I have heard a rumor that a lot of HES is going to be cut next year across the organization. Can any one share any thing about that? Also, it is particularly hard for HES to get a new job as other organisations doesn't have these much positions in HES. I work as an HES in the upstream and weighing my option to get out of O&G industry.
11 replies (most recent on top)
If you do not already have a technical (STEM) degree, go earn one. With a safety background and an engineering degree, one can go far. Personal safety seems to be mere "cheerleading" at Chevron, especially within Drilling and Completions - hear of EColors??!!
I'd pursue something more technical like, PHA or HAZOP, HAZID rather than just "Safety."
Spoken like a true HES professional, 8mfv.
Most of the HES people I had the pleasure of working with during my career were the best around. Especially the HES folks with extensive field experience prior to moving into HES, were invaluable to project safety and providing expertise on various HES issues. There are some though, right out of college who are placed into positions for various reasons in which they have no qualifications.
Let us HOPE HES get's whacked. Might be the surest sign that there's hope for the company.
YES! HES! I got a FEVER, an' the only thing that'll cure it, it MORE HES! If you're not goin' to HES meetings, or hearing about HES company-wide competitions, or wasting time on non-productive HES (stupid) surveys,... YOU MAY NOT WORK AT CHEVRON! Idiots. Trinkets, surveys, and mandatory "training" can NOT make people THINK before they do something stupid. I used to sit in the parking lot, during lunch, listening to Limbaugh on the radio,... without fail, some moron would come flying through the narrow lanes, and 90% of the time, the driver would be wearing red FRCs,... yep, an HES "professional", doing 30+ in a 7.5mph zone,... no cares, no worries, no brains,... and, certainly, no "culture change". I say again,... idiots.
Lots of things changed between last year (2014) and this year. The severe downturn in oil prices between 2014 and 2015 changed everything and whatever was planned back in 2014 is no longer the road map today.
There was a rumor last year that HES was going to be centralized. Field HES roles wouldn't be reduced (except for divested assets and reduced MCP activity) but all the overhead bureaucracy replicated across every OpCo and support organization would be substantially reduced or eliminated. The PR-friendly (and actually valid) reason is this would enable more sharing across the enterprise.
I concur @aaw. Excellent post.
Good reply, -aaw. Appreciate it.
A definite inevitability, not only in HES but most support functions. GOM for example where no matter what the talking heads say, the cuts are going to be in the 60-80% range, simple math.
It's a simple risk/reward evaluation. In the short term, you can expect further cuts in staff across the boards in O&G, including HES. However, in the long term, the O&G industry will turn around, and HES positions will always be in demand. Across multiple sectors, O&G generally pays far more for HES professionals than any other industry. So, you have a choice: stick with it and hope you survive these slumps in exchange for much better salary over your career, or move into a safer, but lesser paying industry. It really depends on what part of HES in which you have the education and background for. Health? No, go somewhere else. Environmental? Absolutely, as that will only intensify in the future. Pursue an MBA, or higher, in environmental law. Safety? Here to stay, but expect a bit more reality in the coming years, and more focus on getting the job done rather than spending 3/4s of the day on PTW admin. Zero is not only unattainable, it is unrealistic and unprofitable. You can't produce 2.6 mm boepd without at least a few minor cut fingers here and there. Besides, a few minor scars adds character to a person, and great stories to share later on.