Gee, I can't imagine why students raised on "being green" would not choose degrees in petroleum engineering.
“Gee, I can’t imagine why students raised on “being green” would not choose degrees in petroleum engineering.”
I moved to Tulsa in 1980. The petroleum industry was booming. Kids graduating with degrees in geology and petroleum engineering were making incredible salaries. Laid off auto workers were moving to Oklahoma and Texas to work in oilfield equipment companies. A huge housing building boom was occurring in the suburbs.
Three years later the boom was busted. Unemployment was skyrocketing and many of the newcomers to the oil patch were abandoning houses they could no longer afford and returning to their homes elsewhere.
Over the last 40 years I’ve seen booms and busts in many professions — engineers, geologists, programmers, actuaries, nuclear engineers, MBA’s, nurses, and even plumbers. The needs of the market are constantly changing and the college freshman majoring in petroleum engineering today may find there is no market for her skills when she graduates in four years.
The key to a long and successful career is being flexible and constantly developing new skills. The degree may get someone their first job (or not) but it will be the management skills and productivity of the individual that determines long term success. The engineer who cannot manage people is more handicapped as he reaches mid career than the urban studies major who develops the creative vision and management skills to lead and inspire a large organization. Likewise the high performing civil engineer who develops strong leadership skills may someday be the CEO of Exxon. Ask Rex Tillerson.