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Alex_Russian
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Joined: 21 Sep 2009
Posts: 4
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 Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 3:07 am Post subject: Career change, MBA for a an oilfield guy? |
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Hello,
I would like to listen to your oppinion as I would like to do a career change and not 100% sure what to do best in my situation.
I am Russian, I have a MSs degree in geophysics and after my graduation worked around the world for 6 years as a geophysical field engineer.
Due to financial crisis my company transfered me back to my home country as a Sales manager. That is a good position, but quite a pay drop. I am considering two options: getting an MBA from one of the top 10 business schools, or getting another MSc in a British or American university in Reservoir engineering and continue with oil industry.
I have some good experience, but getting a job straight away there is tough as noone is hiring now.
I would like to move in one of the western countries and get a job there.
Which option would you go for if you were me? |
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Pauloz
Expert
Joined: 02 Oct 2007
Posts: 1160
Career Advice: +3/-0
Location: Sydney
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| Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 3:21 am Post subject: |
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Alex_Russian
I'm a bit biased, but in geophysics, your best shot would be in Australia. Our mining companies are always on the lookout for geophysicists. You can also get an MBA here, and the pay is definitely going to be a lot better.
Suggest you check out BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, ERA, Newmont, or some of our other big miners, see what's available, and how their international recruiting operates. (You could for example apply in the UK, etc.) This would also do a lot to get you into the country as a skilled worker, which is a much easier immigration route and makes the work visas a lot more manageable.
The other side of the demand in geophysics is in academic jobs. If you've got the experience, research work is a real possibility. These are corporate sponsored jobs as well as university positions. The Australian government agency CSIRO is another possibility (albeit with a spasmodic budget) which offers jobs in that field. |
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Alex_Russian
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Posts: 4
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Pauloz
Expert
Joined: 02 Oct 2007
Posts: 1160
Career Advice: +3/-0
Location: Sydney
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| Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 5:44 am Post subject: Re: TO: PAUL |
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| Alex_Russian wrote: | Paul,
much appreciate your reply. I kloved Perth and think it's a great place to work. What do you know about Australian oil industry? Do they value MBA? Do they hire foreigners?
cheers |
Western Australia is definitely a good place to start looking. They'll hire the people who can do the job, including Martians, and we have a lot of mining and oil interests in Western Australia, so Perth would be a good place to base yourself. Check out BHP, in particular.
MBA is an international standard recognized degree, so no problem there, either. In Western Australia there are three universities which can deliver an MBA. This is the MBA in Australia Guide: http://www.mbaguide.com.au/
Actually, even basic geophysics, not just oil, could be a good place to look. Our miners are doing a lot of exploration work, aerial MRIs, basic sampling, ore bodies, etc, so you could get in on some level in those areas, and shop around. These jobs pay well out here, even the truck drivers are on double or triple wages, so the money side is well covered.
The only problem at this point is the mining industry is comparatively slow thanks to the recession. China's position is vague, and Japan's ongoing recession isn't helping prices much. Fortunately Korea hasn't gone to sleep, and India is becoming more of a business proposition. Hiring in some specific areas is low, but in the technical and professional spheres it's pretty much unavoidable thanks to turnover and new project start ups.
Note: The energy industry has also branched out into LNG, and some big offshore programs, don't know if that's useful to you, but worth a look on principle.
I'd be very surprised if a geophysicist couldn't find something, recession or not, in Australia. I've got a family friend who's a geologist, and he's been working solidly for decades. |
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Alex_Russian
Newbie
Joined: 21 Sep 2009
Posts: 4
Career Advice: +0/-0
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| Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:50 am Post subject: RE: |
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Paul and all,
you have been most helpful. Do you think that getting a degree in earth science in US/UK will be more helpful for getting a steady well payed job in Australia than an MBA ?
The feedback that I get about MBA is very contraversial. On one hand you hear about many graduates doing a jump start in their new career. On the other hand some people say that MBA is a total waste of time.
Did you know any oil and gas technical people who went to do an MBA degree?
thanks[/code][/quote] |
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Pauloz
Expert
Joined: 02 Oct 2007
Posts: 1160
Career Advice: +3/-0
Location: Sydney
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| Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:05 am Post subject: Re: RE: |
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| Alex_Russian wrote: | Paul and all,
you have been most helpful. Do you think that getting a degree in earth science in US/UK will be more helpful for getting a steady well payed job in Australia than an MBA ?
The feedback that I get about MBA is very contraversial. On one hand you hear about many graduates doing a jump start in their new career. On the other hand some people say that MBA is a total waste of time.
Did you know any oil and gas technical people who went to do an MBA degree?
thanks[/code] |
[/quote]
The degree itself isn't useless, I think it's how and where it's used, or not used. The jump start may be from a low base, so that's potentially iffy. Maybe it does work by comparison with the original situation.
I will say, however, that you can do worse than a degree in earth sciences for work in Australia for mental exercise, as well as getting a decent wage. We have a range of situations from acid soils to chronic erosion to agricultural issues to an artesian basin that keeps disappearing on us. Sure doesn't get dull, and there's a fair bit of work being generated.
MBA is the business side, not the technical side. I can't say I've seen a lot of crossover, both sides sticking to their own side of the fence, but for higher positions in the industry, speaking the technical language certainly doesn't hurt, and the MBA is a generally recognized degree. |
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