Should I feel like my job is threatened? 2

[bradpa77]

I am currently working for the R&D division of my company and I do FE analysis on turbine blades. That's been my primary focus for the last 3 years. As you all may remember, I've been a bit unsatisfied with my career for the last year or more because I want more variety in my work. My job performance has been sub-par for the last year or so due to my lack of interest in the job. In the last 3 months or so I've been asked to work with a consulting firm from India. Basically they want me to train them how to do the FE analysis I do. Reason given by my boss? He wants us to concentrate on more interesting work and give the grunt work to India. Part of me wonders if, instead, he wants to give the grunt work to India and send me packing. I've been agreeable to the whole India consultant thing because in all honesty, I do want more interesting work and I'm being trusting of my boss. I sometimes wonder if I'm being gullible though and digging my own grave. I am keeping my options open and going to interviews. I am interested in my career options anyway but this India thing is just another reason on my list to head for the hills. Add the bad economy to the equation and I'm even more nervous. How would you feel in this situation? Am I overreacting or should I get out as soon as I can to avoid a layoff?

 

[satchmo]

Has your boss given any specifics on what the "more interesting work" is? What is the workload in your department currently?

 

[TheTick]

Whatever the case, it's out of your hands.

As far as being used elsewhere, that will probably depend on how you are perceived. You've been slacking. Does it show? You been pigeonholed. Are you seen as less than versatile? The seeds of perception are already sown. Playing catchup on "perception debt" is a tall order.

 

[ash9144]

I think you are handling it correctly. Doing your job and doing to best your ability. While keeping an eye open for something that fits you better.

Maybe there is more interesting work maybe there isn't. Your boss has asked you to train some people to perform a task you currently do. If you do not perform this or do so poorly your company may have no use for you and let you go just due to poor performance. If the company has decided to outsource this task there is nothing you can do about it.

If you train them and more interesting work comes along then you can stop looking and enjoy a good job.

If you train them and nothing comes along. Get less selective and speed up your job search.

 

[vc66]

Never believe managers. As much as you might want to.

He may have been given an order from higher up that he has to put in to place, and may have no choice. Either way, at any point in anyone's career their company will not hesitate to drop them.

I'm not saying this is the case in your situation, but be careful.

I'd have the same question as satchmo... What is that more interesting work?

V

 

[KENAT]

There's a definite risk that your work will be given to the people you train and you'll get canned. So I'd definitely start looking elsewhere more seriously, though this may not be a great time for it. Then again, I have a fairly low opinion of management.

KENAT,

Have you reminded yourself of faq731-376 recently, or taken a look at posting policies:

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

 

[EddyC]

Is the work being subcontracted to real engineers or just software button pushers? My employer thought about subing some of our FEA work too, but aftering hearing some horror stories from others, has reconsidered it.

 

[benjaminc]

If you'd honestly like to stay with the company and take on some more interesting work (and in this economy, staying with the company may not be a bad idea), it seems to me that your best bet would be to aggressively pursue that possibility. As suggested above, try to talk to your manager and find out what exactly the more interesting work might be -- in the context of wanting to prepare yourself to take it on. Even if he is secretly planning on canning you, there is some small chance that your show of initiative could tip the scales. In any case, it can't hurt -- worst comes to worst, maybe he'll give you a slightly better recommendation for your next job.

 

[ctopher]

In today's economy, stay where your at and do your best. There are a lot of engineers that would die to work on FE analysis on turbine blades.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 08; CATIA V5
ctopher's home (updated Aug 5, 2008)
ctopher's blog
SolidWorks Legion

 

[bradpa77]

He hasn't given me much indication of what the "more interesting work" is. I did get a small side project to work on last week that didn't have anything to do with turbine blades. So that's good I suppose.

The one thing about this though is the India consultants are being utilized company wide. I'm not the only one being asked to off-load some of my work. I am, however, just about the only one who seems willing to cooperate with them. It seems like everyone else claims to be "too busy" to train these guys. Maybe they are, but maybe they are just as nervous about them taking their jobs and that's their way of keeping their work in their own hands. That's ended up being a pain for me though because, since I'm the one being cooperative, I'm being asked to coordinate projects with India for other peoples work too.

 

[KENAT]

Well brad, this could be your chance to become a project manager outsourcing supervisor type of person. To outsource well takes a lot of coordination, just 'throwing it over the wall' and expecting good results back in a few weeks rarely works.

May not be your dream job but in this environment can you be too picky?

Oh, and of course if you are enabling outsourcing many will treat you as some kind of traitor or similar but hey, it's a paycheck right.

KENAT,

Have you reminded yourself of faq731-376 recently, or taken a look at posting policies:

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

 

[MintJulep]

If you play things right, you might be able to turn this to your advantage.

If management has decided to out-source FEA, then it's going to happen.

You are in position to become the "liaison" guy with the outsiders.

Eventually management may see that out-sourcing wasn't that great an idea.

But, you're the only in-house FEA guy left and wind up being the FEA manager rebuilding a department.

It'll be a tough balancing act though.

 

[Yagonyonok]

Being the only one that is cooperating may not be a bad thing. If the company decides to let their current FEA guys go, and outsource it to India, they will most likely still need at least one person that can insure that the work being done in India is decent quality. Not to mention you will have the relationship with the Indian guys/company, which will put you in a good position to manage the work they do.

 

[KENAT]

Liason, that's the word Mint not "project manager outsourcing supervisor type of person", thanks for making me look dumb(er);-).

KENAT,

Have you reminded yourself of faq731-376 recently, or taken a look at posting policies:

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

 

[TheTick]

Ability to interface effectively with the India team could be seen as an asset that could work in your favor.

 

[Yagonyonok]

Mint, it looks like we had the same thought. I should have hit the refresh before I posted.

 

[corus]

Having been in a similar situation I know that training others to do FE will mean that your work will drip away elsewhere. Depending on who you do the work for though, some will realise that a pretty colour picture means nothing if they're not convinced by the results. Eventually they'll come back to you though, if you can provide the quality rather than the quantity. Of course sending out the grunt work to outside consultants makes sense, if of course you have too much work to do yourself. Otherwise it looks like they're looking for a cheaper supplier, no matter how good the results are.

corus

 

[Bribyk]

Mint's reply seems to agree with a few people, myself included. Also, being the first to cooperate with the plan and find the time (don't make it look too easy) will also make you look better to management (over those that are "too busy"). It makes you look like you agree with management's long term outlook and plans. When you've got your outsourcers trained up you could offer to lighten everyone else's workload so that the can do the same. It'd make you a star to management.

 

[diarmud]

Your job is threatened but as stated above, it could be to your advantage.

A poor reputation sticks long after it's been corrected.

Your boss may be directed to can you at some time and he may also be on the block.

Make sure you document issues with getting the work done properly in India, document any fixes and be honest about their progress (they are also getting reports from India). Unfortunately, except for a few cultural issues, Indian engineers are usually bright, energetic and willing to work hard.

Try to make sure others in management know you are trying and also your progress and attitude, not just your boss.

Prepare some good PowerPoint slides for him or other presentations, plusses, minuses, what is good and what needs fixing. Present them to him every other week (more or less) and try to make sure others in management see them. (If you have to, do preparation fo this on your own time, not at the office)

Most office rumors are true and most of the time the managmeent you work directly with is also kept in the dark as managers senior to them cannot trust them not to pass on confidential information to subordinates.

There will always be changes and threats and opportunities swirling around you. You have taken the right approach, positive attitude, work hard and prove your worth.

That said, as my old Dad used to say "At the end of each work day, you and your employer need to be even - you owe them nothing and they owe you nothing." I know we can't get to that point every day but within a two week/one month period you need to be there. Also have some money in the bank for lean times.

Good luck.

Good luck!

 

[IRstuff]

One thing you should consider, when looking outside in this type of climate is that going somewhere else puts you at the very bottom of the totem pole, i.e., LIFO. Whatever your seniority is at the current company, it's more than what you'd have at a new company.

TTFN

FAQ731-376