PREPARING GEOLOGY STUDENTS FOR CAREER IN THE “NEW” ENERGY INDUSTRY
hension of changes to the earth over time. These principles we acquired from our core educational training in the sciences and geology gives us a lot of credibility with the media and the general public. We need to be active at the town halls, at the coffee shop or with friends and family to have open and candid discussions about society’s basic need for energy resources and how that interacts with our environment. We need to listen, be courteous of others’ opinions, understand their fears, and work to educate them on the facts, science and regulatory oversight involved in our industries. We also need to engage them on how they can be more energy responsible and aware and how they can actively participate in energy conservation.
Advanced Degrees, Special Certifications
Continuing education is still a key factor in hiring decisions among energy companies. A Master’s degree in the geosciences is preferred or even required with some companies. When commodity prices wane, most companies get selective with their hiring and generally look for higher levels of education in candidates. A Master’s degree provides an advanced level of critical thinking skills and the ability to design, execute, deliver and lead projects. These skills are active sought out by energy companies as more demands are placed on fewer people due to companies downsizing or “rightsizing” their businesses. As educators we should encourage our students to plan for graduate studies in the geosciences. This graduate studies emphasis should start in their first year of instruction and not as they are about to graduate. Jobs are available to geologists with bachelor’s degrees but those are limited in number and often entry-level and/or lower-paying positions. By preparing our students earlier that graduate level educa- tion may be required, we will not disappoint or discourage them as they attempt to find careers after their bachelor studies are finished. And there are new types of professional geoscience degrees certified by the Council of Graduate Schools that are worth considering as viable alternatives to traditional master’s degrees (e.g. Professional Science Master’s in Environmental Geosciences:
http://unco.smartcatalogiq.com/en/current/ Graduate-Catalog/Graduate-Programs/Masters-Degrees/ Environmental-Geosciences-PSM-Professional-Science- Masters). Also, having training in Hazardous Materials and Site Investigations as required by OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120(e), which is commonly referred to as “HAZWOPR certification,” can get you on many jobs that are not accessible without that important credential.
How companies hire young professionals has shifted con- siderably in the energy industry and other disciplines. Many companies are hiring their inexperienced talent pool directly from company internship programs. This unique screening tool provides an opportunity for the company to evaluate a student’s work ethic, collaboration skills, project-based evalu- ation ability and communication skills in a work-place setting. Many of these internships are focused on real-world problems the company is trying to solve or case studies looking at past performance or competitor activity. This 2-3 month period provides the student with invaluable experience and an option to evaluate if the industry is the right fit for them.
These internships are highly sought after and very competi- tive. Our academic obligation is to leverage the collaborations we have established with industry professionals and previous graduates to encourage their companies to hire our well-
prepared students for their intern program. We should work with our College’s Career Services to provide an opportunity for on campus recruitment in our departments. We need to demonstrate and document how our current core curriculum is well balanced by exposure to energy related principles, concepts and work methods, and emphasizes communication and collaborative-based project work. Several industry-related organizations have created career fairs and opportunities for students to get in front of multiple companies at a single venue. These venues are becoming key places for students to get exposure to energy related companies who are looking for future talent. Providing information and being a resource for these keys events is a way we educators can be more involved in actively getting our students hired right after they graduate. Resume preparation, interviewing skills and encouragement to take advantage of collegiate Career Services programs are items we can provide to better prepare our students.
Conclusion
Today’s geologists entering the energy industry workforce require a solid background in the core sciences and geologic courses we have historically taught while augmenting their education with industry information and concepts. Exposure to engineering, environmental, economic, social, health, and regulatory principles and practices builds the skills necessary to collaborate with their future colleagues in industry. A focus on group and project-based assignments documented by pre- sentations emphasizing communication skills is paramount to preparing our students for industry careers. After all, our success as academic educators and developers of young profes- sionals is measured in how many students we place in geologic careers whether they are energy related or not.
References
The Monthly Energy Review, 2015, U.S. Energy Information Administration,
http://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/data/ monthly/
index.cfm#summary
Hoyt, William and Urban, Michael, 2015, The Value of Professional Internships, The Professional Geologists, v.55, no. 1, p 21-24.
Photo Credit:
YouTube.com
Dr. Todd Dallegge, a geology alumnus of the University of Northern Colorado, is back to teach the inaugural offering of “Petroleum and Energy” in the spring of 2016. He has his MS in geology from Northern Arizona University and a Ph D in geology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He currently is Senior Geologist/Geological Advisor for Jonah Energy in Denver, and has worked for 15 years for half a dozen major and mid-major energy companies on a variety of global energy prospects. In addition he has taught geology on and off in a wide variety of settings since 1996.
Dr. William Hoyt, Chair of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado, initiated the new Professional Science Master’s (PSM) in Environmental Geosciences in the fall of 2015. That degree focuses on all aspects of industry, agency, and energy geosciences and includes requirements in graduate communications and internship courses and experiences. He has been teaching geology and oceanography since, well, 1973.
www.aipg.org
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