Most of us come to work, do our jobs and go home. Be it the MBA development guys, the LSU guys, those wanna be green lanterns with their A&M rings or just a tight knit group of friends, they network, land better jobs, promote their crew. Over time they find themselves relatively protected when there is a downturn. Unlike most of us that just crank it out, we don't see the big picture, we don't have an enterprise mindset, we don't know how it all works, we are replaceable, we have no alliances. If in fact oil and gas is the good ol boys club which is just an outdated term for network why don't we, are we really that ignorant, do we not see the need to network, is this such an elusive skill that only a few can master? If you are safe this rom or not, dedicate some time where ever you end up working on building your network within the company. Volunteer for side projects only championed by the right people, kiss some ass, laugh at stupid jokes, ask every ego maniac to coffee so they can mentor you. Get less done, reduce company value and hang tight to the ball sack you have covered your body in during the next downturn, you will be safe as you have effectively networked. And for all you that are currently part of the good ol boys networks, chevrons current financial position and inability to execute prove that your networks absolutely reduce value, promote the wrong behaviors and whose decision making ability should be minimized.
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LOL @ TAMU rings.
Let me let you in on a clue bud. ALL companies are based on networking because companies are made up of people. If your job entails you to sit alone in your cube and never talk to anyone, you'll never get to know anyone and they won't know you. Thus, when the powers that be are in the big room discussing who to keep and who to go, it's all based up who you they know and like so they will fight for you. If I don't know you as anyone but the recluse who comes in the morning and leaves in the evening at the same time creeping everyone out with your hermit-like attitude, don't be surprised if I don't push for you to stay when the time comes. Don't be the Milton with the red stapler in your office. The other thing to remember is that the jobs that can be done via sitting in a cube and never having to interact with other people? Those jobs can and are being outsourced overseas.
So my advice is to be a person and get to know your fellow co-workers. What you call brown-nosing is just showing some regard what what other people are interested in. Here's a great book to read: http://www.amazon.com/Never-Eat-Alone-Secrets-Relationship/
And the best PMP ratings, jobs, hi-pot designations, etc will still go to people that network/brown-nose for 20% of the day.
Networking does not turn a valve or lay a bead. Check out any mcp, what did you do today to pull oil out of the ground. One way or another chevron or at least its assets will get back to being an oil company.
Chevron is a networking-based company. Did that surprise you? I know it can be annoying but did anyone seriously not know or expect this to be the case...or at least not figure it out within a year? If you chose to not play the game, that's on you.