You only have so much political capital, don’t spend it wisely.
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Do not expect a gold watch in 30 years is the best career advice I have ever received.
http://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,996169,00.html
When Will We Finally Get A Gold Watch?
The retirement party will all but disappear. So will retirement
By John Cloud Monday, Feb. 21, 2000
Remember when the gold watch was a metaphor for retirement from a corporate culture that cared for its workers during those years between wedding and Winnebago? A company took you in after college and for 40 years gave you Christmas bonuses and ignored your martini breath after lunch. In exchange, at 65 you left with a Rolex or a gold-plated Timex, depending on pay scale.
Like other '50s myths, this one was never really true. Even 20 years ago, only 7.7% of men in the private sector had worked at the same company for 25 years. In an era when computer geeks swap jobs as readily as hair colors, job loyalty will continue to decline, at least as long as the job market remains strong. If current trends continue, by next year the average middle-aged worker will spend less than eight years at the same company.
Where will all these workers flock to in the coming years? Many of them, particularly those in information-based businesses like banking and the media, will telecommute (or, to be annoying, "telework"). For them, job titles will largely vanish--but so will weekends, or whatever is left of them. Technology will enable many of these people to become totally free agents, working at home for one or more companies on a more fluid schedule tailored to their needs.
And when will we retire? Many people 65 and over will probably find themselves in demand, hired as consultants by companies facing the giant labor shortage coming when baby boomers retire (and the concomitant knowledge gap coming when ever younger workers take their places). These older workers will return from retirement or, better yet, never retire. Already nearly 70% of us expect to work after age 65. The question is, Which is more stifling, the paternalistic company with its gold watch as a reward for lifetime service, or the new paradigm: all work, all the time, all your life?
- By John Cloud
What I learned from the execs in exploration:
“getting paid before others” >> “seeing things before others”
Just imagine the bonuses they got on winning bids that turned out to be dry holes.
“Don’t worry, if we fire you, you can put us on your resume”
This was advice from the executive whom called an employee in and gave him large raise several years back, then 3 days later called the same employee back in and said sorry that he did not get raise because he (supervisor) confused him and his name with another team member that he supervised.
I don’t think this advice will work well for anyone in 2022.
Walk fast and look worried……
You work in a cyclical industry so stay marketable, keep in touch with the market, live well within your means, and stay ready to be laid off.
Employees Who Stay In Companies Longer Than Two Years Get Paid 50% Less
Source: Forbes Magazine
In 2017 (ranked middle middle), Manger told me to never be afraid to leave EM
Me (2 yrs EH): Hey, I got the NSI.
Her (20 yr employee): Oh, you are fu---d. Take the PIL and GTFO.
Me: OK.
Best advice from my first XOM boss was 'If I have to tell you how to do your job, then one of us is unnecessary.' He motivated me to figure things out on my own and take ownership, problem solve etc.
Move employers every 3 to 5 years so your wage increases with reality.
My father told me to get an engineering degree. I did and now, 35 year later, I am happily retired from EM. Thanks Dad (RIP)
Withdraw that valid anonymous complaint that you made to HR and do damage control to salvage your career.
Son, we all deserve a good a-s chewing every once an a while.
You’ve got to take care of yourself. No one else will
Take it like a man and don’t whimper or complain to HR
Never quit investing in yourself
Fake it until you make it...
You work to live, not live to work :)
Stop taking your job so seriously. When you are on your deathbed you won’t be wishing you spent more time at work.
Leave ExxonMobil
Look out for yourself, because you can be damn sure nobody else will.
Don’t pass your problems onto others.