You have a second chance and given alll thatvyiu learned what could you do to avoid being laid off?
As a new employee I would love to learn what not to do as well as capture all the lessons learned here so I can keep my job until a very healthy old age
Thanks for the feedback
I would say... make moves while its hot.... Normally when there is a boom everyone's got their head down working to just keep things from falling apart.. this is the time to look around either internally w/ SLB or outside. This will keep you from getting laid off, will get you a higher paying / higher position and finally is a great way to stay in control of your life and career.
Now, during downturns is where yes you keep your head down but more importantly, you need to generate the most value for the company and finally advertise your value generations shamelessly to all levels of management. Don't let your manager control your reputation... Its hard for a manager to recommend you get laid off when he knows that his n+2 knows that you saved $MM or generated $MM on your last proj.
A second time? Still working on the first time, but I can say with all my heart that I wouldn't have came to work for SLB with what I know now. This question makes me think of the movie series "Final Destination" where one person gets premonitions of the future with bad outcomes. No thank you.
I got laid off
I suffered the pain
I have changed job since then twice, each job made me much more happier.
No I earn 30% more than slb.
Really happy for what happened to me.
Getting laid off turns good if you know how to embrace it.
There is often no logic to how it happens.
They say there is but not really.
A manager doesn’t like you, you’re gone.
You’re too old, you’re gone.
You’re too expensive, you’re gone.
You don’t hit targets, you’re gone.
You’re not sycophantic enough, bye.
They rearrange you’re department, nope.
You are too honest, get out.
My advice would be keep your head down, try to stand out a little but not too much. Leave before you get Senior because senior PTE aren’t appreciate. There is a two tier system between technical and management. Pick management because it’s always technical that have to take redundancy.
Getting fired from SLB is a blessing tbh. There are thousands of better companies to work for. Once you have a few years under your belt just move on.
I highly recommend moving out of the oil industry.
It's very rare to make 25+ years. One would have to start at a very low grade with room to go higher. After to many years without progression in higher grades the ranks become thin and politics massive. The days to just keep your head down and work are 100% over. They don't want and people like that and really don't need it. Just look at the technical mess around you. If there was money behind it, they'ld clean it up. But there just isn't.
I've known a few people make it all the way to retirement in this company without getting fired. The trick seems to be keep your head down and do your job, and don't live somewhere with no labour laws like the US. If you're new you've likely missed the boat by now though anyway, as the industry is on its way to winding down for good, your chances of not getting laid off at some point are almost certainly zero. I'm over 20 years in with 20 to go and I doubt I'll be slb until the end.
This is all terrible advice.
I am a former slb employee and have moved on to work for an operator. Leaving Slb isnt the end of the world and could actually be a blessing.
I have some advice and rules on the above and general advice for a new starter in slb:
DONT live life not to get fired and make this your aim.
DO take risks,
DO challenge the status quo,
DO study, learn, network in and out of slb.
Keep your skills sharp and make yourself valuable in and out of the company and you will be fine.
Everyone gets fired in this company. It's the fundamental rule. You don't have control over it. Some call it "walked out", or "early retirement", or whatever... It's inevitability. Some make it last longer some don't. But in the end, everyone's gotta go. Even the CEO!
Make a plan, inform your manager and escalate when they do not support you.
Do not take SQ or financial risk on. Go above your boss clearly with a plan to explain you need help to deliver the goals.
The alternative is your manager will fire you as a result of not giving you support, even though it is in their inbox!
Don’t get old.
I would recommend that you read The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People as early in your career as possible. You will likely receive a lot of HR "training" during your career, mush of it will be the latest management or HR fad circulating and just about all of it will be pointless. One exception is the book I mentioned, which if you choose to follow these habits will make you more effective. Be aware as I posted earlier that being a leader and change makers will most likely cause problems for you. Following these 7 habits will help you, but the trend is toward followers (team players) and companies can't see beyond this. I can't tell you how often my project meeting were interrupted and disrupted by "team players" who would muddy the waters without ever offering actionable solutions.
Worry less about doing a good job and more about being one of the group. I hate to say be a s--- up, but s--- ups are often the last to get laid off, or fired. The truth is that in order to facilitate change in any organization, even positive change it requires making people uncomfortable and you will step on toes and gain the animosity of the slackers. While it is great if you can do most of this without ruffling everyone's feathers (see s---ing up), the truth is that being successful will make others fear you, and they will undermine you when they can. You won't be a "team player" which is the buzz these days, but the reality is that almost all teams have one or two people driving them and leading the other team players who used to be called followers.
These days team players (followers) continue to get to play, while change makers get the ax most often. So if you ever wonder why mature companies lose focus and fall behind, look no further, HR is killing them.
You as a new employee will have to decide assuming that you are even aware or capable of becoming a leader and change maker.
Dont do your actual job but spend all your time to make PowerPoints that cover all potential f--- up scenarios, so that you can say ‘But I told you so’ when your a-- is on the line...