Retire from mega corp america
- Thread starter MattInAustin
- Start date
J
johnblake
Guest
Very true. This is what allowed me to walk away from a high paying job.
Now I think of myself as an investor/owner. We (owners) need to make sure the managers are running the companies to our advantage, not theirs'.
Spanky
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Re: A couple issues here.
That is probably more "true" in the Bay Area or any other high tech areas. My brother-in-law, an IT manager, told me that he would hire younger programmer/developer (less than 30 years or 10 years of experience) becuase they have no familiy obligations, healthy, are willing to work for cheap and overtime and do not complain. He said it is widely practiced there. I told him it is such a misconception that I elect not to comment on it to avoid confrontation since we were staying at their house.
It is unfortunate that so many people share that view that older workers are expensive, less effective, prone to sickness, burdens to society, etc. What happen to the days in which elders are respected and regarded as sages?
It is also sad that the people who embrace it are in their mid 40s or older. Do they ever worry that some day that whey will grow old? Do they want this kind of treatment when they get there?
Spanky
That is probably more "true" in the Bay Area or any other high tech areas. My brother-in-law, an IT manager, told me that he would hire younger programmer/developer (less than 30 years or 10 years of experience) becuase they have no familiy obligations, healthy, are willing to work for cheap and overtime and do not complain. He said it is widely practiced there. I told him it is such a misconception that I elect not to comment on it to avoid confrontation since we were staying at their house.
It is unfortunate that so many people share that view that older workers are expensive, less effective, prone to sickness, burdens to society, etc. What happen to the days in which elders are respected and regarded as sages?
It is also sad that the people who embrace it are in their mid 40s or older. Do they ever worry that some day that whey will grow old? Do they want this kind of treatment when they get there?
Spanky
gratefuled
Recycles dryer sheets
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2004
- Messages
- 178
First time I ever heard the expression it was "drop dead money" in a James Clavell book, Noble House. I think it came out in the late seventies or the early eighties.
Neal Stephenson used the term again in Cryptonomicon, as "FU money." One of his characters had a permanent little window in the corner of his laptop computer screen showing a number that represented this mythical sum; constantly updated in real-time to reflect a variety of economic inputs. Sadly, Stephenson doesn't reveal what those inputs were.
Neal Stephenson used the term again in Cryptonomicon, as "FU money." One of his characters had a permanent little window in the corner of his laptop computer screen showing a number that represented this mythical sum; constantly updated in real-time to reflect a variety of economic inputs. Sadly, Stephenson doesn't reveal what those inputs were.
Spanky
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Nord,
No, he is not evaluated on employee retention. He works for the county government. I do not think that the turnover is high since most would stay for the pension.
Spanky
No, he is not evaluated on employee retention. He works for the county government. I do not think that the turnover is high since most would stay for the pension.
Spanky
Hyperborea
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Re: A couple issues here.
You're right to be looking at the motivation/penalization. A lot of managers at (b)leading edge tech firms get bonuses based on overly aggressive ship schedules. Twenty-something guys with no family are much more willing to work 60-80 hour weeks on a regular basis than 40-somethings with a wife and two kids. They have fewer ties, more stamina, and are still in awe of working at really cool places (or they're revelling in being a junior sith lord working for the forces of darkness in Redmond). You rarely get bonuses for shipping well designed, quality products that require little in the way of tech support, that will be easily maintained, and that are upgradable with changing standards.
You're right to be looking at the motivation/penalization. A lot of managers at (b)leading edge tech firms get bonuses based on overly aggressive ship schedules. Twenty-something guys with no family are much more willing to work 60-80 hour weeks on a regular basis than 40-somethings with a wife and two kids. They have fewer ties, more stamina, and are still in awe of working at really cool places (or they're revelling in being a junior sith lord working for the forces of darkness in Redmond). You rarely get bonuses for shipping well designed, quality products that require little in the way of tech support, that will be easily maintained, and that are upgradable with changing standards.
BilltSuperTester
Dryer sheet wannabe
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2005
- Messages
- 17
Hyperborea,
I am one of those over 40 technology workers trapped by a combination of brass handcuffs and the stigma of hiring over 40 something technology workers. But, if all goes as planned in 2 more years a job at WaldoMart (Livin the American Dream - workin at Walmart) salary levels should allow me to semi-FIRE. Until then, the tough love of The Man will have to do.
I am one of those over 40 technology workers trapped by a combination of brass handcuffs and the stigma of hiring over 40 something technology workers. But, if all goes as planned in 2 more years a job at WaldoMart (Livin the American Dream - workin at Walmart) salary levels should allow me to semi-FIRE. Until then, the tough love of The Man will have to do.
J
johnblake
Guest
Re: A couple issues here.
The best developers outperform the worst by at least 10:1 in terms of productivity (and quality). It's difficult to identify the top performers, and in my experience age isn't much of an indicator of anything (maybe experience).
Bleeding edge technology changes so fast that everyone is always behind. If you don't have a job, and aren't wasting time fixing those underperformers' bugs while trying to get a product out the door -- it may even be easier to catch up!
Sounds like bad management to me. The company may prosper in spite of these decisions -- and often not.
The best developers outperform the worst by at least 10:1 in terms of productivity (and quality). It's difficult to identify the top performers, and in my experience age isn't much of an indicator of anything (maybe experience).
Bleeding edge technology changes so fast that everyone is always behind. If you don't have a job, and aren't wasting time fixing those underperformers' bugs while trying to get a product out the door -- it may even be easier to catch up!
Re: A couple issues here.
Spoken like a quality engineer
. . . but not necessarily like a "get rich quick" corporate executive. The half-life of a corporate VP at some of these companies is far shorter than the unreliable product return whip. They hope to be promoted and basking in platinum handcuffs long before the problem comes back to haunt them. 
Spoken like a quality engineer
. . . but not necessarily like a "get rich quick" corporate executive. The half-life of a corporate VP at some of these companies is far shorter than the unreliable product return whip. They hope to be promoted and basking in platinum handcuffs long before the problem comes back to haunt them.
Hyperborea
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Re: A couple issues here.
And if the exec is still there then the solution is a re-org to hide all the bodies.
Spoken like a quality engineer
And if the exec is still there then the solution is a re-org to hide all the bodies.
Hyperborea
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
I recently turned 40 myself but I have three things in my favour. I look a lot younger than I am - I was carded when buying port (for making beef stew) at the grocery store two years ago! I went to grad school in my early 30's so my resume makes me look younger too. Finally, I seem to have stumbled into a company that has older engineers and values them - half my current group is older than I am.
That's a great point to get to. I reached the point a few years back where if we added nothing more to our retirement savings that my wife and I could retire at the "normal" age with a decent savings/investment amount counting on only a sub-historical real growth rate. This is kind of liberating because at that point you could take those crappy paying but less stressful jobs and still not end up living in a box under a bridge when you are old.
Since then we've continued to add to the savings/investments and are just 6 years from leaving the salt mines forever. However, I'm always running the "what if it all goes to h3ll now then what can we do" scenario in my head. Every year the options are better.
BilltSuperTester
Dryer sheet wannabe
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2005
- Messages
- 17
My thoughts exactly. We are planning for 5% returns.
We could retire now on 45K pre-tax income and supplement that with Walmart income if needed. Nearly free from the Man. WooHoo.
BunsGettingFirm
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2004
- Messages
- 1,502
Then there is the whole stigma of being a bum (not that I think that you RE guys are bums
--Biker
Ah, if that's what you're worried about, just call yourself Retired_Millionaire_@35 on your match.com (or would that be Adult Friend Finder?) profile, and you'll get more inquiries than you can handle!
Seriously, though, I would just lie about my job. Just put whatever you were doing before as you job. The problem with your being retired though is that you're always available, which is a problem for some women who prefer a bit more chase and a bit more mystery. Of course, having a crazy job that doesn't give you much time is also a problem, as I personally experienced just last week! Nobody said it's easy!
J
John Galt
Guest
Just a couple of quickies! Forst, "looking for love" is
probably one of the most dangerous activities you can
get into (voice of experience). It can be very expensive also, depending how you go about it.
Also, many posters talk about "workin' for the man"
and getting away from that situation. Well, I was
"the man", so that was one issue I didn't have to
confront
JG
probably one of the most dangerous activities you can
get into (voice of experience). It can be very expensive also, depending how you go about it.
Also, many posters talk about "workin' for the man"
and getting away from that situation. Well, I was
"the man", so that was one issue I didn't have to
confront
JG
Best way to work for mega corp is to adhere to a term we used in the military: ROAD, to wit: Retired on Active Duty.
Use the mega corp. Save as much as you can. Be frugal. Remember, megacorp, inc. will throw you out at the first indication that they'll make more profit without you. Get out early!
Use the mega corp. Save as much as you can. Be frugal. Remember, megacorp, inc. will throw you out at the first indication that they'll make more profit without you. Get out early!
