Thread regarding ExxonMobil Corp. layoffs

I started napping during working hours. OwD.

100% serious.

OPD or O most years. Lower cost in HC10 locations, grow MSPs and India teams while being good at marketing what I’ve done to add value (I have actually added value, so it’s not hard). Peers below me do the base. They come in, are good performers, and get their base work done consistently. They aren’t pushing boundaries, care too much about feelings, and can’t put corporate value in front of their buddies. Is what it is. This is a business, not a social event.

I have a good sponsor and do not stay in any assignment long enough to be blamed for anything.

@1rdq, you forgot to mention the inordinate amount of time you spend hiding under the boss' desk and making him smile really big

Technical / individual contributor. Last 2 years outstanding. Previous 8 years fluctuating between top quintile (outstanding) or top third (excellent) - one could tell by RSUs. I delivered on the priorities / tasks that were important to my supervisor, making sure to develop knowledge and insights on these topics beyond my supervisor’s (or project leader’s) initial understanding that improved their knowledge. Developed a habit of addressing the question that should have been asked, not the question that was asked and found that this is very appreciated. Also quite lucky to have two senior level bosses in those years (total of 6 in same period) that appreciated my approach and were way above my CL to ensure no competition. This is a draw of luck in EM - plenty of people in supervisory positions that should not be there. Learned (the hard way) not to challenge my boss in front of others unless there is an open discussion that my view was asked. Instead, found out that I could push back and argued - some times hard- against their priorities on 1on1s and my view was occasionally accepted - however delivered on whatever agreed even over my initial disagreement (often had a passive aggressive approach to tasks that I did not agree but learned to fight it). Openly admitting (and correcting) mistakes when inevitably happened created a relationship of trust at least with these two. Working closely with select coworkers created a network of support and information exchange plus a reputation of reliability despite an impression of being tough/demanding to work with. Most people appreciate eventually openness and directness when accompanied with help and honesty. Yes, there are many of our coworkers that don’t deserve that and tried to my best to avoid them - not always successful.
Despite that ranking, not considered (in fact denied) for positions that go to HiPos and this is a sour point but at least it had provided a good salary progression and reasonable (not accelerated) CL promotions.

I'm an experience hire also that has been consistently ranked outstanding with distinction. I haven't been here long an I don't know anyone high up or have family. There's a lot of good information in this thread on how to be successful. It's about showing that you are willing to improve others. There are plenty of documents that describe exactly the criteria for each evaluation level and the leadership behavior associated with each level. Just follow that guidance. Pick a broad range of kof with a selection of people above you, peers and below you. Make sure these people are well respected. It's up to you to develop a positive relationship with these people where at the end of the year they can honestly write feedback for you. You might even put a wildcard in there that you don't get a long with so well just to give yourself some improvement messages.

Write and Practice your own two minute session and then review it with your boss.

Your job as the employee is to make your boss and your group look good. It's not about trying to stand out as an individual and crush all others. This is important to understand.

Is it a "game" yes. Is it kind of political yes. Do you always get to express yourself in the exact emotions you want to at the time no. It's the real world sometimes things aren't exactly how you want them. More importantly is how you find ways to over come this and still do a good job.

Regarding the formula: Awesome! Staying cheery is my downcoming…it is so darn hard. I got to deliver 2x the results to make up for it. I am completely conscious of this….I just cannot fake a good day every day.

Experienced hire. I’m not sure if I got a good or an outstanding because the boss never explained to me the ranking. I received RSU plus a 15% raise. My boss said I was good middle of the pack. when I asked for details, he said he was not allowed to be in my ranking meeting so do not have the details.

I’m curious if RSU is given to good performers? Or maybe my boss miscommunicated the ranking to me.

I’m consistently Outstanding- I have a formula (no joke…) I begin the cycle asking my boss outright what his priorities are - like top 3 most important. I make absolutely damn sure I deliver on those things whether I personally agree or not, and provide short updates regularly to my boss. I emulate whatever my boss ‘ preferred form of communication is- be it email, text, F2F, whatever. I think up one extra thing per year that nobody has asked for, that I think needs legitimate improvement, and I make it my mission to lead that improvement to check the “above and beyond” box. I take a mentee on and meet them once per month to check the “mentors others” box. I make a point of being cheery even when I internally want to gouge my eyes out, because I’ve seen over my career that the negative people always get ranked worse than the positive people. I pick one United Way event every year to volunteer for so I’m a team player. I purposely try to speak once every two team meetings - enough that I look engaged, but not so much that I look obnoxious. When I write my PDS, I assign a $ value to every bullet I list to show what value I brought to the table, instead of making it a work list summary. That’s my formula, works every year. I don’t have a sponsor that I know of, I’m not related to anyone in the company, I didn’t go to any fancy university, I’m not tall, slim or good looking. CL 27.

Basically what @baf said. Have good ideas and act on them that positively impact the business, then make sure your boss is aware. Have the attitude that one of your many goals is to make your boss look good and never go to your boss without a problem without an answer. Get several kudos emails sent to your boss about you. Influence without authority. Make positive change within your area that is within your control. Be persuasive. Been outstanding three years in a row. CL25.

Make sure you're in a position to push improvements to all parts of your adjacent operation, not just your immediate control area. Volunteer to step into step out opportunities.

Most importantly, make those around you better.

If you just do you job you will never be ranked well relative to others.

Had a baby

My offshore well construction team operated without an accident for nearly a decade Near the end of that period, I was rated outstanding, a year before retiring. I also got a nice (very small) one time monetary award and a VP letter thanking me for my safety performance. I was never more than a front line super. Never got any RSU. Never had a ‘sponsor’ that I was aware of. I was just a front line worker getting the job done, year after year. But, EM did pay me a good salary. No complaints.

Life for me is now a continuouseverydaywithoutendendless vacation, ha! I earned it, IMHO.