Thread regarding Chevron Corp. layoffs

I was in this group 2010-2015

“ Look at the aggregate CTC layoff numbers the last 7 years.”

Inspired by this post I made a list of 22 people who passed through my group in my 5 years with ETC:

6: retired
2: left voluntarily
9: still with CVX
5: layoff

I will say all the layoffs spent long periods as expats, maybe some correlation there?

OP, first of all, congratulations on entering a BU and not CTC. I hope that the BU is not MCBU because fracking is going the way of the dinosaur, just behind heavy oil. If it is MCBU, then just focus on tech and forget about RE and PE learnings - no one cares about a pressure transient that takes 10 years to propagate 10 feet - that skill set will get you nowhere in the green transition. And if you are asked to move to Midland, run like heck - seriously. Do you want to own a house in Midland when the next bust cycle starts? Or compete with 100s to get a job out of Midland?

If you want to be a high pot (aka high potential) then just work harder than everyone else. Quite easy. There used to be a 3x3 matrix with performance and potential on the two axes - high-pots were in the top 1/9 corners - about 10%. Nowadays that doesn't mean anything unless you are the appropriate gender, etc. - the many posts discussing wokeness problems are 4 real son - many of us are just waiting for the tide to turn (or the production to drop) until the board wakes TFU - or are applying for other jobs.

OP here, thanks for the replies. I'll be working in a BU this summer, and I'll likely be starting full-time in a BU after graduation. Probably in a production or reservoir role. How does that affect the outlook?

Also, what's a high-pot? Seen that term a lot on here lol.

OP - it would be wise to take some of this malcontent into consideration with a grain of salt. When I was recruited by Chevron 12 years ago it was indeed roses and unicorns and the company reached a stride in deepwater technical achievements and people treatment and benefits, above other operators. These days it’s a run of the mill dysfunctional large major just like everyone else. Would not say technical training and development is all that great. All the seasoned engineers have left or on their way out - times of the changing in tide. Career development is left up to Supv discretion and trending reorgs or layoffs with little emphasis on performance or achievements (it’s 1/4 of the evaluation criteria). Everything is water downed mediocrity because we cater to the lowest denominator and don’t hold people accountable nor are our standards all that high.

Correct about CTC vs BU. I've worked both, so here's what it's like: BU will give you practical experience you can take elsewhere, so you'll have a long career. CTC is a coven of clueless Ph.Ds who are always just a half-step away from being laid off. Don't believe me? Look at the aggregate CTC layoff numbers the last 7 years. Glad I got out of CTC (well, its predecessor) when I did.

Your generalizations have some merit. When you are starting out you will have plenty of opportunities for advancement. It's when you hit mid-career and older that those opportunities start to dry up.

As for whether the CEO is a good guy or not, who cares? Unless you are one of the very elite you will never meet him or deal directly with him in any way.

@pte hit it spot on. Chevron recruiters (most with limited work experience, Chevron tries to look 'cool') will paint a picture of perfection, but as they say, if it's too good to be true, it is. Unless you're a high pot or diversity candidate, Chevron will under-train and over-work you, then lay you off. Chevron 2022 bears no resemblance to Chevron 2012, and almost all of that was internal culture change, not Covid or oil prices. As a PE, you'd do much better with a smaller company like Pioneer.

if you are in IT, spend no more than 5 years. Its a dead end with no future. The entire thing is marked for outsourcing or using MSP.

Woke

Yeah, key question is it CTC or BU? CVX is still a good place to work, but definitely better to be in a BU than CTC. Will be hard to play out a full career here though, but that is the same anywhere in O&G, and we’ll last longer and perform better than all the other smaller places.

@fsn can elaborate on the main differences outside of technical responsibilities?

Working at chevron is like working at an adult daycare.

Best job I have ever had! People are great, benefits are awesome and you get a great work/life balance. Hybrid work schedule and unlimited chances for promotions! If you can get on board, you can help us steer this bad boy to new adventures and continuing success!!!

Weight your options: do you have anything better ?

Chevron used to be good, pay wasn’t great but as long as you didn’t have a big blunder you were good. Now it’s every 3 years you have to go through another layoff and it’s very hard on you to do that every few years

Intern view point: meet The Who who’s of chevron, fancy meet ups, assignments that are already completed handed over to you so you can make a presentation, interns are coddled and are kept in a bubble

Employee view point: layoff, pmp that doesn’t follow logic, raises and ratings that can not be described with reason, constant changing IT software and new sites, agile (which means half assed rolled out), no career path, no good job prospects, company’s growth does not look good, the lose of good talent with no bench strength.

Unless your a Visibly Diverse person or a chosen one their is a lot better places.

OP, would you be starting full-time in a BU or in CTC? Big difference.

Its a great company to work for. Dont listen to the malcontents on this board. They are
miserable people that would be miserable working for any company. Keep in mind, they choose not to leave a company that they loathe so much. Wonder why?