I was curious as I am a Petroleum Engineering Major but have looked into internships dealing with outside the oil field and such. Like getting a networking internship with AT&T, Entergy internship, etc.
Do these kinds of internships look good to recruiters of the oilfield or other possible desirable PE work companies such as Shell, Chevron, Halliburton, etc.? Or am I just wasting my time and should look more into internships dealing with my major instead?
Any input would be helpful.
For this summer, it’s late in the game. Any STEM internship will look better and pay better than flipping burgers.
(Note - In many places it’s not so easy to get that burger flip job for summer-only, unless you worked there in high school.)
I am aware that it is late in the summer but was asking for future reference.
Also, how would roughnecking/working on an oil rig look on your resume as a petroleum engineer if you are applying for a job after graduation? Do they consider roughnecking good experience for a graduating petroleum engineer?
And thank you for your input, colorado_mom.
Roughnecking looks great on your resume. It shows you have an interest in petroleum engineering and that you are willing to work hard (roughnecking isn’t a desk job) towards your goal of being a petroleum engineer. It will also help you get the respect of the rig hands later in your career, as you have done their job before. It will also give you experience you can reference in future job interviews for internships and jobs about your experience in the oil field.
I oil companies will respect someone who spent a summer rough necking more than someone who spent an easy summer in an office doing work that is not related to petroleum engineering.