Shytheed Dumas said:
I'm a technical service rep for a chemical company. I work directly with customers to determine their specific needs and formulate dedicated adhesives for each site, work within my company for process optimization/streamlining, Six Sigma Greenbelt certified, etc. and pull down a little over seventy, including bonus. When I started I moved along quickly, but we were a MUCH smaller company then and my chain of command disappeared along with recognition and any sense of career development. I have BS and MS degrees in Wood Science and my company size is about $6 billion per year with the potential to grow signficantly. I am definitely a small fish in a big pond.
Since then it's been a struggle to keep going. My last promotion landed me double the responsibilty with at least double the travel and a 0% (yes, ZERO percent) promotional raise, because he said, and I quote "I believe you are too highly compensated". That asshat has since relocated to Europe and it wouldn't break my heart if I heard that he ended up with mad cow disease. Not that I'm bitter, but that really pissed me off, and I think it's justified.
Okay, so I've got documented successes, including a $50k bonus for the company last year, "Exceeds Expectations" on my annual reviews (top 20%) for 5 of the past 6 years, etc. and a ton of experience. I thought my direct customer work would get me into sales. I made the final round of several interviews, but when it came down to the last 2 or 3 candidates the word was the same - "You're great, your references are solid, we think you would do an excellent job. It's just that candidate B has been doing 100% sales work for the past 8 years, and you're only able to show us that your job is roughly 25%, so you can understand why we're going with the other guy."
So I said alright, we will look outside of sales, and it's been the same story. Recently I had a great in with a guy in the injection molding business serving the auto industry. Essentially the same role I'm in now, but different process and customers. I worked my way through their HR department in a couple of phone interviews, and then got shot down by the pres. The reason was no direct experience with the auto industry, and he didn't want to waste his time meeting me. The HR rep was terribly embarrassed by this, and said both he and my original contact (who I had met on a plane returning from a business trip) had gone to bat for me without any luck.
I am definitely not afraid of change, but I have to admit to being burnt out on hearing the same thing over and over when I know that I could kick ass in any of these jobs. Start my own business? Probably not. If I can say one thing about my wife, it is that she is not a risk taker and really something of a safety junkie - especially in terms of income. I know I handicap myself by staying in Louisville, but I know I'm capable of more than this.
So now I'm just keeping my eyes and ears open, and I'm wide open to new ideas. Who knows?
Anyway, I didn't mean to hijack the thread or to carry on, but that's my story.
Hey this isn't a hijack you will never get this kind of advise anywhere in the real world, IMO this thread should be required reading for a prospective engineering student.
Bummer of a story, sounds like your doing what I would recommend. I will add that when I went from Automotive to Aerospace they were extremely pleased that I had the automotive background, it doesn't seem to go the other way, and Im not sure why, I think I have gained a much more broad (comprehensive) experience in every discipline, design, tooling, testing configuration management, production and rework, in the Aerospace industry. 4 years out of college I was making almost 120K per year that was more than 10 years ago. Im sure design is a little different than a Technical Service position, my skills are directly comparable to the next guy, and I always perform.
A few things I would recommend.
1. Look for another a job as a smaller fish in a big pond. IE: look for a company that has a ton of engineers that do exactly what you do. I think you will be shocked to find out that most of those guys, just get by and most of their experience was OTJ training, and their just doing what the guy before them told them to do. They are not required to think for themselves near as much in the big company. You will look like a shining star next to these slugs that are just towing the line. (obviously you are looking for a job, that was just really a pep talk) theres more below, that might help.
2. Tailor your resume. If I am applying for a position that looks like it has a need for a Liaison Engineer I will make sure that is high on the list of bullets for each of the Jobs where I was a Liaison Engineer. If Design engineer is high on the list I move those bullets to the top. If Tool Design, Composite, Rapid Prototyping.... You get the idea.
3. Ask friends at other companies you deal with if they are looking for new people. IMO your best chance at a new job is your buddy or co-worker at a new position, that knows you can definitely do the job. I have never gotten a job out of the paper, (cold calling) or from a head hunter, (but thats just me) head hunters, don't know You they just know where the jobs are, and you can find those thru networking all on your own.
4. Dont bad mouth your old Job. Once you have found a job, make sure to refer to the job you have in high regard (don't refer to it, especially to your new employer as a shitty job). You will sound more like a victim than a "go getter". If your new employer thinks your old job sucks then they will think that there is probably a reason YOU are not getting the good work, and their is a reason for it. You want to express in the interview that, you need to give your current employer a couple of weeks maybe more so that you don't leave them in a bind. They will always view this, as the way they expect to be treated when you leave them and it will weigh heavily on whether they consider hiring you at all. Dont be wishy washy, tell them you will need at least 2 weeks. If you really need more, (let them know later) they will think "WOW his old company really needs him and he respects them enough to help them out!!!" This has NEVER really happened for me but if it did, the new company would surely wait for you. If old employer is petty and they Fire you on the spot, then enjoy your 2 week vacation, knowing you will have a paycheck and a great new job in a couple weeks.
5. Get a raise at your existing job. If you really like your job use this job offer to your advantage. Go right past your boss (if this appropriate) and tell him/her I have been offered a new job somewhere else and would like to express that I really like this job and would like offer you guys the opportunity to keep me here. List the reasons you like the job and the reasons you would like to stay (think carefully about how you approach this, if you really want to stay). Then, this will take tact, but list the reasons you need more money and what its going to take to keep you here. DO NOT let them string you along, tell them the adjustment in compensation needs to be immediate or retroactive, don't let them give you promises of an increase right after project "X" because they will never do it and never for the amount you want and they will only do this to stall until the other offer dries up and then you are stuck there. If they stall at all get out and don't look back, they don't appreciate you and they never will.
Chances are you will LOVE your new job and never regret leaving. Good luck and keep us posted if you do make a change.
