I tried to get a promotion, but all the extra effort I put in was in vain.
9 replies (most recent on top)
During my time no one ever worked for their current pay grade, everyone acted Two or three pay grades above their current pay grade. It used to come down to perception.
Those who fake it were pushed up. Those fake people used to use any and every perk the company gave to their advantage and this resulted in the company rotting from the inside out.
You would have research specialists/ staff scientists who never did entry level work ever in their career be out here or anywhere else in the past.
There is an Ivy League mentality some folk ascribe to, that forces them to believe all their coworkers are mere stepping stones in their career.
Saw an entire lab filled with such folks. Wouldn’t say the work cultures were exactly healthy. As they said “some people are more equal than others “.
Are you sure the "stuff" he kissed was "boots".
Conventional wisdom tells us that it takes serious ar-e kissing to make any meaningful career progression these days.
One of my colleagues just kissed the right boots at the right time. Went on for his wedding for months, was given a twenty person scrum team to lift his weight for him, and when he came back BAM !! A promotion.
I have seen colleagues who are on fast track promotion... Almost jump after 1 to 1.5 years on a "newly created" role. The best thing after the person moved on, the role disappears or merged with another.
Its all down to luck and favortism.
If your not an aggrieved demographic, become one and you will be untouchable and highly promotable. They have metrics they have to hit (except at exec level) and you will get pulled forward ahead of others. If you are a hetero middle aged white male and not currently an exec, your prospects are limited. Work, get paid, realize life outside of 3M is way more important than that 68th hour you have put into a 3M self inflicted supply chain issue in some country we are suppose to either hate or support.
Definitely agree with the other reply….hard work doesn’t matter. Diversity and or politics are the way to get promoted at 3M (unfortunately).
From my perspective (20 yrs, non-technical), it has been this way for a long time. Really good work or hard work doesn’t get it done. It’s been more about who you are connected to and perception. If money and promotion is important to you, figure out who to align with and spends lots of time working those relationships. Diversity has always been a factor, but likely more so over the last 3 years. Getting another internal offer with a bump is sometimes an effective way to get a match bump in your current role. Not sure it works anymore, but it used to if you did good work that was recognized by management, even if you were not well connected to the right people. In all candor, I doubt 3M is that much different in this regard from other large employers.
The key to promotion these days is to have someone higher up who can advocate for you.
You can do all the hard work you want and make impressive breakthroughs, it doesn't really matter.
If your boss and boss' s boss likes you and your project is a high profile one ( it doesn't have to make any money), then promotion is possible. Another option is if you are a diversity candidate, then stuff can happen too.
In short, hard work, good work hardly pays off these days.... favoritism, nepotism, superficial perception of your work by your higher ups matter more.