Contemplating quitting

cabledude · 13-03-2016 12:55PM #1

I'm thinking of quitting my well paid job. Why? Let me explain.

The company is a large multinational. I don't want to specify what sector because I don't want to be identified. Anyhoo, the reason I am feeling like this is because of stagnation. I came into the company full of gusto and optimism. They were a company who were expanding at a rate of knots. I look at what was going on and considered them a fairly safe bet in terms of my future career progression. In a company who are expanding, there will always be opportunities for lads like me; educated, sharp and willing to learn.

But after a few weeks in the place my bubble was burst, badly. It turned out that everyone who was recruited with me was related to someone in the place. There were 30 of us taken on and out of that 30 only 2 of us were there on merit. We were the only 2 who had any third level education and/or experience in manufacturing. The rest had cousins/uncles/fathers/stepmothers etc.....

My immediate reaction here was 'Oh sh1t'. I discussed this with my wife at home and she told me I was being a drama queen. Maybe she was right.

Fast forward 6 months and promotions came up. None of us new recruits considered ourselves as credible candidates. We were too green behind the ears, didn't know the processes enough and just didn't have the experience. Turns out we were wrong, however. One of the lads who went for the job actually got it. Well, fair play to him for getting ahead.He obviously has better qualifications/experience or knowledge that the rest of us? Nope. No qualifications/experience or specific knowledge. Turns out he was invited to go for the job by the department manager. Why would this happen? Well, turns out that his godfather is one of the mid level managers in the place. For me this was a very bad omen of things to come.

And I was right.

Next time there were interviews 2 lads got the jobs. One of them had an uncle and 2 cousins working in the place. The others lads mum works in Admin and has the ear of the department head.

I decided to bide my time. I knew that there were 4 more jobs coming in the near future. These jobs are to cater for a large expansion that is just coming to completion. The 4 jobs have been filled already. 2 of them are lads who had done the jobs previously and had handed them back. They have been pursuaded to return to these jobs; rumour's abound that they have been granted extra holidays. The others 2 are made up of one chap whos older brother works in another department and the remaining job is the one, in my opinion, that has broken the camels back. This lad in only in the company 1 year. Just gone 1 year. He has never acted up into the role. Whereas I and others have. He has no formal qualifications; whereas I have. He has not demonstrated initiative in improvement and safety projects; whereas I have.

So, what does he have that I don't? Anyone care to guess?

His old boy has worked there for 30 odd years as a fitter.

So, how much more time should I waste in this place. Yes, it is a well paid job. But I have invested too much time and effort in my education, too much time busting my behind in the company to allow them keep me stringing along while promoting people based on nepotism.

Any suggestions as to how to get around this? Should I approach senior management and risk destroying my 'career' in the place by telling them how it is? Or should I just bail? I don't like walking away from obstacles. I'm the type of lads that goes to the flame to see if I can help put it out. Bailing out would be me going against my own style.

What would you do?

Polo_Mint · 13-03-2016 01:06PM

Did you apply for any of these promotions or show interest in these roles to the Management?

BabySlam · 13-03-2016 01:12PM

You sound like a negative person. You may have to apply for more than one job/promotion until you get one. Comparing yourself to other people wont help. Just get on with doing the right things well. Your wife seems wise.

cabledude · 13-03-2016 01:13PM

Polo_Mint wrote: »

Did you apply for any of these promotions or show interest in these roles to the Management?

Yep. All of them.

The individual with the ultimate decision has had a meteoric rise in the firm. Care to guess why?

cabledude · 13-03-2016 01:15PM

I suppose what surprises me most about the company is that they are not even trying to hide it. Its absolutely blatant.......

0ph0rce0 · 13-03-2016 01:18PM

Same things happen where i work.

I put it down to money.

In our place there are many promotions that come up and there are people there years with the experience and qualifications, usually people who are second in command of that department who you would think would just slot into the role immediately when the top man of the department moves on.

But they are giving these jobs to young ones at the age of 21 - 23 who are only in the job a few moths to a year with no experience over guys with 10 years experience.

See they can offer the young people 2 or 3 grand extra and they will be delighted with a slight bump in salary and a title they can add to the CV where as the people with qualifications who are on a higher salary already would be looking for an even bigger bump.

Might not be the same where you are but for us that's exactly what it is in our place.

Tight bastards, Causes mayhem because everything slows down for 6 - 12 months while they are being trained, And the kicker is the people that should get the job are the people that have to train them in, This has caused lots of people to move on and find new work causing even more problems.

cabledude · 13-03-2016 01:20PM

BabySlam wrote: »

You sound like a negative person. You may have to apply for more than one job/promotion until you get one. Comparing yourself to other people wont help. Just get on with doing the right things well. Your wife seems wise.

I predicted that I would be charged with being a negative person. If you know me, you'd know that I am not at all a negative person. However, I will admit that my experiences in this company has made me view them in a negative light.

I've applied twice at this point. I have done the groundwork. I've spent a year acting up into these roles to cover absenteeism and holidays. Yet, the most recent appointment has no experience, no qualifications for the role and in truth, his appointment has come as a surprise to everyone. But his old chap is in a position of influence. Hard to stay positive in this situation, you'll no doubt agree.......

Polo_Mint · 13-03-2016 01:27PM

If I was you I would email your manager. Ask what criteria is needed before applying for a promotion so you can be prepared for any roles coming up.

At least you will have it in writing and then question this when asking for feedback if you dont get interviews or promotions.

Make sure you get it in writing and not over a coffee

cabledude · 13-03-2016 01:28PM

0ph0rce0 wrote: »

Same things happen where i work.

I put it down to money.

In our place there are many promotions that come up and there are people there years with the experience and qualifications, usually people who are second in command of that department who you would think would just slot into the role immediately when the top man of the department moves on.

But they are giving these jobs to young ones at the age of 21 - 23 who are only in the job a few moths to a year with no experience over guys with 10 years experience.

See they can offer the young people 2 or 3 grand extra and they will be delighted with a slight bump in salary and a title they can add to the CV where as the people with qualifications who are on a higher salary already would be looking for an even bigger bump.

Might not be the same where you are but for us that's exactly what it is in our place.

Tight bastards, Causes mayhem because everything slows down for 6 - 12 months while they are being trained, And the kicker is the people that should get the job are the people that have to train them in, This has caused lots of people to move on and find new work causing even more problems.

Different situation where I am. The roles have a set rate. Unionized company.

No, this is just your commoner garden, blatant, nepotism.......

I was actually talking to an uncle of mine lately. He was asking me how the job was going and I filled him in. He left Ireland 50 years ago. He said that this country was a joke 50 years ago. He said that things today are the same as they wre back then.

5rtytry56 · 13-03-2016 01:29PM

Polo_Mint wrote: »

Make sure you get it in writing and not over a coffee

So the manager does not regard it as a "storm in a coffeecup" and you got out on the wrong side of bed that day.

gazzer · 13-03-2016 02:10PM

Did you get feedback from the interviews you attended. Where you told of any areas where you were better than others in the interview process?

saintsaltynuts · 13-03-2016 02:18PM

It's not what you know in this city...It's who you know.It's always been like that.

cabledude · 13-03-2016 02:20PM

gazzer wrote: »

Did you get feedback from the interviews you attended. Where you told of any areas where you were better than others in the interview process?

I did. I was told in very general terms where I lost marks.

One of the interview panel told me that he would look for copies of the marking sheets for me so that I might be prepared for the next campaign. He did however tell me that one of the the interviewers had scored me way above anyone else.

2 days later another chap heard the very same story. As in the very same interviewer scored him higher that the other 2 had. How can this be?

groovyg · 13-03-2016 10:57PM

Op I think you should look for a job elsewhere and get out of there. If promotional roles are being filled by cousins and relations of those in management you'll never move up and just get depressed. The only worry I would have is if you decide to look for other jobs outside the company can you depend on them from a reference?

cabledude · 13-03-2016 11:46PM

groovyg wrote: »

Op I think you should look for a job elsewhere and get out of there. If promotional roles are being filled by cousins and relations of those in management you'll never move up and just get depressed. The only worry I would have is if you decide to look for other jobs outside the company can you depend on them from a reference?

Ah yea, I'd be safe enough there. My record is impeccable. Attendance, performance wise etc.

cabledude · 14-03-2016 12:01AM

I guess the reason for the OP was to see if anyone on here has had a similar experience and if so how they went about overcoming it. I will leave, but I'd prefer not to. As I said earlier, I am not a quitter. But I need to call it a day if I have to....

Mrs OBumble · 14-03-2016 01:40PM

cabledude wrote: »

I guess the reason for the OP was to see if anyone on here has had a similar experience and if so how they went about overcoming it. I will leave, but I'd prefer not to. As I said earlier, I am not a quitter. But I need to call it a day if I have to....

You don't need to just quit.

You just need to find a job somewhere else, where you are a better fit for the company culture. Happens all the time.

Frankly, unless this is a publicly funded company (which I doubt from what you've said), then there's no problem. They hire people they know, lots of people do that, and let them learn on the job. Likely they provide pretty strong mentoring and support for their own, and get rewards in terms of staff retention and loyalty.

It may not be the way that you or I would run a company - but there's nothing illegal or immoral about it, it's the way that family firms have worked pretty much forever.

Agree that it's a problem for you if you've not found a way to get into the "inside crowd" yet (if god-father is all that it takes, it can't be that exclusive). Solve your problem.

SATSUMA · 14-03-2016 04:30PM

Just look for another job and leave. Even if you do get a promotion that is the environment of the company.

So ask yourself are you angry that you didn't get a promotion and would be happy if you did and the nepotism wouldn't bother you?

OR

Are you uncomfortable with the environment of the company which is unlikely to change any time soon?

cabledude · 14-03-2016 08:24PM

SATSUMA wrote: »

Just look for another job and leave. Even if you do get a promotion that is the environment of the company.

So ask yourself are you angry that you didn't get a promotion and would be happy if you did and the nepotism wouldn't bother you?

OR

Are you uncomfortable with the environment of the company which is unlikely to change any time soon?

The latter. The promotional structure is only one aspect of the company that I feel negatively towards. Slept on this last night and had a good think on it all day. Whilst I like the idea of trying to influence a company from the inside, I'm only one voice; and not a very influential one. Some people do listen to me but the one who has the influence over my career does not. They, in time, will reap what they sow. I'm intend not being there when that harvest comes in.

cabledude · 14-03-2016 08:27PM

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

You don't need to just quit.

You just need to find a job somewhere else, where you are a better fit for the company culture. Happens all the time.

Frankly, unless this is a publicly funded company (which I doubt from what you've said), then there's no problem. They hire people they know, lots of people do that, and let them learn on the job. Likely they provide pretty strong mentoring and support for their own, and get rewards in terms of staff retention and loyalty.

It may not be the way that you or I would run a company - but there's nothing illegal or immoral about it, it's the way that family firms have worked pretty much forever.

Agree that it's a problem for you if you've not found a way to get into the "inside crowd" yet (if god-father is all that it takes, it can't be that exclusive). Solve your problem.

This isn't a family run company. Its a large global multinational.

I didn't go too much into the detail of the 'godfather' issue. Suffice to say that if I did, someone reading the thread may identify the company and I don't wish for that. But if I were to give the full context to the promotion and the individual involved, I might not be believed. Its that bizzare.

Tom Dunne · 15-03-2016 05:14AM

The criteria I use when deciding whether to leave a company/organisation roughly are as follows:

Am I stagnating or progressing?
Are my talents being fully utilized?
Am I happy to put up with the status quo?

When two of the three of the above are in the negative, it's time to move on. You owe it to yourself, your sanity, your career.

Personally, I would move on. From what you have said, you are going nowhere fast. Don't get yourself into a rut where you start to despise your job, it will consume you. Get out while you can leave on good terms.

cabledude · 26-03-2016 10:39PM

Tom Dunne wrote: »

The criteria I use when deciding whether to leave a company/organisation roughly are as follows:
Am I stagnating or progressing?

Are my talents being fully utilized?

Am I happy to put up with the status quo?

When two of the three of the above are in the negative, it's time to move on. You owe it to yourself, your sanity, your career.

Personally, I would move on. From what you have said, you are going nowhere fast. Don't get yourself into a rut where you start to despise your job, it will consume you. Get out while you can leave on good terms.

Thanks all for the advice, especially Tom. Very sensible way of looking at an issue.....

I would probably answer Yes to all of the above. I'm decided. I've put the feelers out there now and see what comes back. I'm in a job so there's no real pressure on me, as such. I'll keep ya'll posted on my progress.

Thanks again for contributing.

beauf · 29-03-2016 09:42PM

I think you are just looking for confirmation of something you already knew.

cabledude · 29-03-2016 10:04PM

beauf wrote: »

I think you are just looking for confirmation of something you already knew.

Maybe you are right!

confusedlady01 · 19-04-2016 10:25PM

0ph0rce0 wrote: »

Same things happen where i work.

I put it down to money.

In our place there are many promotions that come up and there are people there years with the experience and qualifications, usually people who are second in command of that department who you would think would just slot into the role immediately when the top man of the department moves on.

But they are giving these jobs to young ones at the age of 21 - 23 who are only in the job a few moths to a year with no experience over guys with 10 years experience.

See they can offer the young people 2 or 3 grand extra and they will be delighted with a slight bump in salary and a title they can add to the CV where as the people with qualifications who are on a higher salary already would be looking for an even bigger bump.

Might not be the same where you are but for us that's exactly what it is in our place.

Tight bastards, Causes mayhem because everything slows down for 6 - 12 months while they are being trained, And the kicker is the people that should get the job are the people that have to train them in, This has caused lots of people to move on and find new work causing even more problems.

This is pretty much exactly what happened in my last job. Many experienced and capable staff members were snubbed in favour of young graduates, for whom this was their first official job...only they gave them a 25% pay rise so it was by no means a small 'bump'. They ended up giving a management position to a sibling of one of the other managers, this person had never had a job before (not even part-time while in college) and hadn't even passed the probationary period yet.

It caused all out WAR.

The place (large, well known multinational) became toxic and depressing to work in and it was very discouraging to see a more experienced staff member who had been acting as manager for 5 months having to train this person in and teach them the most basic aspects of the role..she left shortly afterwards.

This was hard to stomach and left the rest of us with the impression that we had zero chance of career progression as these were to be the last promotions for a few years. It was awful but at least we had jobs! Eh...no..they made a load of us redundant and have since hired students or jobsbridge applicants to fill our places.

This was only one such instance of nepotism and it was blatant, unfortunately, I don't see anything changing anytime soon.

Contemplating quitting

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