Spent 7 great years here. Lasted through BOEF! 3-5 rounds of cuts. HR Hit squads, D-Days, The hunger games. What a load of sh*t that became. I actually perceived it as valuable at first when the 1st rounds cleansed some obvious turds. Made less sense as I watched quality people leave.
That whole thing removed a lot of people directly but more so indirectly caused a lot of solid people to leave on their own. That’s normal in a way for change but this above that. It’s an indisputable contributor to the poor current state.
I left in 2019 when projects started to dry up, very earlier in the year. BOEF influenced that choice but wasn’t primarily it.
While I can see that get company has changed quite a bit, I still miss it but understand it’s because I was there to the end of a great period. Likely the last like it.
What a time though! Paid well, challenging work and no shortage of it. Tough leadership with expectations. Just the right amount of competition between groups to push us. Super knowledgeable and competent people to work with. Low performance in a lot of positions wouldn’t last, and rightfully. Expectations for managing cost were present and mostly abided by, not at expense of certain comforts. Catered lunch meetings/ meetings were the norm and were 90% appropriate. The place was magical.
Enter in new management in various areas. You know the rest.
Around the time I left and shortly after, I was running into people who had been hired or were promoted who were obvious dipsh*ts. You know, the type you meet at an industry meeting and it’s clear right away. It was sad and felt a little heartbreaking. I left the door open but have realized I didn’t want the option.
FYI I am a white middle aged male. No doubt that extended privilege. I found myself in what I was calling an ‘old boys club’ but my inclusion was definitely based on MERIT. I had worked my a-s off and continued to. In my mind, collaboration, problem solving and performance was the answer. I watched high performers stay. It is true that my privilege gave me chances to maintain that high level of merit I needed. Around me thought it wasn’t the same story. It was tough to see someone’s buddy persist in a role that they didn’t deserve and def weren’t performing well. I wish it wasn’t that way. For anyone else who isn't like me and had a bad experience— I’m sorry. It’s not right. I get it and I saw it. In hindsight, I probably felt it but didn’t realize what it was. That part needed (needs) to change.