Working for decades at Ford and living though the slow decline from the most profitable car company in the world to a second-tier floundering truck company gives me perspective on how to use Ford for my benefit. If you work at Ford and are not an LL5 by 35 you’re too old to be promote, stop trying. Stop doing all the additional duties, stop working night, weekends and during lunch. Ford pays for eight hours a day, five days a week, given them their time, do your job, nothing more, nothing less. Take every vacation day and every personal day, max your Ford matching, let Ford pay to upgrade your skills. Take advantage of every Ford benefit, never leave a single dollar of Mr. Ford’s money on the table. Ford is a paycheck, your cash cow to allow you do to other things Use your time to make yourself smarter and richer, learn to invest actively. If you can average a 15% return on your investments, you double your money every five years. After 25 years of investing my ETF returns are significantly more than my Ford yearly income. Also look at getting a side hustle and double up on a monthly check. Do something you like that makes a few bucks; every dollar counts. Remember, Ford is just a tool to pay your bills, use the tool to create your future.
18 replies (most recent on top)
someone should give lessons on how to bilk Ford out of every last dollar.
We also have access to a mega backdoor Roth IRA (after tax 401k contributions with automatic Roth conversions). Good benefit if you make enough to contribute to that.
Great advice. I have been moving money out of my Ford SSIP each year and rolling the money into a Fidelity IRA. Fidelity has much better investment options. I spend 30 minutes every day at lunch to check the market and make any needed moves.
@OP or just use the toilet before applying.
@dv Ford pays for sh-t, people think they’re rich now due to inflation.
✅💰✅
Try to hire in at a level you have 3-4 years of growth in - if you must work for Ford. Avoid even having to think about management for at least 4 years. When that time is up and people start to ask why you don't move up, time to bounce. Really, I'd consider getting offered a management position at Ford somewhat of an insult. Means they think you're d-mb enough to chase the money and get pulled in front of buses.
1st of all buddy...let's not mention down votes mmkayy? You get so many down votes here that you'd be retired if you got paid for them. 2nd...what's your understanding of "a little time"? Genuinely concerned for you.
I joined just before the pandemic after a few years with a supplier. I didn't start with this attitude, but I’ve certainly adopted it now. The environment here is toxic, driven by endless psychopathy, sleaze and dysfunction. I’ve become completely checked out, I despise my team, and I’m counting down the days until I leave. In the meantime, I intend to leverage every resource this place has left to offer.
Make sure you come out ahead of every value proposition. That's how business is done. Make sure you capture maximum value. Give as little as you can while getting the most. That is business and doing anything less is working for free.
@OP "Use the tool..." Before you become a tool! Too late. You already work for Ford. TOOL!
Post ID: @at+1kq7ge11q:
Terrible attempt at a joke. Not surprised you are downvoted. Model e is the future and fossil fuels are not. It will take a little time, but rest assured in our lifetimes "e" for electric will be the #1 propulsion source for mobility. Period.
This is the way. Listen to the OP.
Go to work.
Get paid to do the stuff.
Do the stuff.
Go home.
Work is a transactional relationship, and nothing more.
The person who posted this is dead on. Since Ford 2000 they seem to reorg every 18-24 months. Back in the 2000s I turned down a senior engineer position instead I requested a transfer. Saw what they were doing. A close friend of mine took the position. He called me to ask why I turned it down. I told him. they will use you like a ho---r. Promise you the world and tell you you are on the next up list. Sure enough 3yrs later he left. he called me told me I was correct.
To be truthful if I was much younger I would have left the company. It was the benefits that kept me there. Before I retired I gave the company a good solid full days work. But I stopped putting my name in the hat long ago. I would tell those on the PD committee that if they want me too put in then have the hiring manager stop by my desk. At least you may get a chair at the table. otherwise it is a waste of my and company time.
I saw a guy who was a chief pet get a promotion for something he championed only a year later wrote a MCR to delete it. So even if you are the best engineer in the world you can not fight city hall. So I agree with the person who posted this. Give a solid days work and effort. stay out of the politics and look elsewhere.
We had great years with Red Polling, Alex Trotman and Alan Mullaly.
I don’t know why this company now has a hard time picking great leaders.
The Ford family had better wake up soon.
Model e, now Model f (fossil fuel)
@OP. Ford was the past and present for many of us, but I don't think it will be the future. Layoffs are coming to my area. Not enough time to do all that you said. If it was not done already, I doubt it will be under Ford. But the advice is still useful...