Is it True XOM forces people to retire when they are in their mid-fifties and up? I have been told this by a former XOM employee, there for around 19 years, and forced out in 2015. Is a bad place to work, no one gets along, how true is all of this? Heard that HR goes around trying to find other people to do your job and force you into retirement, etc.
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Employees are divided in Rank Groups depending on their technical level. Older employees, who have had a few technical promotions, invariably end up in the same rank group as the first-line supervisors. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out who will be at the bottom of the rank group. XOM does “force” the older employees out, but once you get into the bottom of the rank group with a bunch of managers and supervisors ranked above you, there’s just no point in staying.
XOM has an outdated ranking system
based on the outdated (GE) Jack Welch model. The theory is that you evaluate your work force every year and attempt to purge your bottom 10 % performers. The problem with this is that if you stayed true to this model you could technically be purging 100% of your work force every 10 years. This system sounds ok from a pure business standpoint but the system is heavily biased on who is doing the ranking. If your Supervisor is friendly with you and knows how to bully their way through the ranking meetings you will rank very well. If your are smart and a good worker and self motivated but you stepped on bosses toes somewhere along the line you could drop to the bottom 10 percent quickly. Once at the bottom 10 it’s very hard to get out of the bottom as your ranking is carried over to the next year. As there is probably not that much difference between the top 10 and bottom 10 people tend to stay where they are at in the ranking system. I’ve seen many productive good people get crushed in the ranking system because of supervisors letting them sink because they wanted to get there personal friends or people they liked better higher in the ranking. Ranking is everything in the ExxonMobil system annual raises, promotions and other opportunities. If you are ranked low chances are your career will be stalled. I would much rather be a good brownoser than a good employee with a lot offer, as the brownoser that the boss likes will go much farther in their career. This outdated system is only one of the outdated business practices that Exxon practices that is finally catching up with them and it’s obvious in their business results. ExxonMobil is always behind the curve to change things as they have always gauged success in financial performance. Financial performance is now in the toilets and has been getting worse year after year and unless they start to look at new ways to run the business quickly the business will suffer more. The ranking system is only one outdated system XOM hangs on to that is inefficient and does not have the intended results. Everything XOM does requires to much time and energy from employees and resources to have positive results. XOM has so
Many talented and smart employees but , has no issue with pitting them against each other running them into the ground. Like someone once said XOM pays well , but you sell your soul for that paycheck. I still think XOM is a great Company as
I worked there for 40 years , however improvements to make it the great Company it once was needs to come quicker than XOM is use to making changes. It’s obvious the outdated business models that XOM has used for years will not get them to the top of the business powerhouse they once were. Wake up XOM.
Working at ExxonMobil just s—s, that sums it up.
It is not an XOM policy to force people to retire in their mid 50s, but seniority alone does not guarantee you a position. Similarly there is no fixed linear progression from new-hire to retirement, it is a combination of ability, motivation and management perception of your performance. XOM has a brutal, forced-ranking system wherein every year you are compared and ranked on a per individual basis. In a sample of 5 very competent engineers, one is #1 and one is ranked #5. After a few years your position starts firming relative to your peers and for various reasons it is easier, as time progresses, to drift downward in ranking rather than claw upward. If you made it to the mid-50s you are undoubtedly very good at what you do, but when times get tough and the cut line is set above your ranking.. it gets ugly...and difficult... but they will try to find a position for you, even one you may not like.
Basically, there is no real linear progression in this company. Take a look at the open jobs board, there is none. All promotions are not transparent.
I worked there for 8 years and got caught up in a restructuring, they offered me a BS job in logistics in Houston which I turned down. A few of my friends are still there but I don't envy them.
Darren Woods and I are both TAMU graduates about the same time. Take a look at his career path and your own.
You must not work in oil. It's practically a nursing home in large oil companies.