Internal Hiring/Promotions 1

[MadMango]

I am looking to hear how others have benefited or not from internal hiring or promotions, either concerning themselves or others. I don't think I've seen this topic covered directly, but it has been touched on in the past by various members.
thread731-188714
thread731-247365
thread731-91106

My department at work is looking for a Mechanical Lead. This person is to mentor, be the go-to with problems, act as a buffer against Manufacturing, enforce standards, lead design reviews, and basically steer the department while the Director does whatever a Director does. We interview round-robin style, usually 2 employees interviewing a new candidate at the same time, then at the end of the day we all compare notes. So far we have seen 3 candidates, each lacking a key skill set for the position. My Id has been keeping me awake at nights thinking, "We should apply for this!", followed by maniacal laughter that fades into chirping birds in the morning.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of these Forums?

 

[TomDOT]

So apply for it.

 

[SNORGY]

MM,

TD makes a valid point. Stepping forward and taking the role might be the best way to make sure you guys are getting the leadership you want.

Several years ago, peers and I had the opportunity to all step up and take various lead roles. However, we all wimped out because we had grown weary of having lived a legacy of being slapped upside the head by the power of veto every time we tried to lead or initiate something. Then, management changed hands and the company moved on without our leadership.

We now have what amounts to a primate exhibit where the engineering management used to be. And boy, can those hairy buggers pass the day aimlessly flinging poo.

Stupid us.

If you don't want to lead, be prepared to accept being led, as they say.

 

[kylesito]

Go for it. Who is better suited to steer the department than someone already familiar with its workings. I am assuming that you have the necessary experience though to do this. Obviously, if you are an entry level engineer now, it's probably a pretty big jump to get into a position like this. However, if you have 10 or so years of experience, why not take the challenge.



PE, SE
Eastern United States

"If a builder builds a house for someone, and does not construct it properly, and the house which he built falls in and kills its owner, then that builder shall be put to death!"
~Code of Hammurabi

 

[MadMango]

I had my interview yesterday with my director, I think it went well. No promises were made, and they are looking to fill the position within 2 weeks. I was a product development manager from 2004-2007 of an engineering group slightly larger than what we have now (10 vs 6), so I'm not afraid to step up to the position. I suppose my main concerns are the executive VP and director of engineering are new to the company (~2 months), so their form of leadership is an unknown to me. I was mostly wanting feedback from people affected from an internal promotion, either directly or as a team member. From what I have experienced in the past, anyone that was promoted and stayed in the same department made little difference to "the big picture", things still operated status quo.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of these Forums?

 

[TomDOT]

You will have to make sure you actually step into the role. Stay friendly with the others in your group, but it needs to be clear (to everyone) that you are now the boss.

Move into that prime office.

Change that group policy that has been bugging you.

Come up with a plan to streamline/improve operations. Implement it. Maybe it's free (good) coffee for your guys. Maybe it's cutting out un-needed steps in the process, or adding needed steps. Maybe it's a great new product improvement your last boss wasn't keen on. Maybe it's allowing some telecommuting. Maybe it's monitor upgrades for your guys, because it's easier to read the plans and work on dual 30" monitors (monitors are CHEAP these days!)

Avoid micromanaging. Easy for engineers to fall into, IME.

 

[StevenHPerry]

A resource from a passed-over-for-that-promotion perspective:

http://www.manager-tools.com/2012/01/i-am-a-former-peer

Manager-tools podcasts are an entertaining listen, even if the advice is worth what you pay for it.

From my short experience:
Communicate before you accept. Get a job description. What are the expectations? What are your responsibilities? What are you going to need to fulfill those expectations that you are not going to be in control of [e.g. reduce manpower costs 10%, but the Director makes all hire/fire/salary decisions]?

Get a clear picture of what the domain of this job is. If the person leaving that position was a powerless, directionless figurehead and wasn't "reassigned" for that exact reason, I would not have high hopes of making an impact by taking over that role. If it is a newly created role, who is going to cede what responsibilities?

If you have experience in a similar position, you probably do not want much handholding as you learn the ropes. Any suggestion that you will be eased into the role over an extended period of time or that a mentor will run the show in the AM and you run it in the PM (I'm not making this stuff up) might mean you're headed into a powerless and very, very frustrating position.

- Steve Perry
This post is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is offered with the understanding that the author is not engaged in rendering engineering or other professional service. If you need help, get help, and PAY FOR IT.

 

[ajack1]

I have been promoted within a company over co-workers had co-workers promoted over me and now own my own company so have seen this from all sides, these are only my views from the school of hard knocks.

Successful leadership is about making decisions, you listen to other peoples points of view but ultimately you make decisions, some will be right some will be wrong and you should be prepared to take the credit and the blame. Whilst we all like taking the credit, few like taking the blame. If that is you don’t do it.

There is almost always resentment from co-workers who also applied for the job you get. That can vary from mild little digs to just being down right uncooperative and unhelpful, you will need to deal with that and the politics that goes with it. It is easy to let it become two groups working to their own agenda.

Being in the middle is often the most difficult position as basically you get kicked from both sides. I had one job where the only time I felt like I was doing well was when the shop floor felt I was the management’s puppet and management felt I was the shop floors puppet, a bit like being a referee in a sports contest, everyone thinks you are against them and it is personal.

You will only make a real difference if management really want change and are prepared every now and again to give you enough rope to hang yourself. If you don’t have the power to make mistakes and you will don’t take the job.

Having said all that it is great experience, even if it doesn’t feel so at the time and certainly put me in a better position to start my own company although that was not my long term goal at the time. The more experience you have at different levels the better you become and the more you understand that things are often done for reasons that seem stupid when you only view them from one level.

As I said only my views from the school of hard knocks.

 

[pmover]

MM,

Change is good and change is "sometimes" not easy for (uh-hem!) "seasoned individuals". All to often, bad habits are developed and continued until someone identifies a better method or practice to improve situations. Sort of like complacency.

Sounds like you can/want to make improvements; so go for it. Perhaps a follow-up question would be how would you (management) accept change? listen carefully to the response and how they respond.

Regardless, good luck!
-pmover

 

[MadMango]

I was told the position is no longer open to internal candidates. Seems the VP of Engineering and the Director of Engineering weren't on the same page.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of these Forums?

 

[TomDOT]

That's got to be frustrating.

 

[MadMango]

The requirements for the opening reminds me of thread730-312980

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of these Forums?