Thread regarding ExxonMobil Corp. layoffs

OP. You answered your own question with your "over the top technical work". You are simply a Tool or a Tech We---e to Management. If you cannot become a management "player", your destiny is to get some appreciative winks and nods as you start sliding down the ranking process. Their attitude is anyone can do the technical work, it takes a special personality to become an EM player.

This is xom. When management tells you they value technical careers it's a load of ho------t. You can be the most useless Group Lead but you'll be ranked well just because of 'visibility'. The idea is anyone technical is replaceable (as if), so if you have any self respect just go somewhere else where they actually value technical skills.

It's catch 22, at higher CL levels you are supposed to be have impact across the organization, work through others, etc., for managers that is easy but you are in a technical role. If you are seen as management potential you will get opportunities for greater impact to put on your performance assessment. But it sounds to me like you want to stay technical and get more recognition. As admirable as that is that is a tough road at XOM. Works okay at lower CL levels but higher up even the folks on the straight technical ladder have "visibility" skills. I have known a few genius types that although total nerds were just are so smart that they were promoted. But those are rare cases.

Sadly this is normal in other countries as well. They keep calling it “performance assessment” but it’s really focused on “management potential” versus actual performance. Not everyone wants to be a manager, and technical talent leaving will eventually break this company, so they need to do a way better job of recognizing and rewarding.

“Visibility” is the excuse now to move people down in the assessment.

OP first off at least BR has incompetent, vindictive, ignorant folks managing great engineers. 2 they want you gone. 3 get out to keep your sanity.. this company doesn’t value engineering only teachers pets and in this case yes ma-s. Run as fast as you can from here.

OP first day here?

same story in so many other countries for the past 20 years, and there are so many posts on this board telling this same visibility tale, and urging technical folks who don't play this game to get out. History is destined to repeat itself and it doesn't sinks in until it hits you

It took you this long to realize the poisonous culture that selects and promotes management just based on their non technical paper pusher behavior? Welcome to the reality and a reason for certain doom OP

Same here, received “good” due to lack of visibility while being acknowledged for quality work.

It is part of the game, like it or not.

Kiss a s s is the best

Ranked Very good, should thank your lucky stars. There are those who did as well as you and got worse / NSI

Technical engineer here. Got sh-t on in my ranking for not training the PMA engineers enough, and pulling kltc.