Employment is a two way avenue, so perhaps this is the time to reflect (deep inside) if is worth retaining a professional link with any organization that does not live up to YOUR expectations, not the way around. Nowadays, this mutual convenience is fragile enough to collapse for so many reasons that is simply not intelligent to wait for your fate to be decided by people who may remotely know you, or (let's be frank here) do not give a rusted penny about you and your career. Being "represented" by someone in these employment adjustment exercises creates a completely unnecessary burden for you, so instead of waiting, look out and reach for opportunities outside, because from experience I can tell you that there is plenty of good work outside, well paid with excellent benefits, and in many ways more rewarding. And for those of you who may think "Man, it would be nice to get my exit money and find a job to continue providing for me and my family", I can tell you that YES!, it can be done and it is a sweet feeling.
12 replies (most recent on top)
-1xpp thats a lot of venom. Your angry words say more about you than those you target. Anger is a trap bro.
Spoken like someone who Chevron recently laid off, @1xpp. I kind of pick up that tone in your written words. Instead of desiring others the fate you received, why don't you just bug off.
Doesn't take long for the GOM victimized whiners to come out of the woodwork. Pull up your panty hose, girls. The real world is tough, much more than modern day Chevron positions. Maybe working in the GOM BU taught you a few things you can take with you like your paycheck can't be taken for granted.
You're welcome.
I'm in my mid 50's too and finding it difficult. Several dozen applications out and no takers. Not even an interview. I may need to dumb down my resume and post for lesser paying jobs. I'll see what happens. Good thing I'm financially able to weather this setback for a few years. Not ready to retire yet and luckily I have no debts.
OP, thanks for the encouraging perspectives. It may take awhile to find the next gig but it can be done. I am still in shock and plan to travel a little to shake it off but I know from two previous corporate down-sizing rodeos it can be done. In my mid-50s now and hope that is still true.
These layoffs are for survival. Chevron is in deep doo doo. Now, we all know they don't have a plan or the leadership to execute a plan. But, as bad as it is if oil goes back to 100 bucks, Chevron returns,with 20 billion cash flow. But the rub is that prices will remain depressed for a while. Chevron's reputation is not only bad in O&G but also in the professional recruiter circles.
Excellent post @wog.
I recently left the great bloated white whale. I've lived through five ROMs and saw that the worst, psychopathic, laziest middle managers always survived. Chevron is not unlike a beached whale, with its vital organs shutting down. It is so rotten and big, there is no sympathy from bystanders as there always is for beached humpbacks and dolphins. I was wearing a Chevron golf shirt the other day and a retired man came up to me and asked if I worked for Chevron, I said not any longer, I took my parachute. He said, he used to work for that piece of shit company too. Sold all his stock three years ago. I said, glad to meet you, sir. We think alike and shook his hand.
Plunging crude oil prices have set off a series of rapid cost-cutting measures across the oil and gas industry.
For many companies, the fastest and easiest response has been to announce large-scale layoffs and delay of capital projects. While this will help ease cost pressures in the short term, it is not a sustainable strategy.
Energy industry executives need to create much more agile, digitally enabled organizations, ones that remain competitive despite the vagaries of market cycles.
Source: https://www.accenture.com/t20150708T060503w/us-en/_acnmedia/Accenture/Conversion-Assets/DotCom/Documents/Global/PDF/Dualpub_14/Accenture-Navigating-Crude-Cycle-Agility-Key-Workforce-Advantage.pdf#zoom=50
I think this guy said it right from 41:35 to 44:30.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvKaJHbYzIs&list=PLJNAkJP_Mhz5TVobXPLX6XQUTF5z4jYPw&index=4
Having a job with a company like Chevron is a GIFT. don't take it for granted. Good jobs are very hard to come by nowadays.
You are do right, glp, but font under estimate the number of job openings right now in the energy sector. It's virtually nil. If you are young and have a marketable talent, like in Finance, Accounting, Management and IT, then you should have room for optimism. Just remember, all areas will be up for fierce competition, employers are in a position to choose and pay less money. Some opportunities may require you to uproot your family and move. I admire your attitude but your head is a bit up in the clouds. Coming from Chevron won't necessarily open many doors for you.
I can attest to the many benefits of moving on to another company. There is a world outside Chevron and eventually, the arrogance of a BU like GOM, will be well worth getting rid of. Take the chance to have a hefty pay day and land a fresh start at another organisation. The mentality that Chevron is THE company to work for is far off the mark. You just have to look at some of their staff on here to see what they are really like under the Chevron Way.