Current Thoughts about Work.

Let me start off with saying that I like working for my company. I like our jobs, and I like what I do, and when I keep busy (which is most of the time), I am engrossed in my projects. Here's the thing. When we're hired out of college, regardless of how much time we've interned or co-oped, we start out at the first level, with "zero" experience. I think that is an OK practice, though I think it could be altered to reflect previous experience , but that is not where I have my beef right now.

This first level, let's call it being an "A" employee is expected for 3-5 years. No one is supposed to be promoted to a "B" employee any time earlier than day 365 of year 3. On that same note, if you're still at position A and you've been here 4.5 years, you can probably expect that you are not what they're looking for to be promoted, and should begin looking for another job.

Here's problem #1: The company hires people from the outside to be B's, instead of promoting from the inside. Now, this isn't an "all the time" practice, but it happens. That's fine, maybe they want diversity in the pool. However, what I DON'T like, is that some of the people they're interviewing and considering hiring, DO NOT have engineering degrees!! maybe they had a concentration or a minor in it, but I'm sorry, not majoring in Engineering shows that either a) you're not interested in it, b) it was too hard for you, or c) you were too lazy to put forth the effort to pursue the degree. I don't think we want any of these three types of people working as level B Engineers. Or for that matter - any level engineers. I would expect, that our clients expect for people who have the term "engineer" in their title, should have an engineering degree. Along those lines, we're encouraged to pursue our EIT and later PE licences to gain credibility with our customers. I understand that we want to gain credibility, but how are we gaining credibility with customers by hiring non-engineering major engineers?

Problem #2: We have a good benefits package, a 401K, decent number of vacation days, etc. Our pay is average. at best. Graduating college, I had an offer that was $7,000 more per year, and it came with a huge signing bonus. The raises were also much more significant. I liked working here, and I knew about the company, and I thought working for a small company might be better, so I took this job. I understand we're not a huge company, maybe we can't afford to pay more. BUT, if that's the case, then show appreciation in other ways. It seems here like there is no public appreciation of the employees. No "Engineer of the year" type awards. We have company parties each year, and they spend a lot of money on them, but it isn't anything but a chance to socialize with work people outside of work. I still think it's a good idea to have these events, just perhaps not as elaborate. Also, the giveaways? just give us the option of getting the giveaway or $20. Sometimes they're useful, sometimes they sit in people's trunk until they can get rid of it. We spend countless hours interviewing, and a lot of money bringing in candidates to decide either that a) they're a "flight risk" because they might get bored here or want to move away or b)we give them an offer that they can get better somewhere else, and turn us down. At this rate, we will get mediocre employees if we're paying mediocre salaries. by being in the 50th percentile, we'll get 50th percentile people. I'd like to think that I am not "average", but who knows, maybe they think I am, and that's why they hired me.

Problem#3: In the past 5 months since the beginning of the year, 2 A's have quit and 2 B's have quit. That is about a third of our combined A/B population. In 5 months? that is unacceptable. We're told that what we do is not for everyone, let the people leave who are not interested in it. I disagree. No one grows up saying they want to do the work we do. You start doing it, and then if you like it, you stay in it. Liking it has a few components. First, you must enjoy the actual work. You have to enjoy getting your hands dirty, and figuring out what's wrong, etc. Second, you have to like the people you're working with. In hiring, a question we ask a lot is "they're good for the job , but will they fit in? third, you have to be shown that you are appreciated. for you to show you like a job (by remaining in the position), the job has to show that they like you. and Fourth, you have to see a future for yourself in the job. This often comes from looking at people more senior than you in your position or a position above, and benchmarking. It is my belief that all four of these components are required in order to stay at a job. It's not just the employee that makes the decision to leave. It is often the company that has the bigger effect on that decision than the person themself.

problem #4: we do not consider people who are not American citizens for positions. We don't do government work, so I have no idea why we don't. There are plenty of qualified candidates that we reject because we have never sponsored someone. I think it is silly to write it off because it might be a little extra work. suck it up, look into it, and if it costs money to do a sponsorship, explain it to the candidate, and take that amount off their salary if you need to, but don't write off a good candidate because you don't want to do a little extra work.

All that being said, at this moment, I still like my job. I like the people I work with, and I like what I do. What I don't like is some of the methodology behind the hiring practices (some of which I didn't even mention), and what my future may be like in the company. At this point, there are no females above position A, and though the recruiting looks for a lot of diversity in who we hire, the upper level management is all white males. Except one - because we are technically a "minority owned company". That is discouraging not only for the women here, but also for any minorities.

I don't think anyone from work reads this blog (except people who may agree with me), but it isn't a private blog, so I have to expect someone may come upon it. I think that it is not one person making many of these decisions, but I do think that the ones making these decisions may benefit from knowing this. I have spoken my mind, though I am not sure it made it through. I also realize that every company in the world, large and small have problems, and at no one time is everyone in the company going to be happy or satisfied. But, each of these people do have their opinion, and this is mine. I am now done with my rant. Please comment, especially if you have similar stories or suggestions.