Has your employer been acquired?
- Thread starter besserheimerphat
- Start date
Funny. The company I work for just did a spin off with half of its business, and my plant was part of the portion that got sold to a private equity firm…. We are in transition period until Q1 of next calendar year.
Lol this was my thought too, I was like what is this the Medellin cartel
Yes, absolutely. I've both good and bad managers at each of the two companies I've worked for so I feel like I know what to look for and what questions to ask.
I'm in a good spot right now - like my job, like my manager - but I do like the thought of working for a smaller, more alike company. The CEO of the small company is an engineer by training which I like. And as a small/agile company, everybody gets to wear several hats. I think I can do a fine job evaluating the company, but the buy-out thing kinda threw me.
The chairman at my current employer is an engineer, which I like, but there are many "up-and-comers" who made their mark by cost reducing. From what I've seen so far they are holding on to that philosophy which is making the good people's jobs harder. I could just keep my head down and wait for them to move on but I'd rather make positive change.
If this doesn't work out I may try walking on at Alabama.As long as it’s not a chiropractic firm you should be fine.
Couldn’t help but notice the “agile” drop in there. The new buzzword way of working these days.
Engineering Manager / be very aware of any negotiation relative to compensation. It’s not what you think you are worth, what do they think you are worth - that is the baseline, and be confident you are better.
You may not have any idea of your value to them in their eyes.
You may not have any idea of your value to them in their eyes.
I work for one of those big companies that you mentioned they want to get acquired by.
In my experience the mid-upper management is a fire fight on who sticks around while the rest get integrated into our stuff. Then there is a culling of the heard, some big, some barely any, after about a year (it usually lines up with the fiscal more or less).
So I think unless you're in a manager or exec role you're safe for at least a year. Enough time to get your stock options sold/consolidated/whatever and then find the life boat.
In my experience the mid-upper management is a fire fight on who sticks around while the rest get integrated into our stuff. Then there is a culling of the heard, some big, some barely any, after about a year (it usually lines up with the fiscal more or less).
So I think unless you're in a manager or exec role you're safe for at least a year. Enough time to get your stock options sold/consolidated/whatever and then find the life boat.
I would also be more worried about Apple, Tesla, and Uber with Google bringing up that rear. Hell even a car company more than Amazon and Microsoft.
Yeah, and I'm not sure i want to deal with that stress when I'm content where I am. I have pretty good benefits here (health/dental/vision, 401k with a match AND a pension), decent pay with consistent 3% to 4% raises, zero commute issues (though no WFH anymore), high autonomy in my work, etc. I think it’s partly a "grass is always greener" situation.
But, I'll keep talking to them as long as they want to talk to me. If nothing else it's potentially leverage to get a quick grade bump.
I know you're not in IT proper but this is very common in my world. People change jobs every 2-3 years. It's kinda crazy. If you're in an in demand field which it sounds like you are, I wouldn't worry too much to be honest.
IMO adding exposure to autonomous navigation will open doors for you down the road. Not sure how much you've changed jobs in your career but don't feel like taking this opportunity will be the end with your current job. Leave on good terms and regardless of what may happen with an acquisition you could possibly return to your current employer. Either way you walk away with a pay bump (take the stock option!), and solid experience
I had an opportunity come along in December and after a lot of hard talks with my wife about it (have a now 11 month old at home) decided to take it. It has been a blast working in more of a startup environment.
Best of luck
It's the ole economies of scale versus bureaucratic inefficiency comparison. I decided many years ago that my litmus test for a company I would work for is the HR department. If they're big enough to have one, I'm not interested.
The pay would be much better in the Alabama position...
If you would do a little moonlight consulting in Louisiana the Alabama people may hear of your potential.
I have no experience in acquisition, but given your description here, I would assume when a tech company purchases another tech company, not only are they buying the product, but also the talent that comes with it. In the tech world, I would think the product and the talent are one in the same. When I refer to talent here, I am talking about those who actually make/develop the product.
With that said, I would assume that if your on the engineering/development side of the business that you'd probably be safe for a while as you would have working knowledge of the product. If you were in finance/accounting, HR, internal IT, then you'd might be worried.
I went through like 5 in 4 years. I was in the Ag industry and seed companies started consolidated and merge. I was on the research side of so this was the saying, “too many chiefs, not enough Indians.
Even had the CEO of one company talk to us about how excited they were to move forward and since we had already been bought and sold twice in two years, that they weren’t going to sell us as he chuckled. Well about a week later we were sold yet again. Was never really worried about losing my job. Just got tired of dealing with all the benefits packages, pensions and stock changes.
Even had the CEO of one company talk to us about how excited they were to move forward and since we had already been bought and sold twice in two years, that they weren’t going to sell us as he chuckled. Well about a week later we were sold yet again. Was never really worried about losing my job. Just got tired of dealing with all the benefits packages, pensions and stock changes.
I've worked IT for 4+ decades. Worked on both sides of the acquiring fence. And, I've invested for the same amount of time. Here's what will happen 90% of the time. The acquiring company will first be looking at what 'clientele' they've bought over what product they've bought. If they have a competing product, do not count on the acquired product ever hitting the street. Nor its technology being absorbed. Furthermore, to make the balance sheet look more attractive to investors, expect employee attrition. They may promise no lay-offs, but 100% of the time there will be lay-offs. Very large companies become stagnant in product and creativity and give way to 'margins'. Look at the three companies you mentioned. Google is an afterthought of what they were just 5 years ago (Hangouts is perfect evidence to that). Microsoft, well let's just say they're a 'marketing' company. Not a technology company. Always have been in the bottom half of quality. Look no further than the massive support industry to coo berate that. 80% of updates are merely cover changes. Amazon would, by far, be your best bet for continued success. Though I don't like their internal political structure, I can't argue their creativity and pursuit of quality to overcome margins.
And, finally, as you'll be one of the last one's in the door, expect to be one of the first one out the door. No matter how talented you are. It's a sad testimony to management, but for some reason 'managers' are higher valued than the underlings. Very sad, IMO, but I suppose they talk a bigger game.
And, finally, as you'll be one of the last one's in the door, expect to be one of the first one out the door. No matter how talented you are. It's a sad testimony to management, but for some reason 'managers' are higher valued than the underlings. Very sad, IMO, but I suppose they talk a bigger game.
