I was hoping that I'd receive proper training once I joined. Instead, I feel like I am being thrown into the deep end all the time. Nobody wants to help me or answer my questions even if it will only take a few minutes of their time. If you're wondering why people are leaving after only a few weeks, there's your answer.
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... and send them an email with details of your question(s). Don't call them or IM or (in the old days) stop by their desk. That way they can try and help out when they have some down time and had chance to properly research and craft a response. Plus, after a few days you can resend the email and ask if they know anyone else who might be able to help. This is just my experience on both the asking and giving end.
Also make sure you are asking the right person. When you are in the office this person is easy to identify - as you will see others queuing up to ask questions. There is typically one person who is understated in manner but is the key resource. Then there are a lot of people who are just pretending they know while taking credit for others work. You will never get help from a pretender as they are “too busy and too important”.
Just like people who brag about their riches rarely are truly wealthy.
In terms of people not answering your questions, I don't think it's a function of them not wanting to or not wanting to be helpful more than likely. You go to certain people probably over and over again because you get good, timely answers and help from them. On the same token those people are swamped and getting more and more work dumped on them with every passing moment. I myself am a recipient of this and have to ration my time so questions from newbys are unfortunately the first to go.
A few pointers... Try not to go to the same person(s) over and over- spread things around as best you can. Remember they more than likely get nothing out of answering your questions/helping you with a problem. Second, do not go to them with, "I have no idea so please teach me." I have one like this who constantly approaches me in this manner, so I told my supervisor that I'm not in the business of total handholding just to make it easier on them. Do some research on your own as best you can and tell those how you propose solving the problem(s). You'll be amazed at how many times you solve your own problems and make yourself look like an independent worker. Third, keep in mind what I'm saying about these crazy workloads. In the older world order, I was much more helpful but not any more.
We had one guy who started looking for a new job after his first day on the job.
He resigned four days after he started.
He made a wise decision. He quickly sized up the LL6 as a yelling alcoholic bully and decided he did not want to put up with the LL6. Better to leave quickly once you see you made a mistake in accepting a bad job.
40 yrs @ Ford. It was the same in the early 80's. Read manuals for the first month. No one is going to hold your hand. Just do not give up. Staying for the benefits.
Well thank God we don’t have to send a space shuttle into orbit, build aircraft carriers, naval g-n ships, or defend our country.. wouldn’t want the everyone quitting after a few weeks.
@1xnx - Yes
Within the last few years I've seen both people leaving after just a few weeks or months here and some deciding to not take the the position after accepting it. I wouldn't say that it's a lot, but prior to this it was essentially unheard of.
People are actually leaving after a few weeks?
@OP,
It appears that you started your own version of a MeToo movement.
I was one of those 30+ year people at Ford. I worked with some good and bad people. You will find that no matter where you go. I came over from GM. At the time I hired into Ford it was a good place to work. Making profits hands over fist. Plus, you felt proud about it. Now with JF and WF running things I do not know where the company is trying to go? I assume you are an FCG. Seek out those people whose management style you like and work for them. Actions speak more than words. Be careful of those who promise only to give you an excuse. So good luck with your career. I have a feeling you will not retire from Ford. I had an HR person tell me they expect to see people hop around 5-6 times in their working career.
I am 30 yrs @ Ford and I regret joining Ford. I cant leave. Too settled.
I have a colleague, ~20 years @ Ford and he regrets joining Ford. He wants to, but cant leave for the same reason.
Another one, not yet 10 years @ Ford and he regrets. He has had it. Will leave.
And you I am guessing, just joined, and YOU want to leave.
See a common tread here?
The more you wait the more you will not be able to move.
Here's the thing, Ford screws over their best and most knowledgeable employees. Either by pushing them out the door or promoting unexperienced ahead of them with the expectation they will work with no acknowledgement to do the right thing and also make management look good. Not any more. Let the unexperienced new hires twist in the wind. Let Ford see what happens to its quality when these people make rookie mistakes a 100yr+ company should know better. There's no written processes because management gets rid of them so they can't be held accountable to having to know anything. So for new hires, us experienced people love WFH because we actually know how to do our jobs. We also don't have to have to watch you strut around the office pretending to be the latest thing since sliced bread yet knowing nothing, and then complaining to management you don't have enough visibility with upper management and also bored and want to go on more field trips and luncheons. So yes, we are avoiding you and have no intention of teaching you anything.
@OP If you are an FCG or have little work experience, the onboarding process could seem long (it is, but I have seen worst in other large companies), the training is more a general overview, barely helpful, and it is hard to find the right process or person to guide you (which is true). As an experienced engineer, it was easier for me to face these challenges, but I think there are now 2 additional factors at play here:
- - The company is going through several migrations (ICE to BEV, car manufacturing to tech company, Legacy IT to Datacenter of the Future, Legacy factories to Factory of Tomorrow, NA white collar jobs to India, etc.) Each of these migrations is "disrupting" (buzz word at Ford) the existing processes, creating knowledge gaps and confusing the work force. It is harder now for everyone at Ford to do their job.
- - The company is replacing the older workers and the "non managing" high earners, with FCGs. Usually these high earners are the most technically knowledgeable people in their area, and the older workers generally have the knowledge that comes from experience. There are gaps due to people that were let go, and the remaining workers are holding tight their "secrets", trying to become "irreplaceable" and squeeze a few more years from the company.
Also, I know things are more difficult now for the new hires. WFH makes it easier now to avoid other people at work and harder to get someone's attention. Besides, because most managers at Ford have no clue of what is going on under their watch, they usually give the wrong advice.
I've worked at several large companies. Ford is asking the worst at onboarding new employees. The first 4 months I worked at Ford I went to meetings, perused SharePoint, did online training. I then felt confident enough to raise my hand for assignments. But the competitive nature is the culture means that your coworkers aren't going to help. Why? Because at review time they will be ranked against you for raises and bonus allotment. Absolutely terrible for teamwork.
Just do what you think needs to be done. If correct you get kudos, if not you will soon be told the preferred Ford way - so its a win-win you have learned something. Its not their job to train you in the adult world, nobody trained me with anything of value over 30 years but I watched good leaders and gained a lot.
When I joined ford in 2000 a wise person told me to jump in and start swimming. The ones that can swim without help are kept, the ones that sink are discarded. I found work by asking those around me if they needed help with anything. I also asked if there were any documented processes (not many) and started documenting the gaps. Doing that required me to interview people around me and then I’d ask a senior person on the team to review what I’d done. Those steps helped me get to know the people I worked with and learn the workflows. It wasn’t long before I found enough to keep me busy and soon had more work than I could keep up with.
I had the same thing when I hired in in 1996. Some areas are better than others for FCGs. Talk to other FCGs or your mentor and find out where the good areas are. I’d give it a few more rotations before you decide to leave.
It was like that when I hired in - 1985!!!! I read magazines (no internet) for the first 3 weeks. As an FCG - the old folks didn't know what to do with me. I recall getting excited when someone asked me to go pick up a part from another building - finally something to do.
It gets better - each area is different. Squeaky wheel gets the grease - so you have to make it happen for yourself.
Remember George Costanza from Seinfeld?
Just MAKE yourself LOOK busy.. you'll be fine.
See the Professional Development thread below. Interesting views.
The OEMs are like this.. good luck.
Welcome to Most Large Companies, USA.
Keep contacting different successful people until you find one or a few mentors.