Professional brehs. Why aren't you Manager, Director, CEO yet?

[Hawaiian Punch]

I'm the spook who sat by the door. A fukking chameleon. To borrow a line from power:

Well, I'm a black man from the hood. Most of the guys I came up with are either dead or in jail. See people take you at face value... Me, well, I have to transform to meet everyone's expections, constantly. Truth isn't one thing because I'm not one thing. You understand? I take all my experiences and use them to cater to all different kinds of people, under one roof.

 

[Originalman]

Doing a good job at work builds your reputation. Not only do Managers see it but your coworkers see it as well. This is how your professional network is built. Always be willing to help others around you and keep a good attitude. Your money doesn't grow in a linear path during your career, your salary could literally double but typically you have to switch companies for that. I hit a wall at my last company. I was working there 4 years, pay was terrible. This older white dude worked with our department until he landed a VP position elsewhere. We got cool in the short time he was there. On his last day he told me to send him my resume. He gave it to his wife and she gave it to her boss. I got called for an interview that wasn't even an interview. I basically already had the job. We negotiated a salary and it was damn near double what I was making before. Changed my whole situation up in less than a week. So my point is, get in there do your best, keep a good attitude(but always stand firm on your principal)and the money will come.

This is nothing but facts.

 

[bennyfein]

Yep homie this is the best way. Sign up for the 30 buck linked in account version. This gives you the ability to send inmail to folks you are not connected to and also you can see the salary range for jobs.

So let's say you see a job with a company like UTC (they have a building division) on their website in say Houston.

You go on linkedin and search for UTC recruiters in Houston. Then when you find some try to connect to them and send them an inmail stating your experience and background (also mention the position and it's req number). Ask them if you could speak with them about the position.

Do that to as many recruiters as you can find for the company and or location where you see jobs you want.

Also hit up the staffing agency recruiters....they will almost always connect to you and or answer your inmail you send them. You can just search staffing agency recruiters in the linkedin search box. That should give you some hits.

Just hit up as many as you can and you should get some opportunities dealing with them. shyt is much better than indeed. Seems as indeed isnt getting as many job posting as it did years ago.

Thanks for the great and detailed response man!

 

[Concerned Citizen]

Actively working on becoming a director now. Became upper middle management and finally cracked that $100k plus salary and thought that I made it. Realized that I've been too short sighted and thought too small. Now I've reduced my focus on doing actual work myself and instead develop others to be able to work more effectively while I just make sure things get done.

I realized that personality goes a LONG way in climbing the ladder. You don't have to c00n but be the kind of person people like to be around. Stand offish people (black white or whatever) don't get ahead. Even when you're talented but awkward management just looks at you like a reliable workhorse but not a boss because those kind of people can't lead or inspire others to follow a vision.

Just had a 2 1/2 hr meeting with chief exec. Joint was scheduled to go for an hour but I started putting on game about Napoleon Hill and the Mastermind Group concept (look it up) and we got caught up talking about watching continuum and me developing a professional development committee.

 

[UserNameless]

I was a manager once and I hated watching over lazy ass people. All coming to me with these problems they could deal with themselves but then you realize... they can't deal with it so you have to carry that shyt for them along with your own shyt. They'll never be on a competent level either. There's more below average people out there than average and above. I had to spent my days trying to keep them from drowning.

Oh and the constant calling, no matter the time of day.

Nah :donotlike: Some are built for that, I'm not one of them.

If it's not six figures and/or something you're really passionate about and invested in, then it's not worth it. Especially at these traditional corporations .You really gotta be about that life ... and yeah the incessant phone calls and meetings talking about absolutely nothing and /or rehashing shyt that has been said a hundred times.

 

[Rekkapryde]

I don't want to be a manager because I don't like dealing with idiots. I don't see what's so hard about showing up to work, doing your job, then going home especially when you do the same damn tasks everyday.

I'll just stay in engineering where I can access a problem, recommend a solution, and if you don't implement it then I don't give a shyt.

Plus I can come and go as I please as long as the work gets done.

Quote for fukkin truth.

 

[Rekkapryde]

Everyone in here saying "Because I'm black" is fukking pathetic.

Sometimes it depends on industry. The one thing that sometimes can be in your favor as a minority is the fact that many companies like to "show off" the fact that they are "diverse" by having a minority in a senior level management position. It can work in your favor sometimes.

I like the industry I work in. Less BS to deal with.

 

[Hijo de luna]

Actively working on becoming a director now. Became upper middle management and finally cracked that $100k plus salary and thought that I made it. Realized that I've been too short sighted and thought too small. Now I've reduced my focus on doing actual work myself and instead develop others to be able to work more effectively while I just make sure things get done.

I realized that personality goes a LONG way in climbing the ladder. You don't have to c00n but be the kind of person people like to be around. Stand offish people (black white or whatever) don't get ahead. Even when you're talented but awkward management just looks at you like a reliable workhorse but not a boss because those kind of people can't lead or inspire others to follow a vision.

Just had a 2 1/2 hr meeting with chief exec. Joint was scheduled to go for an hour but I started putting on game about Napoleon Hill and the Mastermind Group concept (look it up) and we got caught up talking about watching continuum and me developing a professional development committee.

Breh, You speak facts but the bolded is what I need to work on. Our CEO's charisma is out of this world . We did a round-table in the Finance group one time. Basically ask him anything business or non-business related. This dude firing off answers like he rehearsed, telling jokes and always had related story to share. I see why fortune 500CEOs and successful businessmen are where they are. It's unreal.

 

[UserNameless]

Breh, You speak facts but the bolded is what I need to work on. Our CEO's charisma is out of this world . We did a round-table in the Finance group one time. Basically ask him anything business or non-business related. This dude firing off answers like he rehearsed, telling jokes and always had related story to share. I see why fortune 500CEOs and successful businessmen are where they are. It's unreal.

If you're not in STEM then personality, social IQ is nearly half the battle . I've seen some of laziest incompetent senior managers maintain, make lateral and even upward moves based on how personable they were .


That's why I fux with STEM, and the skilled trades so heavy . Less charades . Less chatty patty shyt .

Word to @Rekkapryde

 

[Hijo de luna]

If you're not in STEM then personality, social IQ is nearly half the battle . I've seen some of laziest incompetent senior managers maintain, make lateral and even upward moves based on how personable they were .


That's why I fux with STEM, and the skilled trades so heavy . Less charades . Less chatty patty shyt .

Word to @Rekkapryde

Nah breh, no matter what field you're in technical knowledge will only get you so far, typically you'll peak at Manager.

 

[UserNameless]

Nah breh, no matter what field you're in technical knowledge will only get you so far, typically you'll peak at Manager.

Technical knowledge is the core of STEM and skilled trades.



A welder , plumber , landscaper only has to know how to communicate about their area of expertise . I've run across skilled tradesmen who own their own thriving businesses with some of the driest personalities ... you can hire PR and you can social bots. Technical skill is rare .

Zuckerberg was a Poindexter who clammed up in public settings ... he eventually grew into enhancing his personality .

Technical skill doesn't take you far in jobs that don't require it which are most of the jobs out here so that's why you get all these quacks and shysters placed at C level positions in non technical sectors.

There's nothing like high level , in demand technical skill . Nothing.

 

[mannyrs13]

I don't have a "professional" job but in my opinion it's all based on politics. Most companies run that way. Who's kissing the most ass. Who knows who. Etc. It's all a game. It's not even about what you know but about how they see you.

Now as far as myself, to put my own thoughts into it. At this point I don't even know if I want to stay or go. Half of me wants to stay, other half wants to go. So that's killed my enthusiasm lately. The position right above mine is a bit more difficult but not too much. It's more leadership based instead of task based. More keeping up with reports. Which I'm a quick learner anyways. Main issue is the person above that, my direct manager. Who I respect less than the iteration between us but she isn't the one that reviews me. My manager isn't exactly easy to work for and doesn't always appreciate or give great reviews unless it's favoritism. I applied for a promotion a few years back and he got upset and denied it since he gave me a low review score. So basically I just haven't been given the right opportunity. Which is why I definitely need to transfer or leave. I'm considering exploring different avenues. Whether it's going back to school and studying something computer related, or stepping down and becoming an rx technician which basically pays me the same amount and i already have a license from the state. If I do stay and move up, I promise myself i won't change. Nothing worse than a manager that isn't humble.

 

[threattonature]

That's not true at all. Ass kissing/flattery only work on low level supervisors.

The combo of ass kissing/flattery and stealing credit for other's work is a great way to move up. The higher up the chain you go in many companies the less attention is paid to micromanaging. From what I've seen and talked with others about, the ones who move up is the ones kissing ass and working their way into conversations with the decisions makers. Once they're in the door and have the person's ear the next step is spin control. Being able to make it look like you played a large role in good things that occurred and pass blame on any fukk ups can make someone look golden even if the people really involved with the projects know differently

For myself I was on the VP track and fukked myself over. I was part of a program that had me in direct contact with the second highest ranking person in our corporation. I was pissed at the company though and dropped out cause I was sure I was about to quit. So I fukked myself on being able to shortcut myself there. Then I burned bridges by going at one of the VP's about how his friendship with my direct manager was blinding him to the fact that our division in the company was being run into the ground. My direct manager was one of those ass kissers who was a slick talker and got in good with the important people. I was on the second tier right under him along with two other managers. I just got fed up with him constantly fukking up projects, dropping the ball, then passing blame but as soon as something went right he would insert himself in as if he had anything to do with it. The VP asked me to dinner one night and I let loose. So then the VP said we need more communication and scheduled a meeting for all of us and another VP. I went off. Last time either of the VPs ever talked to me while they took my boss out to dinner. A year later more of the company stepped forward complaining and they demoted my boss all while the VP pretended he never heard of any problems with my boss previously or else he would've stepped in sooner. I was never even considered in taking his place so I moved and started working from home which effectively took me out of the running for any important positions. But I make great money with little to no stress from the work place so I'm cool with it.

 

[threattonature]

I'll add in that race can play a huge factor depending on the company. In mine I have another guy got moved to a new division developing a new software. Off jump they gravitated towards him. We had initial planning meetings and on of the higher ups was calling him alone days after. Even during the meeting they would just directly address him to answer questions. Even when I would answer anyway they would go turn to him for confirmation. There was a demo that needed to be given and they just turned to him assuming he was giving it. I gave the four hour demo and killed it. Next week that same higher up called my coworker on the side to give the same demo to the board of directors. All it takes is one prejudiced person to block your progress no matter how free thinking the rest of the company is the higher up you get.

 

[Hijo de luna]

Technical knowledge is the core of STEM and skilled trades.



A welder , plumber , landscaper only has to know how to communicate about their area of expertise . I've run across skilled tradesmen who own their own thriving businesses with some of the driest personalities ... you can hire PR and you can social bots. Technical skill is rare .

Zuckerberg was a Poindexter who clammed up in public settings ... he eventually grew into enhancing his personality .

Technical skill doesn't take you far in jobs that don't require it which are most of the jobs out here so that's why you get all these quacks and shysters placed at C level positions in non technical sectors.

There's nothing like high level , in demand technical skill . Nothing.

You make good points but I think you're confusing being self employed with being a business owner. There is a difference. If your business depends on you to be there 100% of the time then you don't have a business you've created a job for yourself. At some point if you want to grow your business you have to start delegating the technical parts. This is typically why employee will always have more technical knowledge than his Manager. Zuckerberg is the exception not the rule but you best believe shareholders want his ass gone.