It sometimes feels that most people stay at EM due to Stockholm syndrome and nothing else. Explain to me how else so many unhappy (or more like miserable) people could be working at the same company and not even be considering leaving? Give me a better answer if you have one, please.
15 replies (most recent on top)
If I leave EM that means I have to do real work which I don't know how to do at this point in my career. It's easier to fake it until I get NSI. So far thy haven't caught on yet coming on 35 years.
then just retire with the fat pension.<
That is what I did. Best decision ever. I highly recommend it
Because they're married and in debt out their...no other reason I can think of to work for such a company.
The bitter senior employees need to do reality check. Shop around, if you can find a better job, take it...be happier. If not willing/unable to then just retire with the fat pension.
@2yom I keep hearing this BS. It just doesn’t wash. Not anecdotally, not statistically.
EM is mostly white and mostly male, just like the rest of O&G. The workforce skews older, just like the rest of O&G. I really don’t give AF what the EM workforce looks like, but as far as I can tell it’s the older white guys complaining the most and the loudest.
Last time I checked all the EM executives and managers getting arrested weren’t “diversity hires” either.
Easy answer, most of them are like you and will cry and complain about any company you are working for when the fact is you are a diversity hire from LSU or A&M and have no marketable skills and know little to nothing about the engineering field you got a degree in, so you are stuck. You won’t quit because you can’t get a job anywhere else and Exxon won’t fire you because you will cry discrimination.
Good pay good work. If it’s not the same for you then find your legs and get out. It’s not that difficult. Have some courage, don’t be a victim.
Post ID: @OP+1phntgoD Must be a troll or answer your own question 🤡
Dude, they pay a lot. It not that hard.
@dvx Some of the more the realistic and cogent commentary on this topic.
I’ve interviewed self-identified “technical subject matter experts” from EM who couldn’t provide correct answers to basic physics questions. I have no idea what engineers do over there, but it doesn’t seem to involve any engineering.
@OP They stay at EM because nobody else is going to pay them what they’re getting paid to do as little as they do. It’s not more complicated than that.
So many of the roles at EM dry you out, professionally. A lot of the work is managing contractors, stewarding processes like OIMS and CIMS that only exist at EM. You’re also probably very good at making a power point presentation but a lot of that busy work people do at EM, is useless outside the EM walls. Everyone should have their resume in GOOD shape, and float it every so often just to see what kind of response you get. It might surprise you.
I did it 10 years ago, and was shocked / worried that companies who had been clamoring to hire me before I went to EM (as an experienced hire) were no longer interested. My skills that had been so sharp when I actually did the work and had connections on the outside, DULLED when I was on the inside. So, I continued to work at EM, stay interested in the academic side of my profession and SAVE as much $$ as I could.
Thankfully, I had other connections and skills that I leveraged when I resigned in 2021. But, my new salary treatment is considerably less. It might never recover to what EM was paying me, but that’s OK. Life is better and my family is happier.
EM pays a lot but is harboring a pool of really incompetent people that would be in a world of hurt to find new employment if / when they’re booted. So yep, definitely see that people will form any bonds necessary - look the other way - stifle their creativity - and do whatever else they can to stay fat and rich.
We have no self respect
They do want to leave but can't. No one will pay them the same or more for what amounts to Exxon specific skillset. The ones that had marketable skills already left. Get some marketable skills, otherwise you're done when the company sends in Rajesh to "learn" from you.
Actually, for some things are pretty good. I guess it depends on what you are doing at EM. You should take charge of your career, take back your power, and move on. Life is too short to remain a captive. Sorry for your syndrome. Take care. Good luck.