Career opportunities
In response to John David Rogers' comments on career opportunities (OGJ, July 17, 2000, p. 10) I can only sadly confirm the veracity of his comments.
I have been in the up and downstream search and recruitment business since 1963 and have been in the middle of all the cycles since. John is absolutely correct...specialists are all I can place today in most firms. There is almost zero demand for seriously innovative or R&D oriented engineers in today's market, except for an occasional creative firm, such as say, Saudi Aramco, who has a refreshingly long term view of the global oil biz.
Perhaps we have to blame it on mergers but it is sad to see no one seemingly interested in upstream research and development hiring. Guess the operators will just depend on our aggressive, hungry (and competent) service companies and see technology ownership going their way.
Ronnie Boyd
Ronnie Boyd & Associates
University of Texas-Austin
