Career Advice Please

[Japher]

If you're lucky enough, this company is on this list: http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fort...2007/full_list/

I worked for Genentech, which until this year, has been No. 1 for sometime. I have also worked for Johnson and Johnson which, while not on the list, is generally viewed as a good place to work. Also, being in Cincinnati, I know a number of engineers who have had bad experiences with Proctor and Gamble which seems to run in line with what I have experienced. That is, places on that list or with a high opinion of being a great place to work generally have either a "fraternity" feel to it or are so enamoured with their prestigue that they feel you should almost be paying them to work. Entitlement works both ways.

[Provost Harrison]

Originally posted by Japher
I finished that book last month. I found a lot of it "duh"-ish, but the ancedotes were good. I actually printed out the bullets from his book and have them pinned to the wall in my cube.

You're one of those are you? Sounds like you do have a future as a manager

[Japher]

What, one who reads? Or one who puts stuff on the wall?

On my wall I have a list of phone numbers, my information fact sheet (so I don't have to try and remember what my work zip code or fax number is), a plant schematic, and flier for auto repair place, and that print out so that ppl will think I care.

It's a pretty extensive list, someone would have to be bored and at my desk to notice it. besides, if they do read it they will be better for having done so.

[Provost Harrison]

My area more resembles Dresden after the bombing...

[rah]

Take a look at some actuarial courses. Those that have this experience under their belt are usually treated better at most insurance companies in terms of salary and promotablility.

[Provost Harrison]

Yeah but if he became an actuary, he would have to live with the curse of being terminally dull...

[MRT144]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
Yeah but if he became an actuary, he would have to live with the curse of being terminally dull...

I look forward toward being terminally dull!

[Zopperoni]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
Yeah but if he became an actuary, he would have to live with the curse of being terminally dull...

... and that would be different from being a scientist, how?

[DanS]

The thing I would worry about in your situation is whether you would enjoy the insurance industry. It has lots of unique characteristics, such as fairly extreme cost consciousness. These are your green eyeshades folks who will bust your balls for overspending for a sit-down meal on your expense account. Those companies that are the biggest ballbusters are also the most successful. These folks are probably interested in your process management work since they see a potential ballbuster in you.

Biotech and insurance seem to me to be polar opposite industries. I can imagine that the axiom "you have to spend money to make money" is nowhere to be found in the insurance industry lexicon. These are your 7 and one-half floor people.

On the other hand, the insurance industry should be the place where they weigh investments most carefully. If you have a definitive plan to move out of the industry within a certain timeframe after gaining experience, then perhaps it might not be too odious.

Lastly, on a personal basis, I have not found the mentality of carefully weighed investments to be particularly helpful in understanding VC work. I wonder whether the insurance industry would turn you into a green eyeshade-wearing curmudgeon who is perfectly happy with earning his 6% return per annum, knowing that his bread and butter is managing float. IMO, there is a certain suspension of disbelief that is required for VC work that is dangerous in the insurance industry.

FYI, in insurance, you will gravitate more toward Columbus than Cincy.

Good luck!

[Pekka]

Well, you can set up the VC thing ready so I'll get my MBA ASAP when the first opportunity arises. So I'll join it, and we can make tons of money by investing in porno companies and you know pharma so viagra and those kinds of things. We can specialize in pharma and movie industry this way.

Sounds like a plan

[Japher]

Biotech and insurance seem to me to be polar opposite industries.

I agree.

the insurance industry should be the place where they weigh investments most carefully. If you have a definitive plan to move out of the industry within a certain timeframe after gaining experience, then perhaps it might not be too odious.

I wouldn't plan on staying with it for more than 2-3 years. I am looking for away to use this opportunity as a springboard... grasping at straws?

Lastly, on a personal basis, I have not found the mentality of carefully weighed investments to be particularly helpful in understanding VC work.

It is my understanding that VC is at times funded by insurance companies. Also, the investment aspect of the insurance industry experience may earn me some street cred when it comes to investment advice, and lead me to better options when I come out of business school at the end 2009.

Basically, as I see it, I have 2 choices;

a) stay where I am gain no useful experience (other than 2 more years "engineering"experience) for the next 1-2 years

or

b) go to this job, make more money, gain managerial experience, learn another industry

in the end, when I have my MBA, will look for another job... until then it's about deciding what to do to market myself best.

as for the doldrum of it all; I'm a good number cruncher and task manager, besides I think by the time I am getting bore I will have my MBA.

Thanks DanS, you advice is always appreciated... and heeded

Pekka... porno companies

[Provost Harrison]

Originally posted by Zopperoni

... and that would be different from being a scientist, how?

Oh we are wild and man. Well in stereoptype only, alas.

Besides I haven't been a scientist for nearly a year now! Yay!

When I say scientist, it is more lab rat than scientist...

[Lancer]

If I had one of those jobs that paid me a ton of money I'd stay at it and plan my permanant early escape to paradise, not be thinking of selling insurance.

It's like all these moronic retired ex executives with massive egos that drive up the coast here in Oregon in their million $ RVs. They spent their entire power lives as directors of corporations dreaming of becoming bus drivers? They get out on the road and fight traffic and get in everyone's way. Nights are spent at RV parks denegrating the next bus over. Life becomes and endless round of traffic snarls and RV parks full of rich ex execs. Soon their mistake dawns on them but their egos refuse to allow self critisism so they take it out on the local service people by trying to make them misterable too.

Their wives always have a little fifi type dog that leave little piles of **** at every stop.

I'm done, thanks.

[Japher]

want some travel insurance?? just in case.

[Lancer]

I'm not going to New York or LA, no need thanks.