Currently LL6, do I express interest to LL4?
19 replies (most recent on top)
If you have to ask, you will never get promoted again. You might want to consider leaving the company.
If you've been promoted to LL6 then you're either already on the list for further promotion or you're not.
If the latter is the case then there's almost nothing you can do to change that. There is one trick I've seen work in the past. That is leave the company, get promoted at another employer and then come back to Ford through a head hunter. In the most extreme case, I've seen an engineer leave Ford after being treated like dirt by his supervisor and come back some years later as a VP.
If no one has talked to you about subsequent moves and promotions then the only real leverage you have is walking out the door.
If you have to rely on a Internet message board to tell you how to advance in your own company, perhaps management isn't for you. To be honest though, this question wasn't your only stumble. Anyone with any time at Ford knows a GSR8 is by far the preferred place to be vs LL6. It's unlikely you'll get an LL5 spot, do you want to be a Sr Engineer or Management's whipping boy or girl?
Make your boss look good
Don’t be controversial or inventive
Use many buzzwords
Rinse and repeat
LL Stands for Low Level ..all you have to do is get lower.
Agree with the previous poster...if you have to ask, you aren’t the chosen one.
Waaah I'm just a poor lil old LL6 with aspirations to climb the ladder. My lease car and my $15k bonus just isn't enough. My job where I take others people's work and make it look like my own is so hard, i don't know if I can do it anymore. Question buttercup, what have you ever done for your GSRs? You are the typical piece of trash management that only care for themselves, screw the subordinates. Maybe you are where you are because your people hate your guts and would rather malign your candy a– as opposed to make you look good. I know I would. You better watch your back because I'm gonna have your job sh–head.
Look for a mentor to advise and help groom you and get you visibility. A message board on layoffs and other head count reductions isn't the best place to look.
Ask your LL5 how to get on the next up list. A list exists for each level.
Your LL5 should give you tasks and assignments to prepare you
If you have to ask, its not in the cards for you.
Of course with a diversity push at Ford anything is possible .
Based on those previously promoted to LL5 do exactly what management asks you to do, no matter how misaligned tasks are to your real responsibilities or meanongful metrics. Just do it!. Pet projects that tend to get k–led after a year or so are particularly rewarding in the Ford system. Suggust maybe searching for any job with the word "Smart" or "Global" in front if it. You'll get promoted while being part of something truly unique. How many people can say they were a part of something that lost billions? If you are a logical human and just focus on what actually matters you will be rewarded with a bonus salary of a few months on the way out the door.
Troll all the way.
If you got to an LL6 you had to go through the same basic process you would go through to get from LL6 to LL5.
Try to find a respected mentor within Ford who is happy with their job and take their advice. Don’t ask how to be promoted rather ask what skills and experiences you need to develop to be prepared for a promotion.
As you should have noticed most of the people posting here are not feeling optimistic about Ford. You’ll likely get the best mentoring from a person who hasn’t soured on Ford. Hopefully someone like that still exists.
I'll assume you are serious. You can apply to LL5. LL5 should be posted internally if there isn't already someone selected for the open role. I would hope your current manager would be supportive and help find opportunities and communicate it with your next-level leader. Of course, their support will depend on how ready they think you are. Regardless, you don't get what you don't ask for.
It has gotten annoying how many clown questions are popping up on this site. Who's the funniest LL6? Who's the nicest director? How do I get promoted?
This site is for real employees with legitimate comments/questions, not kids and trolls.
You don’t apply for an LL5 position, you need someone to “invite” you to apply. If you’re serious (why) then have the conversation with your current LL5. Since you asked for advice... don’t do it. Recently promoted people are typically at risk during tough times although LL5s are less at risk than LL6s.
Get an agency person to do all your work. That is the FORD way...
Be very careful what you ask for.
Yeah, sure. That's how it works. Recommend you just send a note to Bill and let him know you want a promotion. Clearly you are either a site troll or an id–t. If an id–t, congrats on being one of the clueless LL6 we have at Ford that were handed their LL6. Don't worry you'll be promoted to Director and VP soon enough. Just sit back and continue to do nothing, act entitled, and don't forget to throw as many people under the bus as possible while stealing credit for their work. That's the Ford way.