Honestly wouldn’t mind staying at 3M for the long haul (however long that will be at this rate) , but I’m wanting to branch out from my current position ( would stay in same job grade). Out of every 20 3M applications, I’ll get maybe one real interview request ( even after doing informational interviews with the HM). Externally, out of every 20 applications, I’ll get like 10 interviews. People have always gloated that 3M was a great place for professional development because you can transfer jobs easily and be able to work with different technologies because they encourage internal mobility - they already have the best of the best why not let them learn and grow internally. Any tips on how to get a job transfer within 3M besides just informational interviewing ?
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From my own experience, career progression in a technical role at 3M is not easy. Many conversations with supervisors and managers to progress, won awards yet nothing. They pay lip service to what they need to.
Most divisions are on hiring freezes and they get approval to post, interview, and select a candidate only to be told they can not hire at this time ... Then later not at all or with lots of rules around it. I just wouldn't trust most of those jobs to be real positions that will get filled anytime soon.
They already know who they want for that role. The internal job ad is just a formality to make it appear "fair". What else would you expect for a company like this?
I like yourself, applied many internal jobs. The only call back I received was for a lateral job, and I unfortunately still didn’t get the role. It’s very disappointing. Why do they bother interviewing if they already know who they want for the role?
This!
Starting around JG15 - JG16 there are usually pre-identified leading candidates. Other applicants generally are not seriously considered.
When I was at 3M, networking and helping to build mobility was considered the 3M way. I have doubts that culture still exists, so you may have to sell the advantages to the current breed of 2023 management. If you know others in a role you aspire to, I would also make your intentions known - you never know who may want to help a peer
Perhaps try to work with your current manager to identify relevant work/projects that would help illustrate your fit. Many managers have benefited from mobility themselves and may want to help via networking or placing a call on your behalf. If your manager is ‘disconnected’ perhaps try to play to their ego (play the game) and illustrate it as a feather in their cap.
You're getting 10x interviews externally than internally? How many external offers are you getting or why aren't you taking one?
Based on the job grade, for higher JG jobs if you aren’t approached to interview, a lot of times you won’t be considered
Limp a lot.
Declare yourself as an “under represented minority”! It will give you an instant transfer and promotion.
Build the network
The best way (if you can) is to try to work across groups. Working with people is the best measure of if a person might be a good fit.