<p>I am looking to switch my major from architecture to petroleum engineering, but my biggest concern is family time. I am a female and I do intend to start a small family, with 2-3 children at most. With this being said, will petroleum engineering keep me away from my loved ones? I know I can try to get an office job, but how difficult will that be for an engineer fresh out of college? Also, what are the salary differences between office/field PEs? </p>
<p>I have considered looking into civil engineering with a minor in construction management, and from what I've read, this would be the more "family-friendly" route to take. But I have found that my level of interest has increased with the PE courses that I have taken as opposed to my CE courses. Suggestions?? </p>
<p>I work for oil/gas and your “family time” really depends on your job role. If you’re working on a rig, it might be difficult but if you’re working in the office, you’ll probably be able to find a 40hr/week job.</p>
<p>A) The OP said “But I have found that my level of interest has increased with the PE courses that I have taken as opposed to my CE courses.” Which obviously means they are doing this for the interest of the subject…</p>
<p>B)Their are certainly jobs, as the poster above who is actually in oil and gas said, that require regular work weeks. I just interviewed with Exxon Friday and the hiring manager was a woman that was married with children. She chose to stay downstream and it all has seemed to work for her just fine.</p>
<p>I’m in my 4th year of petroleum engineering and just got back from the ATCE SPE conference in New Orleans. Here’s my take. The job market is tough right now for fresh petroleum engineers unless you have a phenomenal GPA. It is very difficult to get a job in the office right away as most companies are looking to send fresh graduates out in the field for a few years to gain experience before moving to an office type setting. This would most definitely mean some time away from family and you should be prepared to do so if you enter this field.</p>
<p>I’m not saying it’s impossible to get an office job right after graduating as a PE, but the bottom line is PE’s work upstream and the locations are in less than ideal locations. If you’re not willing to travel and be away from your family… there is certainly other graduates that will. I’m not trying to put you off, but I think a lot of people go into PE due to the salary differential between other majors, lack of knowledge of the industry, and general interest in the energy industry (including myself). After going out to the drill sites, learning more about the industry, and my classmate’s experiences through their internships… It’s a lot different than what I had originally thought. </p>
<p>To be honest, if I could do it all over again I would probably go into chemical engineering with petroleum option. It gives you a lot of options in my opinion.</p>
<p>Comicho, what do the prospects in petroleum engineering look for students entering college now? How much does location/(college of choice) matter when when entering the job market?</p>
<p>Thanks, interview went well, it was just an extra option since I already have a job offer and still have a year till I finish my masters, I’m an IE.</p>
<p>Sadam46… You will have great difficulty starting up a family as a petroleum engineer at the beginning. Lots of travel. Lots of crazy hours. After you gain experience and are office based, then family life will be more agreeable. </p>
<p>Comicho… What company are you working for? The oil and gas companies in Houston (which is just about all of them) can’t find enough petroleum engineers. That has been the trend for 15 years. I simply can’t imagine anyone with a good GPA from an accredited PetE program finding it difficult to get hired. The job market is tough for those with low GPA’s, or degrees from non-sought after programs, sure. I graduated from UT with a 3.2 and I was recruited by Chevron my junior year! We hire graduates from UT, LSU, Stanford, and Texas A&M as reservoir engineers, production engineers, and drilling engineers like there is no tomorrow. I do agree with you that most engineers start work in the field. This is very true. I am in Midland, TX working a 21/21 at the moment. But as far as it being difficult to find work when you have a PetE degree… I find it almost impossible to believe any petroleum engineer could have come to that conclusion in the past 20 years.</p>