Thread regarding Medtronic Inc. layoffs

@nz

Soft skills meaning how to su-k up to your boss’s boss.

It’s called ‘soft skills’ and they aren’t taught.

Reading the majority of the posts here though suggests that there are plenty of people who could use some practice.

@gd

It's crazy how pointing out flaws is now considered "rocking the boat." No wonder this country is in the dumps.

@gd

What should we do then?

@fg
Spot on, I have seen this behavior many times to great people, rock the boat and get bad mouthed and passed around by "Legacy so called managers" until they can RIF them. Then talk about how they were really needed. BUT never saw the RIF coming.

@fg on the other hand, you can have dozens of positive relationships and all it takes is one new leader to come in who doesn’t like you. And bo-m - you’re laid off. I’ve seen it happen many times.

The only thing certain here is the company was here before you and it will be here after you. Unless it turns out we are Enron 2.0.

@fm hard to do that for Colombian counterparts when MDT can hire 5-6 for what they pay one person here.

Unfortunately, you are spot on. Big corporation like MDT has that problem entrenched through every team almost.

@fg

At Medtronic, even that isn't enough. You have to show the ROI between paying you or your Indian counterpart.

@OP Relationships will get you promoted and off of the layoff lists…. It only takes one person to invalidate all the good you have done. All you can do is work hard and do your best…

My experience has always "you wait your turn being prompted " at MDT. An example a QE - 1 just to QE-2 easy one year, QE-2 to Senior QE-3 figure 4-5 years, Principle QE figure 6-10 years, maybe longer. MDT likes to work you like a horse for "10 year plus" before your get that easy desk job.

Ill never be that person, but thats also why I switch companies every 3-5 years.

Its kept my career moving along without having to do non-value added things in my limited work hours.

@OP Well said and spot on for many of us. For those of us who have our head down, working to achieve our goals, we miss the extracurricular activities the climbers are doing in effort to get promoted. The “in” signature line, belonging to the correct ERG’s (and talking about it incessantly), and agreeing to help others only when it will yield visibility from leadership. Yes, it’s how life goes in large organizations but it su-ks because it’s the unspoken “targets” not listed in our goals that clearly mean more than actual goals.

@ad That's what people say

That’s life