Thread regarding Ford layoffs

@3fuv+1a2mzLnT

I see the same job postings with my background every day also. Some job postings are posted just to hold a budget for a department, stockpile resumes in case someone quits, or HR forgot to take the job posting down after they hired someone. I had two managers from two different companies explain this to me. Sometimes they even conduct interviews with the intention of not hiring anybody.

@3fuv+1a2mzLnT look for the companies that are shutting down their mainframe. You can usually get a lucrative 2-3 year contract. Bank the money and then retire.

I am a fellow mainframe traveler. However I always spent time each week learning new things and finding a way to apply those skills, even if it was a project I made up for myself. The trick is to say that your 6 hour task took 8 hours and then use the extra two hours as learning and growth. I either used the first two hours of the day, or all day Friday. Early on in my career I would let people pile work on me and stress out, now I know that in a focused 6 hours I accomplish more than my peers so do not feel any guilt. This lets you be more well rounded and keep abreast of new technology. Also you can learn any skill now on the internet/YouTube/free online classes. Java programming can be practiced on your home computer. Build yourself an app for fun and then claim it as work experience.

Finding a job compatible with your work style is difficult. But they do exist. Ford jobs are so cushy that one gets accustomed to the cush.
I have learned not to stress over silliness, ok so for 2 months you didn’t have authorities to do your job- look at it as free money to read manuals/books etc to learn new skills. Ok so they don’t have anyone who can train you - look at it as an opportunity to become a valuable SME and improve their documentation. Ok you are on call all the time, look at it as an opportunity to improve the programs and jobs so you are never called -sure it is a rocky few months but after that gravy. Been there done that, have the battle scars.

@1kwg Ha. I am stuck as a legacy mainframe programmer. I may learn something new here and there but nothing earth shattering to allow me a job outside my current experience.

I worked at one site where they implemented a new requirement for your annual evaluation - training hours. My current manager encouraged us to take whatever we wanted. One of the classes I took was SQL Server as it was popular at the time. I changed managers and they would only allow training that directly pertained to my job. There were none. I missed this requirement on my and in turn received a bad one despite arguing this fact.

I took so many training classes at my 10 year gig. I remember taking Java training twice. I worked with my manager to apply my Java training. The problem? Everything was always an emergency so I never got a chance to apply my training. So I eventually lost those new skills.

I applied for a local job. Crushed the interview. If I was hired I would need to be trained on some skills I didn't have (open systems processes). I was glad I would learn these new skills. I didn't get the job. I get the same job posting everyday now. They wanted a COBOL programmer (me) with open systems skills. Every open systems programmer I have known despises COBOL. So good luck with filling that role.

I am considering going back to school. I am a veteran so my college will be paid for by the state.

@2dnz+1a2mzLnT

Were you able to get a job that has a different skill set then your previous job? I am about to completely give up. The first thing any recruiter asks is what did you do on your last job??? If my background does not match EXACTLY there is no way I am considered for the job. Where your able to break out of this trap? The company web sites for direct jobs are a joke, since most of those postings are fake. They have been posted for months.. if not years.

@1kwg Good convo! We are in a similar boat. I will be 55 this year and get scared that every job I am laid off from will be my last or take that huge pay cut to try to continue my career. I have been in 7 shops, averaging 3 years in each. The most was 10 years and the least was 8 months. I was laid-off 4 times and left horrible work environments 3 times. 3 of those were FT with the other 4 being contract.

After the SRD, I took a job making more money. Sounds good right? Nope. It was contract. It took 2 months (out of a 1 year gig) for me to get access to everything I needed to do my job. The third month I was told to read (c-appy) documentation to learn my job. The last 9 months was 100% on-call, 12 hours a day mandatory including weekends. The job stole my health. I didn't stay after my year.

I now have new a job offer making more money than even that job. I was given an offer for a 9 month gig but the site was p!ssed off I didn't immediately accept their offer. I had other scheduled interviews. I agreed to the role after I got into a shouting match with the manager. I still haven't signed their contract. I know because of the money they are throwing at me, I will be walking into another sh!tshow. I'll be working at least 12 hour days and weekends.

My home is close to being paid off. I max out my 401k every year when it is offered. This gig would allow me to do both - pay off my home and max out my 401k. (I didn't buy my first home until over 50. I moved so much I stayed in c-appy apartments. The site I was at for 10 years I hated the area and had no plans to live out my retirement there.) I have been tired of this rat race for 20 years. Dealing with id–tic leadership, long hours, rudderless ships, traffic and stupid people (not all of them) has made me so exhausted.

Back to the original topic.... I worked at one site where our applications were stagnant. Management kept telling us to be visionaries and not be afraid to make mistakes. Hahahaha. Unfortunately, that mistake you made would be your career ender.

@1wmw,

Try being a contractor, it was much worse. I was a contractor and got cut with the COVID excuse. I am very near my career if not already, over 55, constantly being in this situation will give us heart failure. If your over 55 and an engineer and have your house paid off, use you engineering skills to manage small amount of money from a low stress service job to live off. We had to design stuff with tiny budgets for the company(s) (Ford and supplier jobs) and produce miracles, we can do the same thing for our households. With Covid getting under control, check out the cruise ship stocks.

Wiring DRE/ Warranty Analyst
@1wmw

@1kwg 100%. I am 1nkn. (I was at Ford and part of the SRD in May 2019.) Believe me, I saw that everywhere in my career. Companies pretend to give you power and authority. When things go well, management takes the credit. When $h!t hit the fan you were left out there with your d!ck out, dangling in the wind, and becoming the scapegoat.

@1nkn+

There is a common problem in the workplace... engineers are put in a position of no control and having all of the responsibility and lability.

They will probably have to file bankruptcy. Either way, the legal fees will really hurt the business.

Every company I have worked at I was told to lead by example. To take ownership of your decisions and output. To make decisions as if you were the owner of the company.
Ford's legal defense was "because the cars were originally sold elsewhere and were resold as used cars to people in Minnesota and Montana, the company shouldn’t have to face civil lawsuits in either state."
LIke..... wow. There are no words. I guess this the new American company way... deny, deflect and distract.
Since Ford doesn't want to take ownership of their cars and decisions, I refuse to take ownership of any of their vehicles and purchase something else when the time comes.

Ford paid more in lawyer fees over the course of this lawsuit then if they would have settled in the first place. No impact on financials.