One of the positions that I am interviewing with is with a company that has a 1.5-year leadership development program. What I'm curious about is this: for you engineers that go through LDP's, how do you feel about your career in that company? Do you enjoy doing the rotations and is the experience beneficial? Are you happy with a "leader" role once you come out?

10/9/2008 9:12:21 AM

i was in an LDP program that hired engineers and business majors pretty exclusively. we all trained together and end up with similar jobs, the engineers choosing more technical jobs specifically (obviously, thats what the company wants)

in the end we end up making about the same amount of money and all the engineers i know in the LDP didnt fit the stereotype of an engineer and ended up really enjoying the LDP because it gave them a chance to go into a technical role but still enjoy the social side since their job requires technical and people skills instead of sitting in a cube for years on end working by themselves.

my LDP doesn't put you into a "leader" role for several years but those i know who are at that point are satisfied with their job because you have a say in the jobs you take at that level.

10/9/2008 11:01:20 AM

what company is it, if you dont mind me asking?

I've gone through our 18 month program and I thought it was a valuable experience. Our program is a mixture of various classes and special opportunities and rotations only available to people in the program. I have mixed emotions about the classes...some were more valuable then others, but i thought the opportunities and rotations were great. The most beneficial aspect was that I was able to network with directors and VPs that I wouldn't necessarily have interaction with in my daily job. I thought that that alone was worth it, especially for a new hire (or fairly new).

10/9/2008 11:08:59 AM

Somewhat unrelated - what type of learning/training environment were you guys in? Was it hands-on (actually working), instructor-led classes, e-learning, or a blend? Customized classes or off-the-shelf training?

10/9/2008 11:50:43 AM

^^ mine sounds very similar


my LDP experience started with a 3month training program where you hire in with about 25 other people and spend the 3 months getting to know each other, traveling to the facilities across the country and having people from various groups come present to us. basically its an orientation on steriods.

after that we're sent to different facilties around the country for a year long roation. you're given projects and travel opportunities. you're being paid a salary and benefits this whole time but you're also on this certain track to train you for a specific job.

after your year is up you go back to world headquarters and spend another year working in different groups there learning the corporate processes and stuff.

then you get an assignment to work out of a field office

after a few years of that the opportunities are pretty abundant since field experience is highly valued in the company

10/9/2008 9:15:59 PM

My ex-boyfriend did one for the company he was working for. They told him they were going to be sending him to different locations every 6 months, even saying international ones, and they stuck him in Cincinnati for 2 years

10/9/2008 9:28:24 PM

yeah i had a rotation in BFE, kansas

while my friends had theirs in miami, beijing, san diego, chicago, etc.

certain divisions operate out of certain cities

however my field office has been working out fantastically

10/9/2008 10:03:16 PM

Interesting info Wolfy. Well the position is with Eaton, and they're asking me to deliver a 15-minute presentation about "myself" to a few hiring managers. I've never done anything like this before, but I guess I just mainly need to outline my leadership capabilities & experience?

10/9/2008 10:52:34 PM