Got hired just from phone interview

[BTA]

That's how I got my current job but I was fast-tracked because I'm friends with someone who already worked there.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

when i switched companies 3 years ago i submitted my resume to 2 companies and had written offers from both on same day

 

[invidia]

Good luck... I have a couple friends who recently quit Lockheed because they couldn't stand it.

I generally hear bad things from branches in Denver and Orlando, none of them where I will be working though.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Me too. Got a call from Google. Said they seen my resume on monster and I got the job. Sweeet. 100k a year.

 

[magomago]

Heard similar things as JS80; depends on the person though. But you end up doing the same shit over and over and over again and you really can't do further else you step on other people's shoes and you don't want to take their job. The positive part is that you'll have plenty of time to chillax, network and waste time so as long as you aren't the critical path or about to be the critical path. Most of what I heard of comes from engineers though.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Haters be hatin. For a starting salary of 67k they could put my nuts in a vise and tighten for 8hours and I'd still go home smiling.

 

[invidia]

Haters be hatin. For a starting salary of 67k they could put my nuts in a vise and tighten for 8hours and I'd still go home smiling.

Same here. I don't really care who I will be working with, I'll adjust to any team like in the past. Coming from a near poverty family (less than 25k a year household) I'm making more than my parents now and this new job is just going 2.5x both their incomes.

 

[magomago]

Who is hatin?

 

[JS80]

Haters be hatin. For a starting salary of 67k they could put my nuts in a vise and tighten for 8hours and I'd still go home smiling.

Who's hatin? Some people don't want to make $67k for the rest of their life. If you're a complacent person then it's great. But if you are ambitious and want to move up the ladder then it's not great.

 

[Bignate603]

Who's hatin? Some people don't want to make $67k for the rest of their life. If you're a complacent person then it's great. But if you are ambitious and want to move up the ladder then it's not great.

I'm sure Lockheed just like all the other defense contractors has ways to move up, you just need to learn how to play their game. You probably need to jump programs to move up, you may need to get certain certifications, or even a degree (though the OP said he already had his masters).

You also need to remember that these companies are packed full of older workers that are filling the higher positions. All of those guys have spent 20-30 years to get into those jobs. If you think you're going to jump from entry level up the ladder immediately you're absolutely crazy. You've got to put in some time, get experience, and show that you're worth promoting. Promotions are probably going to start happening earlier in people's careers as the older workers continue to retire but you still can't expect to shoot up to the top overnight.

 

[Aikouka]

Who's hatin? Some people don't want to make $67k for the rest of their life. If you're a complacent person then it's great. But if you are ambitious and want to move up the ladder then it's not great.

I went from making 52k at my first job to 67k at my current job and while at my old job, I went from 52k to 58k or so during about 2 years. Since I was literally there for 3.1 years, I never really got my third raise.

You do go up a decent amount, but I wouldn't expect huge jumps.

Heh, I kinda laughed to myself when I saw the term "critical path" mentioned... one of those buzz words you hear all the time. Another thing about Defense Contractors you come to love (and hate)... it's acronym central. While listening to someone, you'll never go through a sentence without hearing at least one acronym (or initialization... don't want P&T getting on my case about that ).

 

[TheWart]

I went from making 52k at my first job to 67k at my current job and while at my old job, I went from 52k to 58k or so during about 2 years. Since I was literally there for 3.1 years, I never really got my third raise.

You do go up a decent amount, but I wouldn't expect huge jumps.

Heh, I kinda laughed to myself when I saw the term "critical path" mentioned... one of those buzz words you hear all the time. Another thing about Defense Contractors you come to love (and hate)... it's acronym central. While listening to someone, you'll never go through a sentence without hearing at least one acronym (or initialization... don't want P&T getting on my case about that ).

The closer one gets to Washington DC the more ridiculous and numerous the acronyms become, heh.

 

[duragezic]

I don't think they'd really care unless they want you to start the classified stuff immediately. You usually get "pre-approved" for that stuff early enough (it's referred to as "Initial Secret", etc), but there are some restrictions on the initial variant.

I'm surprised your previous employer never had you get a clearance. I got one when I worked at mine and I never even touched a classified document, sat in a classified meeting or anything of that sort in my entire 3 years there.

What area are you looking into LM at? If you're still in STNY, I wouldn't really want to stick around there much. God knows if they're going to lay off another set of people (Round 4 or 5).

Yeah, I still live 15 minutes from the Lockheed Owego plant but I always hear of layoffs and such, I lost track at which round and number they are at.

About 80% of the people at BAE were unclassified. Most of their projects didn't directly involve weapon systems so maybe that's it? Mostly flight control stuff and vehicle power management.

I'm looking pretty much anywhere. Unfortunately a big aerospace place is SoCal and I have about no interest in going there.

I have seen a number of postings that just require an initial clearance, like you said. A few specifically say to not apply unless you actively hold a regular clearance, but most of them don't say either, just that it's required. I should apply to more of them.

 

[invidia]

Uhh Lockheed has plenty of ways to progress in your career... it's their own fault for not being able to find ways.

EDIT:

Biggest hint... chances are that the way you progress isn't within your own program! This is probably going to hold true for almost any defense contractor. Lockheed does have specific career paths though.

I was planning to work my way towards a TS position if this turns out to be a normal position.

 

[JS80]

I'm sure Lockheed just like all the other defense contractors has ways to move up, you just need to learn how to play their game. You probably need to jump programs to move up, you may need to get certain certifications, or even a degree (though the OP said he already had his masters).

You also need to remember that these companies are packed full of older workers that are filling the higher positions. All of those guys have spent 20-30 years to get into those jobs. If you think you're going to jump from entry level up the ladder immediately you're absolutely crazy. You've got to put in some time, get experience, and show that you're worth promoting. Promotions are probably going to start happening earlier in people's careers as the older workers continue to retire but you still can't expect to shoot up to the top overnight.

You have to compare opportunities with other companies. For example, I went from IC to director level in five years at a small tech co, where in five years at Lockheed I'm sure you are at the same position or maybe one level up. And I just left my old place where I am now part of senior management. Same story with my peers at the same company, where after five years they are now VP and CTO. So yes, some can expect to shoot up to the top overnight.

So I will reiterate, if you are the "ambitious" type, don't expect to last longer than 1-2 years.