Posted on 09/03/2007 11:07:38 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
Every time John Remore steps up to his workstation to form a piece of sheet metal, he brings an intangible asset to the job: 42 years of experience, dating to lessons from his father.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Have to be careful in what I say. Family trait. ;)
Truthfully, so am I, but not as good as my dad (or probably your dad) was doing at 40. Our dads were becoming senior guys at this point and mommy could stay home.
You didn't have an engineering management job at 26 like RC2? Me neither. It's unheard of now.
Engineering is a Geriocracy and anyone under 60 looks 'young'. It's bizarre! it's never happened in the history of the US and no one has grasped the implications yet.
Yet the greedy ol' geezers who didn't have enough kids want to lecture me about 'work ethics' and getting out of working in defense engineering if it doesn't make me happy....
Actually, I live in my Dad’s house - I bought it from him, and kicked him to the curb, in my thirties.
He is pretty happy - the country house I bought him is nice.
And the cabin we own together is not too bad, if you disregard the flaming mice and lack of plumbing.
On the other hand, where my folks got by with one car all my kid years, I own two snow plows, a minivan, and my wife drives a really nice sportscar. She stole it from me.
Dang, I wish I could catch up with Dad at my age.
At one point in my life, I thought this country was sunk - I could never afford my parents house, etc.
I was wrong.
And I am in defense, as you are.
Hey, BTW, dad is making a KILLING since he retired. Spent a couple weeks at the Forbes castle in France this summer.
He is an artist.
Does you wife work?
Man, if you had just learned to capitalize this might not have happened.
See, writing loser-English makes folks think you are a loser.
Go figure.
She did not until recently - when I found out the tax implications of her returning to work, I quit my job, I was so pissed off.
(That lasted about a week)
I've not been that fortunate in my thirties: Like many, many others, I got laid off 4 times in the 90's--twice when SDI was cut back, when Crusader got cut and again when Darleen Druyun illegally awarded the C-130 AMP to Boeing, but I assure you, my credentials and resume were used on proposals to keep many an older engineer employed when they were substituted for me after winning the contract.
I'm doing well as long as my program hangs on, but based on recent successes the HASC has tried to kill my program because it is "too provocative" to other nations. You may be able to guess which progam I'm on--there aren't that many nowadays....
I'm the youngest engineer in my division at 40--I realized: "Oh crap, there is no one for me to be in charge of!"
However, while there is a shortage of younger engineers, I've got 4 baby-boomer bosses on the contractor and Gov side to check every aspect of my work.
I believe in working in defense, but I know I will suffer financially because of it: The Gravy Train has left the station and I was still in line for a ticket....
Hoping people die because you can’t get ahead is EVIL.
Oh, I agree, it is awful to be in a position were the only way anyone gets promoted is waiting for someone to die, but that is the nature of defense engineering now. It's a Geriocracy....
Do you see why older workers not retiring is bad for the "younger workers"*
*younger workers now meaning anyone under 60.
MDA?
Oh, and I don't know where all this 'work ethic' nonsense comes from, they do love to take Mondays and Fridays off.
I personally agree with you yet ........
I see upper level managers dumping older employees due the simple fact they are drawing higher pay due tenure, more vacation and with older age comes more days off for medical in some cases.
This is the trend in a environment where standards are set and a product is cut and dry without innovation or thinking outside of the box. Cookie cutter industry for a goobermint end product can afford to dump experience and go for the cheap new college grad engineer looking for first paycheck.
Now where new and better and design is key you are correct as to “those” employers keeping the old and trusty / crusty get err done sorts vs the what are you going to do for me crowd.
Agree with you I love Mondays and Fridays off........:o)
Old fart BTTT !
Stay safe my friend !
Ping list for the discussion of the politics and social (and sometimes nostalgic) aspects that directly effects Generation Reagan / Generation-X (Those born from 1965-1981) including all the spending previous generations are doing that Gen-X and Y will end up paying for.
Freep mail me to be added or dropped. See my home page for details and previous articles.
Sorry it is just such an obvious one....
“Well the world needs ditch diggers too ya know”
Judge Schmails (Caddy shack)
Well, if the perception is that younger guys can't compete with the oldsters in innovative design why would anyone bother to get an engineering degree?
As I said, It's a Geriocracy....
Different companies, different products , different headhunter theories........... we lost a crap load of old skilled widget designers and builders when new operating company took over our widget works........
They flush engineers like turds in the first few months and brought in an almost dangerous level of expertise or lack there of !
Subject matter experts they ain’t !!!
Stay safe !
If you’re competent enough to make captain and get a job in engineering, you’re competent enough to take control of your own future.
Go into consulting. Or start a business outside of engineering. Complaining never solved anything and defense engineering isn’t a dream job if you’re not happy with your situation.
Yeah, with a little bit of luck I could go straight from being the “younger worker” to being age discriminated against without ever seeing the increased earnings and promotions in between....
That could be an excellent field, because it will soon be actively integrating other aspects of building automation including lighting (theatrical as well as architectural), security/access control, elevators, fire/life-safety, energy utility interactions and more.
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