I am truly ready to move away from Honeywell, but I've been with the company for well over two decades and it's really hard for me to take that huge step. So many things have changed in the hiring process, I assume, that I'm not sure how I'll do.
How hard is it out there to find another job in our field when nearing 50?
Best thing I did was leave. Depending on where you live. Update your resume and put it out on line. Headhunters called and had lots to decide between
This is probably every single employee at HON right now. The best advice is to drop HON like a hot rock. HON is going to RIF ever permanent employee at some point. You heard it here first. GET OUT NOW while the getting is good.
My thought is that it really depends on what else is out there where you life and what you are willing to be flexible with (pay, commute time, etc). If you life in an area with a booming tech sector, then you will probably be ok. If you life in an area with very little out there, then it will probably take longer to find a new job. My thoughts are stay, but update your resume, open up your LinkedIn profile and start applying.
You'll never know until you try. Update your resume. Connect with some agencies, even contract. They can give you some tips and direction for free. Take as many interviews as necessary to tune up your interview skills. Best of luck to you.
I moved on to a defense contractor, yes it is different, good and bad. I found defense contractors have strong policies about diversity which includes age discrimination. Many folks I work with are well into 60's, even a few in 70's (at least it seems like it). At 50 you should have a good 15 years left in you so nothing to worry about. Lots of $$ flowing to defense contractors right now, pay is good.
This is exactly the site to talk about career change when Honeywell removed virtually all benefits. The only thing you need to be concerned about is your well being - AND Honeywell certainly doesn't care about that!
You could be like me. Approaching 60 and looking RIF right in the face since my department funding was recently cut. I would say this. If you are not yet 50 RUN while you can. Prospects do get less the older you are. I wish I had known then what I know now. I am an engineer on the electrical side. Have a very healthy 401k but worried about health insurance costs. Oh well, what can you do?
Don't succumb to negativity, if you want to move on from Honeywell, just do it! Honeywell does not care about you or your future, I am almost 50 myself and the last round of layoffs I chose to find another job. It took me 6 weeks to get a higher paying job with better benefits, but I got the job and that is what is important. Nobody will look after your future, so you better take care of it yourself. what's the worst that could happen, you don't get the first job you apply for? I put in for over 15 jobs before getting this one, take the first step!
Absolutely you can and should get off that sinking ship. I did and things are better for me in so many ways. Growing company, with better Pay and benefits, work at home, and my opinion is actually valued.
I had 8.5 years in, and made the jump. I'm making more money, and my benefits costs are half of what they used to be at Honeyhell. I'm a software engineer and got sick of programming in Ada, and watching my future go down a hole.
One of my PMT colleagues in Houston a few years ago was similarly concerned (probably close to 50 at the time) – viewed himself as completely institutionalized – kind of like the old librarian dude in the Shaw Shank Redemption.
However, he eventually made the leap and never looked back. I’ve learned through life that the grass is not always greener on the other side, but chances are if you are miserable at Honeywell there’s a better life waiting for you on the outside.
Get your resume out. Your pension isn't going to improve and may be bought out. Get a government job and ride it ten years for the pension. Average gov salary is 108k. Just take two weeks of honeywell vacation to test drive the new job. Do not give notice. Honeywell doesn't give you notice when they lay you off. If you are an engineer immediately start networking for side contracting jobs.
IMHO, this site is not the place to ask questions about career changes when you are approaching 50. There are way too many variables on whether it is a good move or not.