I so am fed up and disillusioned with everything that's going on here at Verizon and in the industry... When my kids grow up, I will do everything in my power to convince them pursue being a doctor, lawyer, or stay in academia and become a professor with tenure...anything but being a W2 engineer employed by some corporation. Same amount of education yo do all three things, and if they are smart enough to be an engineer, being a doctor or lawyer should be a walk in the park...with far superior $$$$ and job security. I don't see many engineers able to afford living in nice areas except the ones that made money doing a side business. But I see plenty of doctors and lawyers doing just that...
6 replies (most recent on top)
Hell no I don't want my kids being engineers. If I ever have kids, I will forbid them from being engineers. Getting my electrical engineering degree was an awful idea I regret all the time. It's next to impossible to get an engineering job and everyone else tells you you're too overqualified for any other job. I agree with you...if I have kids, I will pay for any college degree except for engineering.
Telecom Jobs will vanish as we know it, cheap labor is the future that awaits us, customer service vs. SDN, and the continuos reductions of jobs will continue, or outsourced to other countries, Wall Street will join corporations in celebration, I hope we get invited to their party
I'm 62 and used to be of the mindset that you get a good job, work XX years, and retire with a pension and savings. Well, it actually worked for me, as I retired with a lump sum + 401k plan. My lump sum plus just the company's contributions to my 401k plan amounted to a tad over $1,000,000. If only my pension plan hadn't been frozen in 2006... oh well.
But, yeah, the company I started with (GTE) was crushed by the "merger of two equals" by Chuck Lee (may he rot in hell).
I hung on as you just can't find decent jobs when you reach your mid-fifties, nothing like Verizon pays.
Today's worker will have to change jobs/careers several times in their work career, or their job knowledge will stagnate and their employability will decline. My daughter has changed jobs three times since she graduated from college, each time getting significant wage and benefit upgrades. And, employers today just don't expect the people seeking jobs to show up with history of only one job on their resumes. Very few will have a chance to have a long career with just one company. And, sadly there is probably spots on unemployment on the records of many, hopefully short term.
Good luck to all of you still working, the "golden" era of the worker is no more, and has been replaced by crap.
Politicians. Job security
If you ask me, I would not go the healthcare route - most doctors would not recommend their profession to their friends/kids. Also, many lawyers are depressed and committing suicide at rates well above other professions. Technical fields are touted as great career paths but they're far from easy and may not be enjoyable from day to day. the key is to find something that appeals to you as a person and not worry about the money.
I think you just can't be so dependent on an individual company anymore. Keep your skills sharp, never stop learning. Pay attention to valued skills on the market, and always keep an ear open for opportunities. That big corporation doesn't really give an actual shit about you as a person. Verizon is no exception, even though in the past we used to be much better than most companies out there (some are really bad, AT&T being one of them). Don't get me wrong, if this layoff is as bloody as is being indicated, it's a terrible thing. I feel terrible for anyone affected tomorrow. But, if I'm talking to young people about how to be an engineer, the above is what I would try to instill.