Thread regarding Ford layoffs

@4ozi Good one. Probably look to FB for advice too...

Why are you asking total strangers for career advice? They don't know you or know what is in your best interest. Why do you want guidance from people with an axe to grind, think they know it all, or are trolls?

I’m one of those people who is a good listener and don’t gossip so people tend to tell me all their secrets.

Some things you want to consider.

• Promotional opportunities are not given to people that others feel threatened by. It was eye opening to me how many LL* confessed to me that they promoted candidates who were weaker than them and easy to manipulate and control.
• Senior leadership (aka the good old boy club) heavily pressured LL* to give promotional opportunities to their unqualified favorites.
• LL* confessed that they gave credit for their top contributors work to other team members in their upward presentations, so they would not become a known entity to senior leadership.

Take it as a compliment that you are not offered promotional opportunities at Ford . Leave when you can as it won’t improve - years of selecting the weakest promotional candidate have solidified the Ford culture.

@isk+1ek1FnH2 - "TA year after year and never getting promoted"
Exactly my story, except one thing. After 2 TA's I was in fact promoted, given a good raise, but, two months later, laidoff in SRD. I still cant figure how that would have worked from HR pov. its like "This guy has too many TAs and we just promoted him, lets get his a-s out"

OP: There are a LOT of people like you with no growth opps. People who do not have "roots" in SE MI just up and leave. Most just put up with it and have to stay, although that number is going down pretty fast.

100% agree with @lup+1ek1FnH2 about SRD. To OP - Dont believe any posts here. Just find out who were SRD in the last 3 years. You will find they were some of the best people - but were not brown-nosers, they spoke their mind, and did not partake in politics.

Unfortunately, the advancement opportunities are reserved for those who can “play the game well”/brown nosers. I have learned this the hard way. After a decade with the company, I have finally decided to leave. It was a great experience but after being a TA year after year and never getting promoted because I’m not a brownnoser, I just had enough. If you feel the same way, you’ll probably be better off pursuing other avenues. I’m very excited for the future outside of Ford but I’m grateful to have had this experience.

I don't know the background of the individual. But given the state of Ford right now there is limited ops. for advancement. I would recommend if you do stay make sure you work for people whose management style you like and enjoy. Also watch out for excuses during PR ratings. When it comes to raises or promotion actions speak more than words.
In the end you may leave.
It is a very different time than when I hired in. The benefits kept people here. now that is not the case.
Be careful when you leave that you do not fall into the same situation as here at Ford. You will find in any company there is politics. Ford does have its share of that. I told my daughter to stay away from automotive. 2 of the big three made her an offer at graduation. We advised against it. SO, she is living in the south .

I'm looking at other opportunities. Management & leaders are prohibiting further job growth or movements into other positions, pared with my duties changing and piling up. Morale is low, everyone seems to be in a "put your head down & get by" mentality..

Office politic is everywhere. Don't go from one to another but ended with the same.

OEM's employment stability no longer applies to this company. If who you know, not what you do, defines your growth opportunities, you need to spend more energy in knowing people, not doing work.

For younger folks looking for longer term, just look at who were SRD'ed out in the past 3 years. If you agree, this is your place to stay.

Leave. Growth opportunities are limited. As a high achieving minority with 25 years behind me, I wish I had left. Ford rewards friends and family, not competence or achievement. If you are not feeling that your effort is not being rewarded, best to leave and seek a company less political. FWIW, Ford is on a DEI kick, much worse than I have ever seen in the past. They are mass promoting based on skin color and gender, not skills to do the job, so that their corporate demographics look good to outsiders. If you are not a young female minority, you should pursue other opportunites, else your morale and perception of self-worth take a hit when your effort is not rewarded. It gets old knowing more than your boss and having to constantly clean up for their poor decisions- the current promotional practices will make this worse. If you can't live with that scenario, time to look around.

Those that get promoted are the bu-t kissing, yes men. Being a woman or a minority helps too.

Outside industry and OEMs help to create and establish talent. Eventually you will find a cap in your personal growth. This is when it becomes necessary to span your wings and move elsewhere.

I found my greatest growth and opportunity was when I went to tier one. OEMS have a specific focus. Tier one services all OEMs. Ask yourself whom is more important? If an OEM disappeared, would the world really care? If the supplier that serviced all OEMS disappeared, that would be a calamity.

IE: Chip shortages. It showed to maim ALL OEMs to some degree. No one cared about the OEM's, only getting these chips back online.