A survival guide for the early-career oil & gas professional
In one week I’ll mark the completion of the first full year of my career — and what a year it was. For better or worse, I entered the oil & gas workforce during the worst oil market crash of my life. Yes, that’s right. Of my life. I wasn’t alive in the 80's — my whole life has been measured by oil business booms and expansions and exciting new technologies. To put it mildly, my career has not been what I expected.
Here are some of the most important things I learned over this wild, crazy year:
Model flexibility.
These days, things can change very quickly in this industry. Once a stalwart example of stability and security, it’s now known for uncertainty and volatility. Be ready to adapt quickly to changes in your job scope, organizational priorities, or even business strategy. Let go of “this is the way we’ve always done it” and embrace “here’s an idea to make this better.”
Set some personal goals.
In an environment where everything is constantly changing (including, sometimes, your work scope and performance goals), it’s nice to have some steady goals to work toward. Choose things that will both challenge you and add value to your career. For example, last year I noticed that a coworker had opportunities to be involved in several special projects due to his company-wide renown in Excel skills and SAP reporting. I set a personal goal that by the end of the year, I would be able to do everything he could do. To be honest I didn’t reach it (he’s really good), but I got pretty close — and it’s opened up opportunities that I didn’t have before.
Know your options.
Everyone should have a backup plan. No matter if you’re the star of your team, the company’s doing great, or you love your job. You should know what you would do if suddenly everything changed. Do you have enough saved that you could make it a few months? What would you do next? If you’ve already prepared for the worst-case scenario, then you can stop worrying if it will happen and focus on the things you can control — your performance and your behaviors.
Know your limits.
I won’t sugarcoat it — last year things were tough. It was scary and depressing and very hard to stay positive. Things might be tough this year, too. Do some introspection to learn which situations make you struggle and when you need to step back for some refreshment. Just as important, you should also take some time to figure out what helps you bounce back. Is it a few days away with family? A spa day? A long chat with good friends? Whatever it is, catch yourself before you reach the end of your rope and do it.
It’s okay to cry sometimes.
Just make sure no one sees you. At some point you may be pushed past your limit, reach the end of your rope, and need to let out some emotion. Find a private space, shut the door, and let it out. Then get on with your day. It’s completely natural to have a breakdown or two — you just have to be able to get past it and be productive. The key is to make it look like you’re holding yourself together, even if at the moment you feel like an emotional wreck.
Find a mentor you can trust.
You need someone who can listen to your frustrated declarations of “It’s not fair!” and turn them into productive conversations that drive you to be better. It’s best if you can find someone one or two levels above you — their perspective will be invaluable when you’re figuring out how to adapt to a new manager or chart a career path.
Keep an eye on your end game.
Figure out the path you need to take to get where you want to go in your career. If shifting organizational priorities or changing business needs take you off of that path, figure out what needs to change to get back on track. Have an honest conversation with your mentor or manager to see if your career development needs can be aligned with the opportunities available in your business. If they can’t, you’ll have to decide if you can afford a pause or redirection on your career journey, or if you need to exercise other options to get where you want to go.
When I first started with my company I was told “It’s an interesting time to be here,” and it certainly has been. Looking forward I’m not sure where the next year of my career will take me, but I know that whatever happens I’ll be learning all the way. I hope these things I learned last year can help you keep some sanity while starting your career in this wild ride of an industry.
