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Processing new offer - Closer to home (9/10/10)

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trmiv said:
Damn man, score for you! Got the severance and a new job. Severance is now a bonus. Does this new one pay more?
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Just a little but not much. It has a better vacation schedule in that I get 15 days starting next January and can work my way to 20 after 5 years and 25 after 10 (I had already maxed out at 20 with my previous company) but it has fewer holidays (8 full days and 3 half days vs the 12 to 13 full days). I thought that the 401k had a better match as I specifically ask the HR guy about it but after re-reading the benefits guide, he explained it wrong. He explained it as a $0.25 match for every dollar that I put in up to 5% match. I ask is that a 5% max for my contribution or is the match 5%..he said match. Looks like it's only a $0.25 per dollar on the first 5% of my salary matched (i.e. 1.25% max match). Bummer there but there is no limit on 401k contributions other than the federal limit (previous company had me capped at 20%).

Traveling will be about 25% but that's not unexpected. 10 to 12 weeks in the office starting the project and programming the PLC/HMI/etc. and then about 4 weeks field install and debug. Would be better if it were fewer weeks in a row but I knew this going in. Still much better than the 100% offered by my previous employer.

All in all, I say it's comparable to my previous job in both compensation and type of "enjoyable" work.

The one huge drawback to a new job is I have to wait until the 1st day of the month following 90 days of continuous employment before my benefits kick in (medical, dental, 401k match, vacation accrual, etc) so that sort of sucks. I also cannot buy COBRA (either government supplemented (because I'm not unemployed) or at full price) from what I've been told since I will have a job at that point. Looks like July 1st before I get the full stuff...I was hoping for 30 days but I'll just have to wait a little.

Oh, and thanks to each and every one of you that have posted here. It's inspiring to see that your fellow man/woman/ATOTer is so encouraging and helpful during a time of need for so many. You guys/gals are absolutely great!
 
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Job started out a little rocky as it was difficult to get into the routine after working at another place for nearly 18 years. The first two days were somewhat of a letdown but today was much better...(and I mean much). I think once that I get past the "new" phase of this job and do a project on my own, things will be nice.

The people say that this job and local office are great but the new company sucks (benefits, pay raise, etc). We'll see how it goes but it's looking better after a rocky (unsure) start! 🙂
 
CADsortaGUY said:
I missed the thread as I've been out in Ohio on a big startup since Feb. Good to see you found something.
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Thanks CAD. It's been a wild ride and I'm happy to be working, not to mention the job has been much better the last two days than the first. Getting to know the people better. Thanks again!

(Oh, and I was kidding of course about the political thread...I just don't see you much anymore! 🙂 )

Long startup. I hope that I don't have to spend that much time on the road but who knows.

:thumbsup:
 
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Engineer's weekly blog:

1st week down and still going (getting better). Leave on Monday for a two week trip to Boise Idaho to help on a big project. Hate working on Easter but will get some comp time for it later after I return. Can't believe this is moving so fast.
 
Update: I'm starting to dislike the job. There were 4 controls engineers and one manager (also able to do controls) when I arrived. One guy quit and the other two went back to full time R&D. That leaves me and the manager for all jobs and we were told not to hire anyone until a major sale occurs (if it does). I'm getting assigned every fucking job and if I miss something in all of the hoopla, I am getting lambasted. I've spent nearly 50 percent (was over 50 percent but I've been home for the last 3 weeks other than local travel within 30 miles) of my time on the road and am now being assigned weekend project (the next 3 weekends are now assigned for a job so that will be 26 straight days before I get a day off?!?).

Just heard that my next job has 16 weeks worth of hours and is due by September 30th. They haven't assigned it yet because nobody is available to start on it. They somehow still expect it on time. I have a vacation scheduled (cruise, already paid for) starting in October and I somehow feel that they will try to stop me from going. I'm going as an employee or with a pink slip.....no other way around it.

If things don't change soon, I might hit the road even before I find something else. Fuck!
 
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Engineer said:
Update: I'm starting to dislike the job. There were 4 controls engineers and one manager (also able to do controls) when I arrived. One guy quit and the other two went back to full time R&D. That leaves me and the manager for all jobs and we were told not to hire anyone until a major sale occurs (if it does). I'm getting assigned every fucking job and if I miss something in all of the hoopla, I am getting lambasted. I've spent nearly 50% (was over 50&#37😉 of my time on the road and am now being assigned weekend project (the next 3 weekends are now assigned for a job so that will be 26 straight days before I get a day off?!?).

Just heard that my next job has 16 weeks worth of hours and is due by September 30th. They haven't assigned it yet because nobody is available to start on it. They somehow still expect it on time. I have a vacation scheduled (cruise, already paid for) starting in October and I somehow feel that they will try to stop me from going. I'm going as an employee or with a pink slip.....no other way around it

If things don't change soon, I might hit the road even before I find something else. Fuck!
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Note to self....Do not become Controls Engineer. Although, i may have failed, because my title has controls engineer in it 🙁
 
Engineer said:
Update: I'm starting to dislike the job.

If things don't change soon, I might hit the road even before I find something else. Fuck!
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You were looking for a job when you found this one.

Take the cruise, they will either live without you temporarily or permanently, their choice.
 
yeah times are hard man, sorry your new job is not working out. Im not where i want to be either working 12 hour night shifts 7pm to 7am but i need to put food on the table somehow.
 
Rifterut said:
yeah times are hard man, sorry your new job is not working out. Im not where i want to be either working 12 hour night shifts 7pm to 7am but i need to put food on the table somehow.
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Sorry to hear and I understand the food on the table point of view.

Job sucks ass today....yelled at by a customer for something that I know little about. Running a skeleton crew here and most of the work was done by Spain engineers and no time for real training. Looks like back to Idaho I'll go for an ass reaming on something that I had little to do with and have even less understanding of.

I'm not so sure that I wouldn't rather work at Walmart right now than where I'm at, lol. At least having everything paid off, I could "really" do that. Need to do something else in life....this shit is bringing me down very quickly and I don't want to fall into depression. *sigh*.
 
Engineer said:
.yelled at by a customer for something that I know little about.
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It seems that the customer is feeling the effect of the reduced staff and needs someone to yell at. You're just the last one with a name badge. My sympathies to you.

However, it is great to hear that the finances are in order. The only issue left might be health care. Are you okay in that regard?
 
Pardon the obvious, but doesn't this put you in a position of ridiculous power?

. There were 4 controls engineers and one manager (also able to do controls) when I arrived. One guy quit and the other two went back to full time R&D.

if you quit, there's only 1 guy left to do 5 jobs.
 
jalaram said:
It seems that the customer is feeling the effect of the reduced staff and needs someone to yell at. You're just the last one with a name badge. My sympathies to you.

However, it is great to hear that the finances are in order. The only issue left might be health care. Are you okay in that regard?
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Unfortunately, it's often the guy with " boots on the ground" in jobs to take the brunt of abuse for things that he has no control over. Because you're the "face of the company" that the customer sees, right or wrong, you get the shit...it sucks, but it's very common.


Engineer, have you started sending out resumes yet? With what you've described in your recent posts, it sounds like, if only for your mental health, it's time to start looking at other places.
 
Engineer said:
Sorry to hear and I understand the food on the table point of view.

Job sucks ass today....yelled at by a customer for something that I know little about. Running a skeleton crew here and most of the work was done by Spain engineers and no time for real training. Looks like back to Idaho I'll go for an ass reaming on something that I had little to do with and have even less understanding of.

I'm not so sure that I wouldn't rather work at Walmart right now than where I'm at, lol. At least having everything paid off, I could "really" do that. Need to do something else in life....this shit is bringing me down very quickly and I don't want to fall into depression. *sigh*.
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I got yelled at by a client the other day. I told him that his decision could have big effects on future projects and it would require a really big amount of money and effort to get it done. I thought we would be better off not going his route. He said, meh, lets go forth his idea anyway. 1 year later, he wants this part of the project to come to fruition. I say, ok, now here are the new plans and updated drawings....it will cost approx. xx dollars to get it done and implement this in the field. Here are the man hours required. When teh total cost came up, he was furious.

His response:
"Why didn't you tell me that it would cost this much to do the work? You didn't tell me it would require this much effort. You are the engineer, you are supposed to warn me about these things."

Of course, my response cannot be, "Well...I told you that in the past, but you did not listen because you are numb".

Instead, I clamly tell him, "We had this discussion in the past. I presented all the cons with going this route and I advised you not to go this route, but in the end, you still wanted to go this route"

The earful I got after was not fun.
 
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