With the lack of transparency, I am sure you know inside information that will alter the career choices we make. Hope to receive some insightful advice.
16 replies (most recent on top)
I worked at the company for 16 years until I was recently fired for bs performance reasons (which, btw, I was never given a reason other than “it’s all relative”). The way XOM brainwashes you to think you will have no value anywhere else is real. That’s why people don’t leave. There has always been good job security. Not anymore.
If you question management or you think of yourself as a trailblazer, management considers you a troublemaker. Get out while you can.
No company is perfect. EM has its pros, particularly for engineers. But man it s—s the life out of you. Then you retire. A few people love it. Most don’t.
Learn to choke on it, and praise LPS and your supervisors
Get out! ... of ExxonMobil and the oil industry overall. It is no fun to work day in day out in a shrinking company in a moribund industry. The sector used to be important for the economy, but these days market cap is a pittance, compared to the tech's and even companies like J&J, as the (big) money is actively abandoning it, and the little money will follow. Working in o&g will be like pulling teeth for the foreseeable future - and might as well, there are a lot of sins to pay for
I worked for EM for 15 years and left last year, in my early 50's. I didn't recognise the person I'd become. I was negative, unhappy and my confidence was shot. I'm technically very strong and did a lot of great work...my customers around the world agreed... feedback was always exceptional. So of course I ended up in the lower third for 4 straight years without ever being told why! This is how things are in EM....it's basically a management club. If you are a manager/supervisor you are "made" and you'll get all the opportunities ...even if it isn't in the companies best interests. I saw this first hand many times. The company seems to exist to provide career opportunity for it's managers. Technical people are considered inferior...irrespective of influence or ability. EM is so obsessed with LPS and the next management fad that technical work is no longer encouraged or rewarded. Many are losing their technical skills and are as a result less marketable in the real world. It took me a while to realize just what a truly awful culture exists at EM. I agree with others that it will not survive like this. I work for another company now in the chemicals area, fantastic culture, double the pay (yes double) and more interesting work. I got out just in time....for my own sanity and well-being. I'm actually happy at work, for the first time in years.
Sounds like when you get PIP’d you become rascist 🤔
Dead dinosaur whose bones are being picked over by a bunch of jackals who wouldn't be there except for the diversity policies, the smart people have moved on. So it depends are you smart? If so, I would definitely move on, if not then ride it out and keep your mouth shut and smile, which is the new ranking system. It has less to do with the ability of a person and more to do with how diverse you can be.
Looks elsewhere unless you are the people they are looking for today. You know what those people are and look like. D&I, we are becoming woke like the other majors.
Examples of Incompetence within Exxon Mobil with no job loss.
- Exxon Spent $10B on Sabine Pass LNG, by the time project came online (Thanks to LPSA/JLA/LPO methodology and fat project budget) market had shifted and US became net importer of NG so plant never started – Did anyone on the project lose a job? Did any of the top executives?
- Exxon Singapore spent $1B on Butyle Plant, the plant never ran – Did anyone at the top decision maker lose a job?
- TRex Acquired XTO for $41B assuming NG price upward of $3.25 in the middle of financial crisis based on high School scout buddy of XTO. – Did TRex or other business planners face any consequences? They made more money in stock options instead.
- Executives over years spent tens of billions in stock buyback, but if you read he fine print it was meant of Executive stock options and not to reduce number of shares which would have benefited shareholders. — did anyone lose job for this greed? In fact they have been richly rewarded.
- Exxon told Trump that it will create jobs in Corpus Cristi on a New Cracker and yes they will but the entire plant is being built in China and then transported to US. Where do you think more jobs will be created?
sinking ship = the new ExxonMobil.
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If you want to succeed with 0 hard work or technical skills. You need to find a sponsor to look after you. It’s very simple.
15-25 years ago the company used to value people with great technical skills and those they work hard.
The last 2-5 years, we are ranked according to our behavioral skills or some BS, which means it's 100 % subjective to your supervisor or your manager.
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If you find a new opportunity my recommendation take it ... and leave the sinking ship.
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If you survived this ranking cycle, maybe you won’t next time.
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Good luck... no one will look after your career like used to be.
Gain as much experience as you can while you're here. Learn what other disciplines do and how you all work together to complete a project, task, etc. If you can, take on tasks that expand your knowledge further - i.e., different process units, utilities, operations, projects, research. Approach your career like you're building a resume for a future unknown position. By learning as much as you can you'll open the door to more industries and opportunities with other organizations if you leave. You're also making yourself more valuable here if you stay. Do your best no matter what is going on around you and try to grow every day.
@rdf yes the infamous forum where he balked about being underpaid versus peers and that the door is open for anyone who wants to leave. Should have seen the cleanup job us managers and HR were tasked with after.
The advice I would give is to identify those who support your advancement within the company. If there isn’t someone who is going to do this — ask yourself if you’re okay clocking in 8 hour days with little to no purpose for the remaining 20 years of your career. If so stay, if not best to leave.
@rdf Lawl, I had a good laugh. Yes, the girl that called him to tell Woods to thank him. During the forum I saw arrogance and incompetency written all over him. Hey guys! Maybe he will ask you for a job instead. Do not let this keep you down, for all you know it is the best thing that happened to you. As long as you are willing to work hard, all will be well.
Do your best while you’re still employed at XOM but try to find other opportunities. You’d be surprised at what’s out there, perhaps even better benefits and pay. The lack of pride for what XOM has become in addition to lack of integrity and advancement of terrible managers and leaders is not worth it long term. Do your best to just be you, and influence the company in minor positive ways but do get out especially if you’re early in your career. We will all call Darren Woods and thank him for this “ opportunity “ ... just like he mentioned in an employee forum a year or so ago how some lady called him back saying she was so much happier with a different company. Find a place where you can be yourself and always stand up for what’s right!
If you want to be recognized technically, run away. Silicon valley is a better place than this sinking ship.
Soon you will be ranked according to your "behavioral skills", which means it's 100 % subjective.
Technical achievements (like a big discovery) won't move you up, but failure in filling-up a safety form will move you down. Of course, if you have a strong sponsor, nothing can move you down.