Re: WC 150K Post Challenge - You Ready?!
So I listened to that video.
Though I'm most definitely not considered a 'millennial' I have had a few discussions with them, my three nephews and two nieces.
I would say that I agree with a large portion of the talk. Though as always there's exceptions to the generalisations presented in it.
The one point I found most interesting is how he felt that companies need to be more invested in helping millennials out. I have to agree with this, well I think companies need to do more for their employees in general but I know most companies have taken on this idea of 'you sort it out' mentality.
I can of course use my own company as 'part of the problem' in this. Well in companies in general are a problem in themselves but that's a whole conversation on it's own but I think what I'll say will probably translate over.
So, I may have mentioned this before, I work for a large EPCM, (Engineering Procurement Construction Management) company. Though 'E' is the first letter, what I can tell you that most companies like mine are doing everything in their power to do more of the other three because there's less risk involved.
My industry has changed a lot in the short time I've been working in it (if you want to call 20 years short). We do a lot of what's called 'offshoring' of our services using 'value centres' for our engineering and some other activities. My job for the most part equates to supervision of value centre employees and checking. I don't really do design or engineering anymore. Main reason of course is 'money'. That's the reason for this. We are pushing engineering to India, China and the Philippines because it's cheaper. While reducing the staff in western offices.
So it's of no surprise that our company is bleeding young staff. We've lost 8 engineering graduates this year so far. Basically one a month. Why? For the most part, because we're not offering engineering as they envisioned. I feel sorry for any young engineer getting stuck on the project I'm on, for example, and yes I use the term 'stuck'. Large projects are horrible for learning anything on. There's a distinct lack of practical experience as well.
My company wants young staff because they're starting to lose senior staff to retirement. However, my industry has been horrible at getting new staff in the first place, years without any investment whatsoever. Then when they get them they offer the poorest experience for anyone. Who wants to graduate as an engineer and push paper around and 'check' other people's work? Not any bright graduate who wants to learn. Keeping in mind how low the amount of students there are interested in engineering as well.
My company talks the talk but in truth they're doing a very poor job of producing new engineers and to be honest the way the industry is going, with EPCM work, I see it moving more and more to the value centres and the other offices being used to drive the project. I think in the near future there will be more of a push to send people to these offshore value centres to supervise. At least that's my assessment. How soon I don't know but it tells you what I think of my industry. Maybe I'm jaded but I personally would tell any young graduate engineer to avoid getting a job at a EPCM regardless how good the pay looks if they want to learn to be a good engineer.
That wasn't always the case, but that's where we are now. I have little doubt that many larger companies that do software and engineering do this sort of thing. It is, to put it simply, brain drain. It's discouraging for anyone, let alone young people who feel that they want to achieve something.
Lastly, not to bash these 'value centres', the simple truth is, anyone who has to supervise from overseas often have a high level of frustration with their job and find it very unsatisfactory. There is not only a cultural difference but there is also a lot of other issues such as staff retention and skill level.
Through my life I've seen how the mentality changed with regards to career and how it went from one idea of stability to this newer idea of 'uncertainty'. Unfortunately, a lot of schools, colleges, universities, do not prepare students for this reality. There is still this belief that you graduate with a 'career' choice and you are 'stuck' with it for life. Which is so not true these days.
Anyway, I've babbled enough.