Thread regarding Ford layoffs

It could be worse. You could have got an arts degree, incurred student debt, and wind up with way less options than you do now.

@OP I'd say the student debt is a heavier load than the B.Eng. diploma. I have in my family 2 younger members (24 and 31 years old) that went to an university. One has a lower student debt than his peers (less than half of the amount) and the other has none. They chose to work while studying, and chose cheaper college options. Both have well paid jobs, are living below their means and they are already economically ahead of many of their peers.

They are going to be fine, no matter what happens to their current jobs, because they don't place the responsibility on their employers, but on themselves. You should be doing the same thing. After all, it is your life.

One more thing... do not despair. Life is full of options, and you'll find your own way if you keep a cool head and make the right decisions.

@OP don’t beat yourself up for the past, rumination and flagellation will lead to stagnation.

I earned an engineering BS and MS in the late 1970s.
I thought I was set for life when I was hired by Exxon, in Apr 1986 Exxon invited 40K of us employees to take a hike. My mentor advised me to take the package and arranged a job in IT (my minor) for me at Amoco. Again I thought I was set. All was well until 1998 when BP and Amoco merged and poof there went that career.
Landed at Ford and well that went well for awhile and we all know the ending there - out go those with pensions and high salaries.

Life doesn’t always go as you expect. Adapt and overcome. Knowledge, skills and education cannot be taken from you.

You just picked the wrong employer.
It’s that simple.

I can only provide my experience at Ford over the last 25 years. I am now an OWM engineer who was hired in the late 1990's. I had visions of a great Ford career. Then Jack "The Kn--e" Nasser decided Ford would no longer make parts and only wanted full-service suppliers. I worked my A$$ Off to delivering for my never-ending list of bosses, helping many of them get promoted. I was TA about 1/3 of the time. Then when I made TA again asked my Director about the LL5 next up list. He was painfully honest, he said that Ford was only considering promoting people if they had enough years to get promoted at least 2 more time and I was too old (46). He also said I did not fit into any demographics (DEI) that Ford gave exceptions for. He said I should be happy I was given a TA because they normally saved TAs for people they want to promote. I moved jobs the next year and got the same speech from that director as well. After the second time being told I was too old and not the correct demographics I decided that I was done trying to be a TA and just do enough to survive the yearly firing cycle. I never work any overtime, do any special projects, work weekends and I am still delivering more than the new people Ford hired over the last five years. If you are over 40 WM LL6 or below you career is over and you just have a job, for now. Good luck

It is the fate of the millennial. Graduating around 2008 when everything tanked, looking for an entry-level job that didn't require 5 years of experience. And now after getting somewhat established, find that companies will throw you in the trash no matter how hard you work. I've spent years paying off my student loans, down to the last 10k when Ford threw me away. It is a precarious position to be in for sure.

Why not simply go apply at UPS then if it’s so great?

Ok, so life is offering teachable moments to you and many others. What will you do with this knowledge? Take your degree, do the PE and open up your own HVAC, plumbing, inspection services for a tiny example. You have potential, demonstrated capability too. Don't let a job or an employer define what you could be - especially in these times. Use the moment to drive yourself forward. Complacency is not going to get you to a place where you can thrive. A long time ago a manager I had at CAT (40 years ago) told me I am in charge of me, I have to design my career - and I did! It's been a h-ll of a ride and I have loved every minute of it.

Do people actually think UPS drivers will take home $170k in cash every year?

Are you the same guy who went out and forked out over $100,000 on a new lightening and attempted to drive across the country without researching its capabilities or charging networks....? If I had to guess I'd say for sure.

I’d like to thank the school system in the United States. For decades they beat down any occupation that did not require higher education. Now all you hear is teachers complaining that they don’t earn enough pay, kind of ironic isn’t it? This country is in deep sh-t when you have people questioning everything they did up until now. What amazes me is how many people are still blind to it, but appears more people will wake up to it. As for being a $170k truck driver; as long as UPS exists. Companies come and go everyday regardless of how old or large they are. The UAW can try all they want but if there is a strike or let’s say Dark Brandon makes the big3 cave it will just quicken their end. This period of time itself is a quickening, faster and faster approaching some disastrous inevitable outcome.

“ There r plenty of engineering jobs in the market. Search on indeed.com”…..

Sure, but do they pay $170,000/year like UPS?? Benefits (& job satisfaction) likely similar!

"This is not new…engineering has gone through bo-m & bust periods many times over the years. It’s a shame if someone chose engineering as a profession without knowing this up front."
When the economy goes up and down, do government jobs go through bo-m and bust periods too? There are a lot of unskilled replaceable people there.

Aren't the people on the top supposed to be paid to predict these sorts of things and plan accordingly. If not what the heck are they getting paid for.

Welcome to ford….get busy living or get busy dying.

This is not new…engineering has gone through bo-m & bust periods many times over the years. It’s a shame if someone chose engineering as a profession without knowing this up front.

@OP

I think of the same thing everyday. Indeed has a lot of postings, not sure how many are for actual jobs though.

cvl, jpv

The problem is it really gets old when you have to look for another job... again and again later in life. Also, to find the job that fits.... the company may want to hire.. but it is a two hour commute one way. You may get hired but the environment is very toxic. You may get hired but even more unstable. This really gets old.

Yep plenty of jobs on Indeed or LinkedIn But just look at the number of applications.

There r plenty of engineering jobs in the market. Search on indeed.com

Didn’t use to be that way. But just think of the Liberal Arts degree who has the same debt and no jobs available. Engineering school should be 3 years because you have to take useless classes to support the academic mob.

Power industry has recession proof jobs and much better pay and benefits

US engineers will continue to lose their jobs to LCC.

There r plenty engineering jobs on the market. Search on Indeed.com