We all know the last round of layoffs was a slap in the face and the manner in which they were done was a hard pill to swallow. It took me some time to get over it but now that I have, I realized Ford actually did me a favor. I was constantly stressed while working there. Lack of job security, toxic work environment, hostile manager… it got to a point where it affected my health. It should say enough that I was more stressed while working than I am now while unemployed and looking for a new job. I needed to get out and it took being laid off to realize that.
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: @5rfp+18z1wkr3 is correct, it is most odd how many departments at Ford are a country club while others are a sweatshop.
One department I worked in whole existence stemmed from making careers out of once a year two week projects. But to hear them they were working hard and were critical to the business. It was a social club with people walking 3 hours a day, and filling the rest of the day with lunch and coffee breaks and meetings to socialize. Then once a year there was two weeks of work. And every year the people did those tasks poorly and caused system outages.
I spent my time learning new things on my own initiative and developing a system to automate their jobs out of existence, yes the system worked and NO it was not implemented. The manager squashed the system, because it would of eliminated her whole department. The annual salary for the department is $10,166,000 .
Another department was nearly as bad. It was grossly over staffed. 8 of each 10 employees were doing nothing but taking up space. Total annual wasted salary 6,480,000. People in that department again claimed they were critical employees but most were entitled and incompetent. Purchased services were brought in to do the work the employees should of been doing.
The funny thing about both of those departments, is that they are able to keep hiring people. The directors and VPs just repeat the lunacy the manager reports to them upwards.
Such waste when there are some departments at Ford that are actually critical to the business.
I made the six figure and no expectation comment.
I don't plan on doing this for the rest of my life. I just find it strange that some areas of Ford are apparently very stressful, while others aren't.
Also, given that it is a pandemic and other circumstances, now isn't the best time to leave.
To the point .... “ get paid six figures and have less expectations than an intern” ... good for you, sounds like money is everything for you, good luck with that. For a true engineer / professional, I believe professional growth, challenges accompanied with opportunities and continuous learning are equally important if not more important . I worked in such a lazy group for a few months, and quickly realized that I was earning six figures and was basically had next to nothing to do, the supervisor and manager would review same slides again and again in each design review and try making silly projects out of nothing.... needless to say that I switched the group to be at a place where my skills and experience are truly put to work .
Bravo OP !!! Bravo !!
My area of Ford is surprisingly stress-free. Seriously, get paid six figures and have less expectations than an intern.
@1fwm+18z1wkr3. I would not put a hard number like you do (24 months), but I chose to be a contractor for similar reasons. Besides, I have no attachments, don't have to play office politics, I can speak my mind and I get all my money upfront: no pension for me, only the one I build for myself. One extra of being a contractor at Ford: I am limited to 40 hours a week, no "burning", no non-stop work for me.
If you are honest with yourself, you know when is time to find another job. As a contractor, sometimes the "business" will do it for you by letting you go. When it happens, take it in strides. Not your fault, only a reminder of your choices.
Thanks
LOL
you win the internet for today sir
:]
Since 2015,
i've made it a habit of only staying at a job for a maximum of 24 months (that's two years, for those of you who can't count :)
it sounds absurd.... but honestly, it's actually quite brilliant.
In Normal circumstances, a person will inevitable become 'comfortable' in their job.
In fact, i'll even go all out and say: Complacent.
You stop pushing yourself to learn new skills.
You start telling yourself that this job "aint bad", and that you deserve to finally 'relax' a little.
You settle in, and only work on what is 'asked' of you; the B.M.
If left unchecked... you're other skills can gradually erode... and you can unkowingly become "trapped" in your job.
Whelp.... in my experience... this usually ends.... poorly.
However,
by changing your mindset, and by seeing my job as only a 'temporary' situation... i actually started working Harder each day.
Counter-intuitively, it kinda makes sense.... because i KNOW that i am only here for a finite number of days.
Thus, i feel motivated to MAXIMIZE what value i can get out of each day.
What is the point of this rant?
Well... you see, i quit my job in October.
Yes, after working 4-5 months nonstop... i decided that it was time to go.
I was becoming increasingly fed-up... and there was no End in sight on the horizon.
So I decided to take the rest of the year off, relax, and find something better in 2021.
YES, even in the face of a once-in-a-hundred-year Pandemic... i still left.
And, why not??
While i was only there for 18 months... i still made time to continue learning on my own time.
Moral of the Rant:
Always INVEST in Yourself, folks!
(you'll rarely let yourself down)
Two thumbs up for the OP.
Many of us have been there.
After lay-off I spent a week in introspection. I realized that over the years the Career had turned to a Job then a COJ (c-appy old Job) to a RCOJ (Really COJ). The stress levels were off the charts, not because of the true work but because of all the nonsense imposed by warring supervisors, managers and directors. My coworkers and I often commented that if you got rid of 3 layers of Ford management and their cronies the productivity and quality would improve dramatically overnight.
I look and feel a decade younger after departing Ford. My mental acuity has also improved. I attribute this to the lack of stress.
It was funny I saw my COB (C-appy old boss) @ Costco. He looked a decade older than last I saw him. He had put on another 25 pounds and had a cart full of alcohol. He did not recognize me. I said Boy your Job must be stressful and he went on and on about what an important and stressful job he has.
Masks are a thing of beauty, I could smirk without him knowing. LOL
Wishing you Happy Holidays and a prosperous New Year.
@OP You have a positive attitude. Just like grief, there are several stages of being laid off:
- Fear
- Foresight
- Annoyance
- Depression/uncertainty
- Anger
- Acceptance
- Positive attitude for what’s next
So stay positive and good luck in your job search!
In my 20+ years' career in IT, I worked at 7 sites, 1 of which was Ford and I was SRD'd in May 2019. Out of those 7 IT jobs, I was laid-off 4 times and left toxic environments 3 times.
My choice of IT was a good career choice at the time, but it seems like the IT work environment has deteriorated and at times, some close to sweatshop work conditions.
I walked away from my post-Ford job on Oct 30 of non-stop 12 hour days for 9 straight months. The company burned me out after 4 months and didn't care. We ran with a skeleton crew with no plans to bring anyone onboard to help. I took Nov and Dec off to recover from stress-related health issues, so I empathize with you. I have several interviews set up in the next few weeks.
Peace out!