews with about 4 companies over the course of the last three months, and will be starting with a small midstream company next week in the Houston Ship Channel making similar pay to what EM was offering. My point is, there is still a great job market out there (speaking as someone with my experience/background) and don’t let a layoff affect your self confidence or self worth. There is a whole other world out there outside of EM where you can also grow and be happy. Plus, some vacation from the working world in this stressful time is a great opportunity to focus on your personal health and happiness, continue to develop your personal brand (i.e. certifications, study for grad school entry tests, etc), and really figure out what you really want to do with your life! Best of luck ~