[Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
 | [Main General Bulletin Board | BBFAQ |
Prev by Date | Next by Date | Post Followup ]
Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
OT: Career Advice Needed - Automotive Related Posted by Randy Thatcher [Email]  (#22)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Randy Thatcher) on Fri, 20 Jan 2006 08:21:55
Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup
|
Automotive related, but not SAAB. But you guys are good for this sorta thing.
Times are crazy at work...
My old boss just quit after Christmas. He was in charge of all business we did with Toyota on the planet, and an all-around awesome boss. BTW, we do contract engineering to automate Toyota Plants (quality systems, conveyor interfaces, torque tool interfaces, robot interfaces, vehicle tracking, data mgmt, web reporting, kanban systems, just in time, etc.) Last fall I went from project managing and doing some engineering on these jobs to doing the Proposal work for these projects. That means I'd architect a solution, estimate labor, get hardware quotes, put together the propsal, and present it with a sales rep.
On Dec 28th I got a frantic call from a VP and a director to go to Toyota South Africa and help out on a project ASAP. I left on the 30th (on a $10k flight) and spent 20 straight days working a total of 266 hours including the hellish 32 hour flights. While the work was brutal, i have a sunburn from 1.5 hours on the beach under the ozone hole and new appreciation for South African red wine, All Gold Tomato Sauce (way better than Heinz ketchup), and veg bunny chow. And I'm getting a massive paycheck for it. Could be worse.
While I was gone some restructuring and temporary bosses were put in place, but I couldn't be tuned in to the action and the politics. I kinda thought a buddy would take the old guy's job, and I would get my buddy's job. That would have made me the commercial/technical "Program Manager" for Toyota globally. Turns out the people they put in charge don't know the business or customer, and are generally not the nicest folks. But hey, I got put into a side group quoting jobs last fall, so I'm insulated, right???
Yesterday (not even 24 hours back) the director calls me. Mind you, in 10 years of working there the only other time a director has called me was to send me to South Africa (3 weeks prior). I thought it was a pat on the back, etc. He did start off discussing a $2500 bonus he promised, so that was cool. He then asked if I would like to move to Japan for 3 months on a Short Term Int'l Rotation (STIR) "expat" gig to co-ordinate all of the current Toyota projects we're running. He promised a firm exit strategy so I don't get stuck out there, trips home every 3 weeks, and would discuss any role I want when I get back.
Upsides:
I've never had the upper hand like this in a work negotiation. I'm really in a powerful place here.
HUGE career potential
HUGE $$$$ potential
Killer resume builder
Wife could spend spring break in Japan
Could finally learn to drive a RHD car
Possible trips to various places in Asia while over there
Back in SF by summer
Possible free company car/gas/insurance when I get back depending on the role. Car would be a Toyota. Prius maybe?
Downsides:
Away from the wife for 3 weeks at a time for 3 months. Yet she's focused on school, so she says yes.
Have to live in Nagoya Japan for 3 months. Detroit of Japan (sorry, but I'm no Detroit fan)
Very lonely in Japan outside of work
This all came about 2 hours after asking around about new jobs with some friends and I was just about to start my resume.
Options
1. Say no, stick with doing proposals
2. Say yes, demand some a killer position upon return with $100k+ salary and a car (all they can say is no)
3. Start looking for a new job in the SF bay area that requires under 15% travel
What to do?
Randy
, Fri, 20 Jan 2006 08:21:55 <-- Viewing This Message
, Sun, 22 Jan 2006 18:41:25, Fri, 20 Jan 2006 14:56:06
, Fri, 20 Jan 2006 12:28:07, Fri, 20 Jan 2006 10:51:53, Fri, 20 Jan 2006 10:07:50, Fri, 20 Jan 2006 09:17:54
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
