INDUSTRY EMPLOYEE PROFILES

While you're here, meet a few people who are in the industry and see what they have to say about their careers.

Q. What is your current position with the Industry?
A. My current role is Technical Team Leader in our Information Technology department. I am responsible for supervising a team of 6 and delivering our team's goals.

Q. Where did you obtain your undergraduate/graduate degree(s) and in what fields?
A. I have a BS degree in Chemical Engineering from University of California, Davis. Then I obtained a master degree in Oriental Chinese Medicine.

Q. What subjects/courses were instrumental in helping you gain your current position?
A. I started with Chevron working in its downstream business operation. I was a planning engineer for four years before moving to upstream business. The basic engineering knowledge that I gained from college helped me to get started. However, skill sets such as planning, management, computer programming, and modeling are from the training company provided. During the last 8 years with Chevron, I have rotated into different positions every two years. The variety of jobs I held (planning engineer, project manager, production engineer, business strategist, and technical team leader) has provided me abundant knowledge about the company and the energy industry.

Q. How many years of education were needed in order for you to enter the industry?
A. I joined the oil industry immediately after I graduated. The training the company provided in the first 2 years was critical. The motivation to learn is another critical factor.

Q. Were any summer internships or advanced learning opportunities helpful in entering the industry?
A. I actually did my summer internship with a biotechnology company. Although the business focus may be different, the real world experiences were transferable. The summer internship also provided me the opportunity to realize what I am looking for in a company: career advancement opportunity, career ladder choices, benefits, work environment, and oversea opportunities.

Q. Does your current position allow you to travel? If so, what was your favorite location?
A. There was no travel requirement in my current position; however, I often travel within United States for meetings and training. I like to explore and learn about the culture, taste the native cooking, and get to know the people there; therefore, I enjoy every trip that I take. My recent favorite is Lagos, Nigeria.

Q. What opportunities do you see for yourself in the industry?
A. There are a lot of growth opportunities in petroleum industry due to the unique demographics where at least 50% of our current workforce will be retiring in the next 5 to 10 years. I have gotten some experiences from the downstream and upstream business. While continuing to build upon my technical skills, I am diligently working on gaining leadership and project management skills. My goal is to continue to pursue the management career ladder.

Q. What are some of your favorite aspects of your job?
A. I would say meeting and working with different people with diverse backgrounds. Learning about different aspects of the company business, helping new employees to be successful in the company, and managing high dollars projects and knowing you are contributing to the company.

Q. What are some of the most surprising aspects of your job?
A. I have learned to communicate with colleagues, who have very different work styles, to resolve conflicts, and to motivate team members to get tasks done. Learn to adapt to different work styles is a new challenge for me.

Q. What is the most rewarding part of your job?
A. Able to carry the project from beginning to finish, from defining the vision of the opportunity to successful adoption of technology you developed, is the most rewarding part of my job. Knowing what your team has developed is adding value to the company business.

Q. What are some of your interests outside of your position responsibilities?
A. I am a strong advocate of diversity and our company's internal employee networks. I have a strong passion in making a difference in employee's career development, and I am currently making this dream come true by playing a key role in the employee networks.

Q. What is the most exciting technological tool that you have either used or helped to develop in your job?
A. We are in the process of developing technology to help our upstream operations. I am currently managing four technology development projects targeting in using computer applications to quicken the decision making in our field operation. This is very exciting as it's a new area that our company is experimenting.

Q. Do you speak any foreign languages? If so, were they helpful in your position?
A. I speak fluent Mandarin as I was raised in Asia. I had several opportunities to serve as the translator for our business encounter with China; these translation works have provided me more exposure to those areas of business as well as developing more business contacts.