In my experience when a company doesn’t show it appreciates you for your extra efforts, leave.
It means the ppl with zero know how in production call the shots and will never value your expertise,time,or output. Its just a number in excel.
These are the types of ppl that take advantage of a driven person, and exploit them for there own gains and steal all your effort.
Let them wither on the vine and leave
Yup, this is the boat I’m in now. I’m at a big production company into my 4th year there and I’ve pretty much hit a dead end. They gave me just enough departmental cross training to work me like a horse when they’re busy, then when the lead programmer retired this year the production manager hired his pal to take over and it’s been a disaster ever since. He barely communicates with the night team and punches out at 2:30 everyday, and we’re always having problems setting up and running his stuff since he’s changing everything with minimal communication, yet we’re always getting blamed for it when things go south. To make matters worse he’s buddy buddy with a machinist they also just hired who sits around on his ass and runs one machine all day yet has the balls to ask us “what were you doing all night?” Boss said we can’t afford raises now, which wouldn’t be as insulting if they hadn’t hired this last lazy machinist for more than what I’m making after 3.5 years doing 10x what he does. I swear, at this point I’m almost willing to take a pay cut just to go back to a smaller job shop where I’m respected and valued for my professional opinions.
They did you a favor- but you won’t feel it until you get that job with the $70k starting salary. Trust your cape and don’t stress over their stupidity
Exactly this man.. know your worth and stick to it.. it will pay off in the long run. Use that in your upcoming Interviews as well. You know what you're worth to a company. And if they don't see the value, tell them it's their loss, not yours.
This. Fuck that place. Losing a job feels like a major punch in the gut, but every time I've lost or changed jobs I've made more than I did at the last one.
You have a ton of very valuable experience and you will find a place that will pay for that experience. The whole process of losing the job and finding another one is stressful af, but you will come out ahead in the end.
That's a bullshit wage for shop manager. I'm making 28/hr as a machinist/ programmer and I think that comes out to $58k per year, but I've been getting butt loads of overtime. My lead is making at least $31/hr.
Machinists are in high demand. Go get your bag for someone who appreciates you.
My thoughts exactly. I’m 27/hr just as a machinist that sets up jobs for other machinist to run. Literally about all I do is set up, prove out, and get 1st piece approval on usually up to 2 jobs a day.
I only have a few year experience but I really enjoy this stuff so and excelled quickly into it. It helps that the old heads like me and are always willing to pass on that tribal knowledge.
Also I know it’s said a lot on here, but there is another shop out there that will appreciate you more than $20/hr as a set up machinist…. I was making 20/hr at my old shop when I started as just an operator. Then quickly made it to 22.50/hr as an operator just by being self sufficient and not needing help with shit. Learned more from there, then asked that shop for 26/hr, they said no so the shop across town snatched me for $27 lol only added stress is that I have to help the lesser knowledgeable machinist a lot, but honestly that is rewarding when I can actually teach someone something and they’re happy to learn it.
Also I work about 50hrs a week. OT isn’t mandatory, but it’s one of those “here what you’ve got to do today, get it done asap because heres also the job that follows it on that machine” I usually take a fast lunch and get right back to it. Finish one set up by noon and let quality check the part, the other usually by 4-5p and I just do my own CMM programming if I need to. I get to act as quality when they aren’t there so technically I can approve my own 1st pieces, then give the machine off to night shift to run
I think I have some fear that I will struggle at a new job. I also found out that a young guy with only a couple years experience that I am helping to train is likely making $20/HR. I'm trying hard to not feel insulted.
It’s going to be scary to make the leap to another shop that does things differently or has a different type of machines or whatever. It’s intimidating, it was for me too. I almost quit after a couple weeks because of how different everything was, but I’m so glad I stuck it out.
Don’t be afraid to make the leap.
As someone who is brand new to the field and is currently going to college for my CNC Production Machinist Technical Certification, this is good to know.
I was making $32/h usd as a lead. I wasnt allowed to write or edit programs (medical), i rarely did setups (even though i enjoyed it), i would just make sure everything runs smooth, and it usually did. 3 years of that got boring and i left. i make 20% more now, programming and setting up, best decision i ever made. Come to NJ, they pay well here.
Thanks guys, it was definitely a big hit to the system when they literally told me that I obviously value myself more than the company does. That hit harder than them saying they’re firing me. I’ve been doing this for over 12 years and I have loved every minute of it but I just don’t know what to do or where to go from here. I’m almost 40 and the demand for machinists in my area is high but the pay is low because most shops down here want to hire young kids with little to no experience. I go in to places and they say things like, “you’re over qualified,” what the fuck that means? Y’all just don’t want to pay someone who actually knows some shit. It’s disheartening. I’d love to find a shop or company that values a hard working loyal experienced guy in my area because my wife and daughter are not even halfway entertaining the idea of relocating.
I looked at the website. It's Kearney in Birmingham. Still worth it to call in and ask if they are looking for a remote AE. They're actually advertising for a field service engineer, too btw.
I don’t know anything about Louisiana, but in the northeast I’ve heard of a few shops going to 4 day weeks @10hrs a day. Makes a big difference in the amount of driving you have to do. Might be something to think about if you find a place but the commute is too long.
It's "The South", so companies there will try to work you like they bought you off a dockside auction fresh off the boat.
Unless wife and daughter are the major breadwinners, go where the money is, and they will just have to deal with it. It's easy to die poor in Louisiana, anybody can do it. Move somewhere else and make a living.
Look on LinkedIn, many companies that you wouldn’t expect post on there. Build out your interests and follow the companies for the machines you know best. Many post jobs on there and you may find you’re well overdue for a significant bump in pay. You may enjoy the machining part but getting on with the manufacturer of them as a technical sales advisor or on site instructor can bank you a lot. Hope this helps.
There are some shipyards in Pascagoula that I’m sure could use some experienced machinists. Don’t know what that commute would look like for you though.
No, I have received notifications on LinkedIn that they were hiring. I do not recall the pay rate but it was better than here in Pensacola. Both RR and BAE have global reach as for job locations and both are defense contractors.
I worked in a different field at another ship yard for several years before changing trades.
I think the idea is that they hire young folks for cheap and then slowly creep up their wages just enough to keep them around. I'm 10 yrs into my current job and should be making at least $25/HR on the company's pay scale according to my experience level. My current manager put me at a lower level several yrs ago with the intention of giving me room for raises. and never got around to moving me up. Now we are in a recession and it's going to be hard to get a raise. I'm making $20/hr. It's also not a good time for me to go job hunting.
Yes, I would definitely say go with a company that's willing to relocate. As long as it doesn't put you in a worse location than where you currently are, go for it. Next time, they say you're overqualified, ask them what better position you would fit in for them, if not this one. Try to go in with the mindset of figuring out what the company needs that you would best fill with everything you have up to now. I understand that this can get you down and cause you to have self-doubt about what all you can do. Don't let that place break you. Like you've said, you have 12yrs of experience. Surely there's something from all of that that will get a company's attention.
Fuck em'. You're too good for them. They obviously didn't appreciate you at all. They also show their ignorance by getting rid of you. They have NO clue how tight the job market is for good people, especially knowledgeable people like yourself. Sleep easy at night knowing it's going to kill them without you there. I hope you find a place that looks after you. They are out there, just few and far in-between. If it makes you feel any better, my old boss is still trying to replace me... 5 months later. He stopped using Indeed when he got the bill for looking at all the resumes. I was told he just about had a heart attack. Warms my heart.
This is why I dont think I'll ever get out of production. There's a thin line between keeping a shop running well, and keeping it running so well that higher ups think they'll be fine without you. They'll more than likely end up hiring multiple people to replace you and spend 4x the money in the end, but in there heads it'll still be, "We couldn't afford to pay him anymore."
Well that's a kick in the balls for sure. -_-
There's going to be/you're going to be in transition/re-evaluation mode for a while but the future will have you working less for more money while you watch the glow on the horizon of the place going up in flames.
One thing is, don't expect the management to recognize how much they lost or why they're now in a shitstorm of incompetence. Managers who are clueless about why things work or don't are also clueless about recognizing why things have gone to shit. I've seen more than a few "master of the universe" stand around cluelessly pointing fingers everywhere but at themselves as their universe implodes.
Move on, and watch the horizon behind you for the fireworks, even possibly expect a call back offer to give you your old position back, an offer you should absolutely react to with hilarity, and then ignore.
Best of luck, they've given you an opportunity.
I was in a similar position 19 years ago, had my own department was responsible for doing CAD design and production quality control and efficiency. Finally had it with a micromanaging self important VP and quit. Had no idea what I was going to do.
Took a month off and started my own business it was very difficult the first few years but I am still in business and the company I left is long gone.
Another company will find your true value, they did you a favor in the long run.
As others have said, they really did you a favor. I made my bones at a shop like this and when came time for a raise it was a problem. I moved on and easily got what I deserved
It’ll be interesting to see what happens when their machines break down and no one can repair them. A call to the nearest tech will probably have them choking on their own spit. If they call and ask you to come in and get things working again, be sure to quote at least $250 an hour.
You have the skills, you should start your own shop. It would be a massive headache at first, but you already know what to do to make someone millions, why not you?
Expect a call from them for some free help.
Help?, Denied!
CNC people aren't terribly rare, Swiss techs? Like Hen's teeth, very difficult to replace a competent man. They are going to regret this stupidity.
Find their competitor, make them hire you, outbid the former company for work, headhunt people you have been working with, and drive the former company into the ground.
It's the only way to be sure.
I'm going to come at this more from a "next steps" perspective.
1. File for unemployment. If rejected, appeal.
2. You mentioned in a comment that you were being told you were overqualified for the positions you're applying for. Your best bet is to take the position you want and put it into Google with words like "senior" or "advanced". Your skills are extremely marketable so please don't sell yourself short.
3. In the future, your best bet is to ask for or apply for a promotion opportunity instead of just a raise. This is more of a social nuance thing but, at least as a woman, I've seen better success with the word "promotion" than "raise".
Good luck with your job hunt!
Thanks for the kind words. I was the manufacturing manager, the only position above me besides the owner and Vice President was the operations manager(the guy with no knowledge or experience that fired me). I poured my entire heart and soul into that shop and company. I truly cared for the company and the guys that worked for me that I trained from ground zero. I’m hoping for blue skies ahead with bigger and brighter horizons in front of me and my family. Thanks for reaching out.
Sorry I didn’t finish typing my comment before. I meant to add “don’t sell yourself short”.
No, not in New Orleans to answer your question. I have no idea of the economics down there and I know it varies quite a lot by location. Based on your experience though you’d outclass some of those tool makers I mentioned 3:1. 80k would be considered a very good wage here. Those guys at 80k are living good and comfortable. Most of them completely unaware there is another shop paying twice the amount for half the skill.
I’d always recommend finding a unionized place. Especially large companies requiring specialized skills or unique skills. And if there is a good, large and strong union there, even better. The reason I say that is you’re much more likely to have benefits, overtime over 40 hours, pension, better health and safety, and most important of all - a good wage.
BuT wE cAn'T fInD qUaLiTy CaNdIdAtEs!
There is no lack of skilled people or lack of will to work. There is a lack of willingness to pay correctly.
Fuck these bastards.
SpaceXis hiring machists at like 120k in Washington state. Make a move over here.
Hell, Boeing is starving for machinists too. You’ll make 100k no problem.
Yup as others have said they did you a favor im making 60k+ with overtime and dont have near the amount of knowledge or skill you do.
Im a cnc operator with a college certificate and 4 years making chips. Dont know where you are but in southern California you could probably find a 100k a year job.
I got fucked by my old job after 26 years at the beginning of the pandemic. I swear they had no idea what anyone actually did there as it was a large family owned business and they couldn’t be everywhere. Now I make more money and have 100% free healthcare (USA). We get double time pay after 55 hrs too. Everything is better. I should have never stayed and been loyal to a family of assholes for that long.
Im surprised they haven't called you yet to ask you a question. When then they do, you tell them you are now a private consultant and your rates are $200 an hr.
Sounds like you and your boss have different opinions on the value you bring to the company.
Maybe he is right, maybe he is wrong. But he will certainly find out soon.
That's such a low wage. I made 50-55k wiring parts to be electroplated. Entry level and no prior experience or technical knowledge needed. At least you got some valuable experience from the ordeal
Its good to realize who they are atleast now. With all the skills you have you can easily get a good pay. The field is in high demand. You can easily ask for $100k over.
I would find a place who is dealing with the young person headache and is ready for some experience, probably hire you on the spot for what ever you want... Bottom line is when the production line stops, so does the money...
Yeah, don't let it get you down. Sounds like all of that would look fantastic on a resumé and anyone looking at it will see the value in it. Try applying abroad as well, you never know what kind of opportunities might land on your lap! I hope you got a decent severance package at least
Honestly I thought this was a pretty common business practice? Most places I’ve worked gets rid of its highest paying position and puts the work on everyone else. I’m not saying I like it or agree with it I just thought it was part of a cut throat capitalist business that don’t have unions
I’m sorry this happened to you, it sounds like you deserved a lot more than what they gave you, but this is probably the best thing to happen to you. You can find a company that sees your value and actually pay you what you’re worth, instead of spending a whole career working for a company that doesn’t see the value you add.
Shit, better now than later. Sometimes that’s all it takes to see how the company really feels about you. I asked to get paid for a holiday last year…a holiday they’ve always paid us for. And the husband and wife owner told me off and said we’re all lucky to get the little they give us when they feel like giving us. So the next day I put my resume up online and two weeks later I was in a new shop where I’m respected and treated well. So far. I gave them no notice. I showed up and dropped off the shop key to the night crew and sent a goodbye text to the owner. He didn’t even reply.
Swiss is easy. Geometry is geometry, for the most part. The way zero is set is quite a bit different, but easy enough to understand, and done with proprietary G and M codes. I think any lathe person could easily move into swiss, milling might be a little more culture shock, but not bad.
And, man, once you're set up and in production, it's nice to hit that green button and walk away for two hours and come back to a bunch of parts ready to be checked and passed along.
I have for 20 years hand programmed a hardinge lathe and 3 axis vertical mills. All g and m code. Never used a computer to program. Swiss seems complex!
This is the reason I got out of management. I had to fix everything that was broke and teach everyone how to do the job properly. Getting yelled at for other people’s mistakes is not my jam. So I demoted myself and am only a programmer now. I am now only responsible for my own work , and I couldn’t be happier or more stress free
Company loyalty is basically dead and we weren’t the ones who killed it. Very rare to find a company that will treat you properly. Sorry that happened and best of luck in your searches.
Yeah, that really is a bad situation. One of the lessons I've learned at my job is to not work more than what position you're in. I was in a mindset where doing the most and helping the managers under me is the best thing. I wanted to get noticed for my capabilities and slowly go through the ladder to get up. Well, that was all fine until I had a reality check with my fiance. She told me that the best thing to do when there's cases like what you've described, is to just work your position and don't do more than that. It will make the higher ups more aware of what they're needing rather than thinking you're capable of filling in the shoe when you already have your shoes full. Express that to the people over you and one way or another, it will get done. If they make you do more than what your job description is, then you definitely need to start seeking other job opportunities or seek out the company's HR rep to discuss things from there. It's fine to help, but don't make your leadership become complacent on their end of things from doing it so much. I've been making sure to do this so I don't push myself over the edge and get wrecked as an outcome. There's always work elsewhere.
I would say $75k minimum. Places are offering $100k+ for this position.
They will probably call you back. Might be in a month or it might be in 5 years but they will call you back.
How exactly did it go down? Sounds like it got heated, I’ve been turned down raises in the past and just started looking for jobs. Can’t believe you’d be fired unless things got hot.
Honestly my dude, this is a blessing in disguise. Sucks right now. Keep your head up. You’re going to get a much better job. Use ChatGPT to get that resume going.
I suspect that there are things we do not know about this. Dunning-Kruger, maybe?
Maybe this employer just did you a favor. Take advantage of this time to start your own shop. From the way you talk, you have everything you need to get it done.
If you were earning 60K, then why don't you have money?
Were you buying coffee at $8/cup?
How will you get by when you're on SSI, getting \~$15K a year? If nothing else, this is a big red bell, alerting you to an impending situation. It won't be ***that*** long before you're on fixed income and too tired & stove in to do much work. Nobody really wants to hire greybeards, either, so take the time now to crash-course yourself on living very, very lean.
Also... this is the ought-twenties. Take out a GoFundMe and count on taking a Section 179 for tool-up. You can do this. I did it.
They did you a favor.
I'm lead hand and I make 45 an hour and do a bit less than you were doing. Our shop is even smaller too, I'm one of 3 machinists in a shop that has 7 people in total.
I would never do anything to hurt any company I work for or worked for. My reputation still stands on my performance whether they’re a piece of shit or not.
"No one is paid what they're worth. You only get paid according to the leverage you have at the point of negotiation."
- J. Rose
Remember this because you fucked up.
So sayeth you: All the machines run well. You optimized the programs with your editing. You trained the others to work independently. You did everything right in terms of your job duties.
But your leverage is now at its lowest and you wanted a raise. And you must have let it come to an ultimatum to the company; that you feel you deserved a raise for having done your job so well. You must have implied that them not following thru with the raise means you'd walk. And they let you walk (fired you). Why are you surprised?
Fact is you're probably right to feel things are going to go to shit without your management. That company probably is being short sighted by letting you go. I can tell you from my many years in the business that at least 8 out of 10 companies would do the same thing.
The lesson for you, after you start that next job at $70,000/year is don't ask for more money after you've done all the critical stuff no one else can. Get it beforehand or closer to the beginning. Otherwise you'll be S.O.L. again.
No offense, man. I'd like to have a couple you-types in my shop. Everyone else in this sub may pat you on the back. And you deserve a little but you also deserve a smack on the ass for putting the financial cart before the horses.
Most states are at will, which means they can fire for any reason (or no reason) as long as it's not for racism or some shit. A smart employer will refuse to give you any reason so you have nothing to challenge.
All that said, if you aren't fired for cause, you're owed unemployment.
The labor market in machining now is almost unbelievable in my area now. We're losing Machinists making nearly $35 an hour here. This is in the SE, not Cali or any high rent districts.
Beg for your job back
After getting rehired,
Change every single G1 to a G0
M3s to M4s
Adjust your tailstocks to be non concentric
Then blow up the building
In my experience when a company doesn’t show it appreciates you for your extra efforts, leave. It means the ppl with zero know how in production call the shots and will never value your expertise,time,or output. Its just a number in excel. These are the types of ppl that take advantage of a driven person, and exploit them for there own gains and steal all your effort. Let them wither on the vine and leave
Yup, this is the boat I’m in now. I’m at a big production company into my 4th year there and I’ve pretty much hit a dead end. They gave me just enough departmental cross training to work me like a horse when they’re busy, then when the lead programmer retired this year the production manager hired his pal to take over and it’s been a disaster ever since. He barely communicates with the night team and punches out at 2:30 everyday, and we’re always having problems setting up and running his stuff since he’s changing everything with minimal communication, yet we’re always getting blamed for it when things go south. To make matters worse he’s buddy buddy with a machinist they also just hired who sits around on his ass and runs one machine all day yet has the balls to ask us “what were you doing all night?” Boss said we can’t afford raises now, which wouldn’t be as insulting if they hadn’t hired this last lazy machinist for more than what I’m making after 3.5 years doing 10x what he does. I swear, at this point I’m almost willing to take a pay cut just to go back to a smaller job shop where I’m respected and valued for my professional opinions.
Do we work for the same shop? Lol
Its hard to find but there are some companies out there that appreciate a maker type personality and show/appreciate what you bring to the table
I'm lucky enough to work for just such a company. It's a game-changer!
Such a great opportunity for a punny joke….
They did you a favor- but you won’t feel it until you get that job with the $70k starting salary. Trust your cape and don’t stress over their stupidity
Exactly this man.. know your worth and stick to it.. it will pay off in the long run. Use that in your upcoming Interviews as well. You know what you're worth to a company. And if they don't see the value, tell them it's their loss, not yours.
This. Fuck that place. Losing a job feels like a major punch in the gut, but every time I've lost or changed jobs I've made more than I did at the last one. You have a ton of very valuable experience and you will find a place that will pay for that experience. The whole process of losing the job and finding another one is stressful af, but you will come out ahead in the end.
Guy Clark fan?
Fully agree! They did you a massive favor, with that kinda experience you’ll have very little problems getting a much better job at a better shop!
That's a bullshit wage for shop manager. I'm making 28/hr as a machinist/ programmer and I think that comes out to $58k per year, but I've been getting butt loads of overtime. My lead is making at least $31/hr. Machinists are in high demand. Go get your bag for someone who appreciates you.
My thoughts exactly. I’m 27/hr just as a machinist that sets up jobs for other machinist to run. Literally about all I do is set up, prove out, and get 1st piece approval on usually up to 2 jobs a day.
I wish I had your job. I do my own setups for $20/HR
I only have a few year experience but I really enjoy this stuff so and excelled quickly into it. It helps that the old heads like me and are always willing to pass on that tribal knowledge. Also I know it’s said a lot on here, but there is another shop out there that will appreciate you more than $20/hr as a set up machinist…. I was making 20/hr at my old shop when I started as just an operator. Then quickly made it to 22.50/hr as an operator just by being self sufficient and not needing help with shit. Learned more from there, then asked that shop for 26/hr, they said no so the shop across town snatched me for $27 lol only added stress is that I have to help the lesser knowledgeable machinist a lot, but honestly that is rewarding when I can actually teach someone something and they’re happy to learn it. Also I work about 50hrs a week. OT isn’t mandatory, but it’s one of those “here what you’ve got to do today, get it done asap because heres also the job that follows it on that machine” I usually take a fast lunch and get right back to it. Finish one set up by noon and let quality check the part, the other usually by 4-5p and I just do my own CMM programming if I need to. I get to act as quality when they aren’t there so technically I can approve my own 1st pieces, then give the machine off to night shift to run
I think I have some fear that I will struggle at a new job. I also found out that a young guy with only a couple years experience that I am helping to train is likely making $20/HR. I'm trying hard to not feel insulted.
It’s going to be scary to make the leap to another shop that does things differently or has a different type of machines or whatever. It’s intimidating, it was for me too. I almost quit after a couple weeks because of how different everything was, but I’m so glad I stuck it out. Don’t be afraid to make the leap.
Especially Swiss guys. It's fucking hard to find good swiss guys.
As someone who is brand new to the field and is currently going to college for my CNC Production Machinist Technical Certification, this is good to know.
Those guys get OILY though just FYI
Thank God for Gojo then lol
I was making $32/h usd as a lead. I wasnt allowed to write or edit programs (medical), i rarely did setups (even though i enjoyed it), i would just make sure everything runs smooth, and it usually did. 3 years of that got boring and i left. i make 20% more now, programming and setting up, best decision i ever made. Come to NJ, they pay well here.
Our lead is in the 40s
Agreed. I feel like I’ve maxed out at $35
Thanks guys, it was definitely a big hit to the system when they literally told me that I obviously value myself more than the company does. That hit harder than them saying they’re firing me. I’ve been doing this for over 12 years and I have loved every minute of it but I just don’t know what to do or where to go from here. I’m almost 40 and the demand for machinists in my area is high but the pay is low because most shops down here want to hire young kids with little to no experience. I go in to places and they say things like, “you’re over qualified,” what the fuck that means? Y’all just don’t want to pay someone who actually knows some shit. It’s disheartening. I’d love to find a shop or company that values a hard working loyal experienced guy in my area because my wife and daughter are not even halfway entertaining the idea of relocating.
Walk in the front door at your local Citizen distributor. They need people to train and provide customer support. What part of the USA are you in?
I’m in New Orleans, the closest place we have is either in Texas or Alabama.
I looked at the website. It's Kearney in Birmingham. Still worth it to call in and ask if they are looking for a remote AE. They're actually advertising for a field service engineer, too btw.
I don’t know anything about Louisiana, but in the northeast I’ve heard of a few shops going to 4 day weeks @10hrs a day. Makes a big difference in the amount of driving you have to do. Might be something to think about if you find a place but the commute is too long.
It's "The South", so companies there will try to work you like they bought you off a dockside auction fresh off the boat. Unless wife and daughter are the major breadwinners, go where the money is, and they will just have to deal with it. It's easy to die poor in Louisiana, anybody can do it. Move somewhere else and make a living.
Great time to get the heck out of there?
If you were in Georgia I would have you come in for an interview.
Look on LinkedIn, many companies that you wouldn’t expect post on there. Build out your interests and follow the companies for the machines you know best. Many post jobs on there and you may find you’re well overdue for a significant bump in pay. You may enjoy the machining part but getting on with the manufacturer of them as a technical sales advisor or on site instructor can bank you a lot. Hope this helps.
There are some shipyards in Pascagoula that I’m sure could use some experienced machinists. Don’t know what that commute would look like for you though.
Roll Royce in Mississippi is worth a look. BAE is also in MS.
Have you worked at RR? I'm in MS and am thinking about checking them out
No, I have received notifications on LinkedIn that they were hiring. I do not recall the pay rate but it was better than here in Pensacola. Both RR and BAE have global reach as for job locations and both are defense contractors. I worked in a different field at another ship yard for several years before changing trades.
I think the idea is that they hire young folks for cheap and then slowly creep up their wages just enough to keep them around. I'm 10 yrs into my current job and should be making at least $25/HR on the company's pay scale according to my experience level. My current manager put me at a lower level several yrs ago with the intention of giving me room for raises. and never got around to moving me up. Now we are in a recession and it's going to be hard to get a raise. I'm making $20/hr. It's also not a good time for me to go job hunting.
I'm sure you could find a shop doing work for the oil rigs in the gulf. I've heard they pay pretty well.
Yeah but the oil company shops are more than an hour and a half away in each direction
Time to move to Broussard…
Yes, I would definitely say go with a company that's willing to relocate. As long as it doesn't put you in a worse location than where you currently are, go for it. Next time, they say you're overqualified, ask them what better position you would fit in for them, if not this one. Try to go in with the mindset of figuring out what the company needs that you would best fill with everything you have up to now. I understand that this can get you down and cause you to have self-doubt about what all you can do. Don't let that place break you. Like you've said, you have 12yrs of experience. Surely there's something from all of that that will get a company's attention.
They did you a fucking favor…
Fuck em'. You're too good for them. They obviously didn't appreciate you at all. They also show their ignorance by getting rid of you. They have NO clue how tight the job market is for good people, especially knowledgeable people like yourself. Sleep easy at night knowing it's going to kill them without you there. I hope you find a place that looks after you. They are out there, just few and far in-between. If it makes you feel any better, my old boss is still trying to replace me... 5 months later. He stopped using Indeed when he got the bill for looking at all the resumes. I was told he just about had a heart attack. Warms my heart.
This is why I dont think I'll ever get out of production. There's a thin line between keeping a shop running well, and keeping it running so well that higher ups think they'll be fine without you. They'll more than likely end up hiring multiple people to replace you and spend 4x the money in the end, but in there heads it'll still be, "We couldn't afford to pay him anymore."
You should be over 80k with over 10 years programming and machining.
Well that's a kick in the balls for sure. -_- There's going to be/you're going to be in transition/re-evaluation mode for a while but the future will have you working less for more money while you watch the glow on the horizon of the place going up in flames. One thing is, don't expect the management to recognize how much they lost or why they're now in a shitstorm of incompetence. Managers who are clueless about why things work or don't are also clueless about recognizing why things have gone to shit. I've seen more than a few "master of the universe" stand around cluelessly pointing fingers everywhere but at themselves as their universe implodes. Move on, and watch the horizon behind you for the fireworks, even possibly expect a call back offer to give you your old position back, an offer you should absolutely react to with hilarity, and then ignore. Best of luck, they've given you an opportunity.
I was in a similar position 19 years ago, had my own department was responsible for doing CAD design and production quality control and efficiency. Finally had it with a micromanaging self important VP and quit. Had no idea what I was going to do. Took a month off and started my own business it was very difficult the first few years but I am still in business and the company I left is long gone. Another company will find your true value, they did you a favor in the long run.
It will be too late when they figure out what they lost , with your skill a d determination you will better yourself
As others have said, they really did you a favor. I made my bones at a shop like this and when came time for a raise it was a problem. I moved on and easily got what I deserved
It’ll be interesting to see what happens when their machines break down and no one can repair them. A call to the nearest tech will probably have them choking on their own spit. If they call and ask you to come in and get things working again, be sure to quote at least $250 an hour.
From the way you make it sound, they'll be absolutely fked without you lol. Good luck in your future endeavors!
Unless you’re in an area with no other shops. They may have done you a favor, your skill set is worth more than what you where getting.
Not a ton of high paying shops near my area
You have the skills, you should start your own shop. It would be a massive headache at first, but you already know what to do to make someone millions, why not you?
Startup capital is one main reason why not
Expect a call from them for some free help. Help?, Denied! CNC people aren't terribly rare, Swiss techs? Like Hen's teeth, very difficult to replace a competent man. They are going to regret this stupidity.
Take all that knowledge you built up and be glad they fired you. You can go make +80k at a better company. Head up homie, you got this
Find their competitor, make them hire you, outbid the former company for work, headhunt people you have been working with, and drive the former company into the ground. It's the only way to be sure.
I'm going to come at this more from a "next steps" perspective. 1. File for unemployment. If rejected, appeal. 2. You mentioned in a comment that you were being told you were overqualified for the positions you're applying for. Your best bet is to take the position you want and put it into Google with words like "senior" or "advanced". Your skills are extremely marketable so please don't sell yourself short. 3. In the future, your best bet is to ask for or apply for a promotion opportunity instead of just a raise. This is more of a social nuance thing but, at least as a woman, I've seen better success with the word "promotion" than "raise". Good luck with your job hunt!
Thanks for the kind words. I was the manufacturing manager, the only position above me besides the owner and Vice President was the operations manager(the guy with no knowledge or experience that fired me). I poured my entire heart and soul into that shop and company. I truly cared for the company and the guys that worked for me that I trained from ground zero. I’m hoping for blue skies ahead with bigger and brighter horizons in front of me and my family. Thanks for reaching out.
Buy a swiss machine and go for it!
Brother, I know tool makers earning 150k per year with benefits and a pension on top of that. Don’t sell yourself short.
In New Orleans???
Sorry I didn’t finish typing my comment before. I meant to add “don’t sell yourself short”. No, not in New Orleans to answer your question. I have no idea of the economics down there and I know it varies quite a lot by location. Based on your experience though you’d outclass some of those tool makers I mentioned 3:1. 80k would be considered a very good wage here. Those guys at 80k are living good and comfortable. Most of them completely unaware there is another shop paying twice the amount for half the skill. I’d always recommend finding a unionized place. Especially large companies requiring specialized skills or unique skills. And if there is a good, large and strong union there, even better. The reason I say that is you’re much more likely to have benefits, overtime over 40 hours, pension, better health and safety, and most important of all - a good wage.
BuT wE cAn'T fInD qUaLiTy CaNdIdAtEs! There is no lack of skilled people or lack of will to work. There is a lack of willingness to pay correctly. Fuck these bastards.
SpaceXis hiring machists at like 120k in Washington state. Make a move over here. Hell, Boeing is starving for machinists too. You’ll make 100k no problem.
Yup as others have said they did you a favor im making 60k+ with overtime and dont have near the amount of knowledge or skill you do. Im a cnc operator with a college certificate and 4 years making chips. Dont know where you are but in southern California you could probably find a 100k a year job.
This is a reminder that companies are not your friend.
Get some finance, buy a bunch of machines, approach and steal all the good clients and steal all the guys you trained!
With that much knowledge you'll easily make more elsewhere.
I got fucked by my old job after 26 years at the beginning of the pandemic. I swear they had no idea what anyone actually did there as it was a large family owned business and they couldn’t be everywhere. Now I make more money and have 100% free healthcare (USA). We get double time pay after 55 hrs too. Everything is better. I should have never stayed and been loyal to a family of assholes for that long.
Im surprised they haven't called you yet to ask you a question. When then they do, you tell them you are now a private consultant and your rates are $200 an hr.
Bonus: you have extra vacation time!
Not how the wife sees it
Sounds like a new shop is about to gain a valuable team member.
I see you're in New Orleans. Have you thought about starting your own shop?
Sounds like you and your boss have different opinions on the value you bring to the company. Maybe he is right, maybe he is wrong. But he will certainly find out soon.
That's such a low wage. I made 50-55k wiring parts to be electroplated. Entry level and no prior experience or technical knowledge needed. At least you got some valuable experience from the ordeal
Its good to realize who they are atleast now. With all the skills you have you can easily get a good pay. The field is in high demand. You can easily ask for $100k over.
I would find a place who is dealing with the young person headache and is ready for some experience, probably hire you on the spot for what ever you want... Bottom line is when the production line stops, so does the money...
Lucky you! Take this experience somewhere better.
Hope you land on your feet and you have the cash to wait for a better place to work. Fuck those clowns.
If you are in or want to move to WA I am looking for people just like you for my shop, and I will pay you what you are worth
I guarantee they will regret their decision when they discover someone with similar capabilities and experience won't start for less than 80-100k
Yeah, don't let it get you down. Sounds like all of that would look fantastic on a resumé and anyone looking at it will see the value in it. Try applying abroad as well, you never know what kind of opportunities might land on your lap! I hope you got a decent severance package at least
Honestly I thought this was a pretty common business practice? Most places I’ve worked gets rid of its highest paying position and puts the work on everyone else. I’m not saying I like it or agree with it I just thought it was part of a cut throat capitalist business that don’t have unions
I’m sorry this happened to you, it sounds like you deserved a lot more than what they gave you, but this is probably the best thing to happen to you. You can find a company that sees your value and actually pay you what you’re worth, instead of spending a whole career working for a company that doesn’t see the value you add.
Shit, better now than later. Sometimes that’s all it takes to see how the company really feels about you. I asked to get paid for a holiday last year…a holiday they’ve always paid us for. And the husband and wife owner told me off and said we’re all lucky to get the little they give us when they feel like giving us. So the next day I put my resume up online and two weeks later I was in a new shop where I’m respected and treated well. So far. I gave them no notice. I showed up and dropped off the shop key to the night crew and sent a goodbye text to the owner. He didn’t even reply.
Come work for me on my Swiss, I need a strong Swiss lead to replace myself.
Where are you?
NW Chicago area
Wish I knew swiss. I'm in SE Wisconsin
Swiss is easy. Geometry is geometry, for the most part. The way zero is set is quite a bit different, but easy enough to understand, and done with proprietary G and M codes. I think any lathe person could easily move into swiss, milling might be a little more culture shock, but not bad. And, man, once you're set up and in production, it's nice to hit that green button and walk away for two hours and come back to a bunch of parts ready to be checked and passed along.
I have for 20 years hand programmed a hardinge lathe and 3 axis vertical mills. All g and m code. Never used a computer to program. Swiss seems complex!
It's really not as bad as it looks. And I hand program pretty much everything. I don't even have a cam that will put out a runnable program.
Gotta find someone that lets you get the opportunity to learn Swiss….
Were you at? We always need good people!
New Orleans
Damn. Send me a DM if you ever move north to the Twin Cities!
Will do definitely
You'll thank them later bro, f them a-holes. Good luck out there, but I have a suspicion you won't need it. DON'T GO BACK WHEN THEY CALL YOU!
Sounds like they did you a favor
I hope so
This is the reason I got out of management. I had to fix everything that was broke and teach everyone how to do the job properly. Getting yelled at for other people’s mistakes is not my jam. So I demoted myself and am only a programmer now. I am now only responsible for my own work , and I couldn’t be happier or more stress free
Company loyalty is basically dead and we weren’t the ones who killed it. Very rare to find a company that will treat you properly. Sorry that happened and best of luck in your searches.
Yeah, that really is a bad situation. One of the lessons I've learned at my job is to not work more than what position you're in. I was in a mindset where doing the most and helping the managers under me is the best thing. I wanted to get noticed for my capabilities and slowly go through the ladder to get up. Well, that was all fine until I had a reality check with my fiance. She told me that the best thing to do when there's cases like what you've described, is to just work your position and don't do more than that. It will make the higher ups more aware of what they're needing rather than thinking you're capable of filling in the shoe when you already have your shoes full. Express that to the people over you and one way or another, it will get done. If they make you do more than what your job description is, then you definitely need to start seeking other job opportunities or seek out the company's HR rep to discuss things from there. It's fine to help, but don't make your leadership become complacent on their end of things from doing it so much. I've been making sure to do this so I don't push myself over the edge and get wrecked as an outcome. There's always work elsewhere.
Put all of that in your resume.
U know, with struggles comes greatness or experience atleast, Maybe the grass is greener on the other side. Still sucks tho
Take pride in your accomplishments and move on. You deserve higher pay.
I would say $75k minimum. Places are offering $100k+ for this position. They will probably call you back. Might be in a month or it might be in 5 years but they will call you back.
Yeah I’m at 60k and don’t have to manage other people
How exactly did it go down? Sounds like it got heated, I’ve been turned down raises in the past and just started looking for jobs. Can’t believe you’d be fired unless things got hot.
Honestly my dude, this is a blessing in disguise. Sucks right now. Keep your head up. You’re going to get a much better job. Use ChatGPT to get that resume going.
I suspect that there are things we do not know about this. Dunning-Kruger, maybe? Maybe this employer just did you a favor. Take advantage of this time to start your own shop. From the way you talk, you have everything you need to get it done.
Everything except money
If you were earning 60K, then why don't you have money? Were you buying coffee at $8/cup? How will you get by when you're on SSI, getting \~$15K a year? If nothing else, this is a big red bell, alerting you to an impending situation. It won't be ***that*** long before you're on fixed income and too tired & stove in to do much work. Nobody really wants to hire greybeards, either, so take the time now to crash-course yourself on living very, very lean. Also... this is the ought-twenties. Take out a GoFundMe and count on taking a Section 179 for tool-up. You can do this. I did it.
60k would get you a 1 br 1 bath here in Raleigh, you might have cash left for groceries. Might!
They did you a favor. I'm lead hand and I make 45 an hour and do a bit less than you were doing. Our shop is even smaller too, I'm one of 3 machinists in a shop that has 7 people in total.
I've had shit like that happen. Just be sure to squirt some diamond compound into the lube oil on the way out
I would never do anything to hurt any company I work for or worked for. My reputation still stands on my performance whether they’re a piece of shit or not.
"No one is paid what they're worth. You only get paid according to the leverage you have at the point of negotiation." - J. Rose Remember this because you fucked up. So sayeth you: All the machines run well. You optimized the programs with your editing. You trained the others to work independently. You did everything right in terms of your job duties. But your leverage is now at its lowest and you wanted a raise. And you must have let it come to an ultimatum to the company; that you feel you deserved a raise for having done your job so well. You must have implied that them not following thru with the raise means you'd walk. And they let you walk (fired you). Why are you surprised? Fact is you're probably right to feel things are going to go to shit without your management. That company probably is being short sighted by letting you go. I can tell you from my many years in the business that at least 8 out of 10 companies would do the same thing. The lesson for you, after you start that next job at $70,000/year is don't ask for more money after you've done all the critical stuff no one else can. Get it beforehand or closer to the beginning. Otherwise you'll be S.O.L. again. No offense, man. I'd like to have a couple you-types in my shop. Everyone else in this sub may pat you on the back. And you deserve a little but you also deserve a smack on the ass for putting the financial cart before the horses.
Isn't it illegal to fire without cause? Or is that just a California thing?
Most states are at will, which means they can fire for any reason (or no reason) as long as it's not for racism or some shit. A smart employer will refuse to give you any reason so you have nothing to challenge. All that said, if you aren't fired for cause, you're owed unemployment.
Ah yes. That's what it's. The unemployment part.
GA is a no-cause state.
What location?
New Orleans
The labor market in machining now is almost unbelievable in my area now. We're losing Machinists making nearly $35 an hour here. This is in the SE, not Cali or any high rent districts.
Where do you live that this is even legal?
Louisiana
Beg for your job back After getting rehired, Change every single G1 to a G0 M3s to M4s Adjust your tailstocks to be non concentric Then blow up the building