Always have an Exit Plan.
Always have a current resume.
Always have some external networking, if only association memberships.
Always have hesitation when listening to managers and henchmen.
Always have 6-month income in liquid assets.
And always self-confidence and self-respect.
That’s a give.
from @frm+19ysGwnP
Self-confidence and self-respect is perhaps most important.
Most importantly, don’t harbor the opinion that EM is the best out there. Most heritage EM employees have no idea about how efficiently other companies operate. There are better companies and organizations. Most recent evidence is the severence comparisons of different companies. Many of EM’s peers have treated the personnel they are letting go, better. None of the PIP and 12-weeks severence nonsense. They all properly announced the layoffs and paid good severance to those who expressed desire to retire.
The sooner you leave, the sooner you land a job, and remake your career.
Don’t wait until you’re competing against your Exxon clones, I mean “colleagues”.
The reputation of the company isn’t getting any better; so don’t assume you’ll be welcomed with open arms.
If you have connections and transferable skills, leave now. It’s all about network and value proposition.
Float a resume that highlights your potential, not the useless things exxon has us do with their id–tic processes, antiquated software, and inescrutable lingo. You’re worth goes beyond your title at this company.
I have been working for 4 months now after leaving in the summer, and I couldn’t be happier. My benefits are awesome and the work environment is so much healthier.
Good advice, I'm taking it too. Working on all this.
I would add - especially now be looking at external jobs and what skills they're looking for and work on those / tailor resume to those. "Good at XOM processes" (or other xom specific things) aren't easily marketable skills to external companies.