Importance of Networking in Oil and Gas Management
Networking is very key in enhancing growth and development. More often, people grow by interacting with their colleagues, learning the new things their friends do. In business, Turkina (2018) acknowledge that social networks help stimulate business growth by generating knowledge spillover, creating business opportunities, and reducing transaction costs. The concept of networking in business also apply in career development. Moreover, Wolff and Moser (2009) attribute networking to favorable performance rating where it positively relates to the objective and subjective measure of career success. During occasions such as conferences, the family gets together, individuals meet and get to know developments of their friends and colleagues. It is during these opportunities that friends and acquaintances exchange business cards which later results to businesses. People are able to learn services that colleague’s offer which forms part of a business opportunity.
Additionally, through networking, individuals are able to learn how to take advantage of business opportunities available in oil and gas management. Gibson, Hardy III, and Ronald Buckley (2014) found out that networking enables access to social capital and information besides being of great professional value. Sharing career goals often lead to the creation of business prospects (De Klerk 2010). When one highlight their disappointments, for example, with a supplier, then it forms a basis of business opportunity if they are able to meet the demand. As such, one gets to know of an opportunity by the others highlighting their plight. It is also through these networking sessions that people learn of businesses that their friends, family members offer. Therefore, networking is a great way of creating awareness among colleagues on current and upcoming opportunities.
On February 28 and March 5 2018, I attended oil and gas exhibition and Waste Management Workshop respectively. The theme of the gas event was collaboration, innovation, and rejuvenation. More than forty presenters made their maiden presentations. Speaker after speaker covered major energy facets in the region which included major industry players in oil and gas. Furthermore, nuclear and offshore wind sectors delivered high-level information when they availed current opportunities for the supply chain. Looking back on to that day, I tend to agree with Cavilla (2017) when he observed that a reflection is a tool for creating a positive correlation between academic performance and motivation. Concerning the waste management workshop, Martin Bjerregaard from D3 Consultancy reviewed 5 key regulatory principles. The principles reviewed are; more hazardous waste management, setting up and running active waste management, what material inventory should include, how waste framework policy affect decommissioning, and duty of care. Remembering what the guests spoke on are still fresh in my mind. Therefore, I believe reflection is key to solidify what one learns.
Developing Skills Set
Some of the skills I used during that event is listening to ability. I was very attentive to learn about current opportunities I can venture into upon graduation. Besides, I also used my out-going ability to interact with participants where I gained valuable experiences. One of the things that stood out is that opportunities are in plenty, especially export of oil and gas in African countries. Through my ability to internalize information, I have now decided where I am going to after completing my studies. I also took advantage of my communication skills to approach the organizers where we strike a deal to come and give some public lecture to the department at our college grounds.
Developing skills set
I can use oil and gas management degree program to develop a skill set for my desired career by nurturing and horning my management abilities. After completing this course, I intend to become a manager in one of the oil and gas companies. From this degree, I am learning customized management to handle the oil and gas sector. I am using this opportunity to strengthen my management and leadership skills, communication skills, collaboration skills, critical thinking skills, financial management skills, and project management skills (American Management Association 2018). For example, upon becoming a manager, I will use critical thinking and project management skill to invest in areas that will benefit the company both socially and economically. Collaboration skills will also ensure that I relate with other stakeholders holistically to improve and grow the industry.
Professional qualification
Besides my degree in oil and gas management, I wish to do a program in project management. This program will position me to grab more opportunities owing to various investments that are currently available. In particular, I will acquire additional skills related to managing quality, defining plans and organizing activities, enforcing and encouraging teamwork, maximize resource use, managing integration, change management, and managing quality. According to Reid (2014), project management enhances accountability of managers, leadership skills, communication, resource management which encompass; human resource, financial resource, material, and time. Ideally, as an aspiring manager, this professional course is a must do.
The rationale for undertaking this course will be to enhance my management abilities and familiarize my career direction. Specifically, I shall sharpen my management skills in a bid to stay ahead of the industry competition.
I plan to take this course on a part-time basis after completing my undergraduate program. As such, I will be studying and working simultaneously. This will enable me to grow and amass knowledge as I climb the career ladder. Taking this course will strengthen my resume and provide personal satisfaction. It shall improve my career advancement opportunities, increase my earning potential, and enable me to inspire impact in my working organization and thus become a preferred candidate. It will also help improve my value to every employer considering that it is a good combination.
Professional Qualification
Additionally, a project management professional program shall enable me to gain respect from my colleagues and superiors as well as increasing my chances of getting more job opportunities to advance my career. Therefore, I will be one of the top talents the company will love to work with by inspiring performance and growth in the organization. Employers will also identify and differentiate my ability compared with my peers because of a great combination of career path. Moreover, employees often look for top talents, those who have a sense of direction to drive their growth agenda. With all the skills, I will be one of the preferred candidates more so due to self-confidence and drive I possess.
Current job description
According to Indeed (2018), SGS is seeking to recruit an operator in their oil and gas company. The successful candidate will work full time on a permanent basis, in Newport. SDS is a global leader and innovator in certification, testing, verification, and inspection services. The specification for the job includes; complying with the ISPS code every day and ensuring that workers are checked whenever they enter or leave the facility. Another responsibility is general housekeeping duties, participating in plant emergency exercise, and ensuring generation of correct paperwork and given to RTW drivers. Besides, other tasks are ensuring that correct grade of bitumen is always loaded onto RTW’s, assisting drivers in a safe loading of bitumen products while understanding and operating within control standards in the working area. Additionally, the ideal candidate should maintain paperwork and facility logs and ensure concise handovers, monitoring vessels positions alongside gangway, the ship moorings, the jetty, and general ship management. Apart from the responsibilities mentioned, the ideal candidate should meet the following specifications; have a good working knowledge of jetty, marine, and terminal operations. The successful candidate should have the ability to undertake physically demanding tasks and operate outdoors.
Moreover, the job requires a candidate with the following skills; able to work under minimum supervision and a degree of autonomy, be flexible in adopting change and work priorities as well demonstrate effective interpersonal skills, be a team player between colleagues and clients. Another required skill is having a good level of numeracy and literacy. Furthermore, the required skills are part of my broad range of skill highlighted in my curriculum vitae (CV) and LinkedIn profile. For example, I have the following skills, management, team player, listening, effective communication, flexible, mediation, leadership, strategic planning, project management, business process improvement, creativity, conflict resolution, self-motivation and decision making.
Current Job Description
During my previous interview, I performed tremendously well because I did some background check on the company. I answered every question with a lot of ease. I used my communication and listening skills to my advantage. I engaged the interviewee in a professional manner, with more confidence. I can say that I performed exceptionally well during the interview since I applied the STAR technique. For example, this is how I responded to the questions.
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STAR METHOD INTERVIEW |
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Q |
Why should we hire you? |
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S |
I am very passionate about what I do and go an extra mile to make sure every task assigned deliver results. |
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T |
Considering that this job is demanding, I will explore my potential to the maximum. . |
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A |
I can manage the tasks before since I have handled similar tasks before. |
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R |
With such massive experience, I will deliver results which will see the company grow its earnings. |
Oil and gas management is a program I hold dearly. It has enabled me to interact with market leaders during exhibitions. I am seeing myself as one of the sorts of managers in years to come. Moreover, giving credit to Moon (2013), reflection is a way of enabling one to remember what they learned and draw meaningful lessons from them. In that line of thought, oil and gas management has been very important to my career growth and development.
The knowledge I have acquired is immeasurable and will guide me throughout my career in managing projects related to oil and gas and beyond. I am now eager to embark on service delivery and drive performance of various companies. Even though I have performed well in this program, there are things I need to adjust, for example, being over-ambitious. I feel like I can now run the international companies. But unfortunately, there are steps up the career ladder which I will have to adhere. I also believe that this program should incorporate safety certification course so that graduates can start practicing immediately upon completion.
References
American Management Association, 2018. 6 Managerial Skills that will make you indispensable. [Online] Available from: https://www.amanet.org/training/promotions/six-skills-for-managers-and-leaders.aspx. (Accessed March 25 2018).
Cavilla, D., 2017. The Effects of Student Reflection on Academic Performance and Motivation. SAGE Open, 7(3), p.2158244017733790.
De Klerk, S., 2010. The importance of networking as a management skill. South African journal of business management, 41(1), pp.37-49.
Gibson, C., H. Hardy III, J. and Ronald Buckley, M., 2014. Understanding the role of networking in organizations. Career Development International, 19(2), pp.146-161.
Indeed, 2018. Operator, oil and gas. [Online] Available from: https://www.indeed.co.uk/viewjob?jk=a8a9c9aaaa893188&tk=1c9g439pi9momd2q&from=serp&vjs=3 (Accessed March 25 2018).
Moon, J.A., 2013. Reflection in learning and professional development: Theory and practice. Routledge.
Turkina, E., 2018. The importance of networking to entrepreneurship: Montreal’s artificial intelligence cluster and its born-global firm Element AI.
Wolff, H.G. and Moser, K., 2009. Effects of networking on career success: a longitudinal study. Journal of Applied Psychology, 94(1), p.196.
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