<p>I’ve got to think a Texas school graduate will have the best opportunity to get a job in Texas. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t.</p>
<p>Yeah I agree that’s pretty obvious. I guess someone at penn state were more easily get a job at chevron or one of these shale companies.</p>
<p>Do you have any choice in where you work?</p>
<p>^Where you work will probably depend on the company you work for.</p>
<p>I’m a student at Penn State. If I could do all over again and if I would still go for PE, I’d pick Texas A&M or any top schools in Southern or Southwest regions. You will find more job/internship opportunities down south than in PA for sure.</p>
<p>Yeah that’s unfortunately what I was worried about</p>
<p>khoiey - I agree that the majority of the jobs are in the south, but don’t all the major companies still recruit at Penn State?</p>
<p>The point is that there are several great PE programs in the South, but also great schools other places (Penn State, Stanford, Colorado, etc) and the companies know this. Most of them recruit at these all schools - and they recruit for positions all over. Texas jobs certainly aren’t reserved for Texas students. </p>
<p>Yes, from a logistical standpoint, summer internships and/or job opportunities with smaller companies might be easier if you are at a TX or LA school, but this shouldn’t be an issue for full-time jobs opportunities with the major companies.</p>
<p>^ good point</p>
<p>And I find it hard to believe that you get just as much time off as you had on. How do the shifts actually work?</p>
<p>^^^
It all depends on who you work for, where you’re working, what the project is, etc. Many PEs work rotation shifts, many don’t. Just depends.</p>
<p>But I will say that - in general - you spend more time working than you do “off.” Most of the folks I know working overseas generally do 6 weeks on/3 off or some similar arrangement. Again, many variables.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info.</p>
<p>Hello, I am planning on going into either petroleum engineering or electrical…not sure yet. I was wanting to know what you guys thought about working oversees as an engineer for a u.s. company or foreign. I heard there is a higher salary range for them. I am just curious about where is the best place to work as a petroleum engineer or electrical.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>^^^^
Yes, working overseas generally means a higher salary, but keep in mind it comes with personal sacrifices…far from home/family, sometimes difficult working conditions, variable living conditions, spotty medical care, etc. </p>
<p>Also, I’m not sure how easy it is for new-hire engineers to get overseas positions. I know for geoscientists - the companies generally want experienced people because they often act as trainers/mentors to the local employees. I would guess it is the same for engineers. Most of the people I knew had at least 10 years of experience, and often much more.</p>
<p>Yes major companies such as Shell, Schlumberger, BP, Exxon, Chevron, etc. do come here to recruit. However, most of those companies are looking for 1-3 psu interns. Hence, opportunities to get internships are now pretty limited as the ratio of students have increased dramatically. What I am seeing now:</p>
<ol>
<li>Enrollment for PE has increased (PSU 2013 class is now maxed out of seats and I’m sure A&M is same thing). Unfortunately, the job pool is pretty limited comparing to other engineering majors.</li>
<li>Major companies now have the options to pick the best of the very best or those already have experience.</li>
<li>Oversea internship opportunities are extremely hard to get.</li>
</ol>
<p>If I am belong to class of 2013 and later, I would try my best to stay on top or do whatever that would give me leverage to edge out my competition pool. That means internships, organization roles, research, job shadowing, networking etc. That also means location, and school ranking. </p>
<p>What I am learning at PSU is that we aren’t the top in drilling but for reservoir we are not bad (words from recruiters). Remember, recruiters are looking for GPA and/or experience. If you don’t have one of those requirements, then you have to do whatever it take to get an internship before you graduate. If you graduate without an internship, chance to get employed is pretty slime.</p>
<p>To put yourself in the northeastern region schools for PE mean you are limiting your opportunity especially when the competition for the internship is pretty intense IMHO.</p>
<p>Hi there, I am 27 and I had posted a thread with regard to pursuing a second BS in Petroleum Engineering. </p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/engineering-majors/1171542-questions-about-petroleum-engineering.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/engineering-majors/1171542-questions-about-petroleum-engineering.html</a></p>
<p>My only affordable chance appears to be UL Lafayette.</p>
<p>Going through older threads on the subject, some people including (LSUForever) mention possibilities of not having a job right after graduation. That in itself is somewhat of a major concern for me. I would prefer to avoid being 31 and not being employed.</p>
<p>I understand that it depends on location, GPA, and doing internships. My concern isn’t so much about salary but having any job opportunities.</p>
<p>I just wanted to know thoughts on this. I’ve read that Schlumberger recruits from UL and there are smaller petroleum companies in the area.</p>
<p>There is going to be uncertainty of hire regardless of what you major in. The economy and job market suck, there is no such thing as a safe major. The petroleum industry is extremely cyclical, and if having steady employment is your greatest concern, MechE or even something like accounting might be better for you. But, give your background, I’d imagine if you get a good GPA, interview well, you probably won’t have trouble finding a job.</p>
<p>AndrewBerin,</p>
<p>Do you have previous technical experience? If so then you have nothing to worry about to get internships. If not, then do you have connections or high GPA? But like many others have posted, PE is quite unstable as dictate by the market.</p>
<p>"AndrewBerin,</p>
<p>Do you have previous technical experience? If so then you have nothing to worry about to get internships. If not, then do you have connections or high GPA? But like many others have posted, PE is quite unstable as dictate by the market."</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I don’t have any technical experience in anything similiar to petroleum engineering. I have no connections to petroleum engineering and I don’t know if my GPA in my bachelors (3.1) would even matter.</p>
<p>My hopes were primarily based on doing well in the school, and connections the faculty/school could provide and perhaps doing things in the summers between semesters, and the location of the school.</p>
<p>Can you do a ME with concentration in Petroleum at your school? If you want to be safe, go for ME and take minor in PE or classes in petroleum.</p>
<p>Hello everyone. I currently reside in California and want to major in PE. My plan is to take as many transferable classes in a junior college in CA and transfer to University Houston PE Undergraduate Program. So, following questions are: </p>
<ul>
<li><p>I plan to work hard, but what are the job opportunities overseas and in US with an average GPA and PE degree from UH?</p></li>
<li><p>I am not good at math, physics, chem, etc but plan to work really hard, should I still choose PE?</p></li>
</ul>
<p>I may have more questions …thanks guys!</p>