What do you do if your oil and gas internship isn't helping you grow personally and professionally?
Landing an internship in the oil and gas industry can be a significant step in your career. However, sometimes the experience may not align with your expectations for personal and professional growth. It's crucial to address this proactively to make the most of your time and ensure you're on the right path towards your career goals. In the following sections, you'll find strategies to help you navigate this challenge and turn your internship into a valuable learning experience.
Start by evaluating your initial goals for the internship. Reflect on what you aimed to achieve and consider if these objectives are being met. If not, identify the gaps between your expectations and the current situation. Are there specific skills or experiences you hoped to gain that you're not being exposed to? Understanding these discrepancies will guide you in seeking solutions and opening discussions with your supervisor about realigning your internship duties.
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Brian Schulte
President Tesseral Ai | Focused on delivering industry-best solutions to your critical problems especially with AI and machine learning.
Most professional organizations put the emphasis on you to achieve what you want to achieve. When you begin an internship sit down with your mentor and discuss the scope of your project. There should be a plan of what they want you to achieve. As you work on the project talk to others on the team and build your network. If you are not learning what you think you should then try to talk to those are involved with what you learn and ask them questions, see if you can do anything for them that will help you learn. Make sure that your supervisor knows what you are doing and get their support. Like anything in life, it is how you approach this situation. Realize those around can be resources to learn from. Ask questions, get feedback.
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jaya Krishna tummala
Senior Integration Validation Engineer
Identify any disparities between your expectations and the present circumstances. Are there particular skills or experiences you anticipated gaining but haven't encountered? This introspection will inform your approach in addressing the gaps and initiating conversations with your supervisor to realign your internship responsibilities.
Communication is key in any professional setting, especially when you feel your growth is stalling. Request a meeting with your supervisor to discuss your progress and express your concerns. Be prepared to provide examples of what you've learned so far and what areas you'd like to improve or explore. Feedback can offer insights into how you're perceived and what opportunities might be available to enhance your internship experience.
If your internship isn't meeting your expectations, take the initiative to seek out additional responsibilities or projects. Show your eagerness to learn by proposing new tasks or expressing interest in different areas of the company. This proactive approach demonstrates your commitment to growth and can lead to more challenging assignments that better align with your career aspirations.
Building a professional network is a crucial aspect of any internship. If personal and professional growth is lacking, focus on expanding your connections within the industry. Attend company events, engage with colleagues from different departments, and seek mentorship opportunities. Networking can open doors to new experiences and provide support as you navigate your career path.
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Brian Schulte
President Tesseral Ai | Focused on delivering industry-best solutions to your critical problems especially with AI and machine learning.
Just as much as you are trying to learn from your internship you need to build a professional network. Important to build that network because you do not know when you will need to rely on it to get a job. Professional organizations have events that you can go to and just don’t build your social network with people in authority, do it with your colleagues as well. You do not know who may be promoted and moved up in an organization. Having a good relationship with everyone is very important and try not to be involved with the politics. You always want people to speak positively about you. It takes one bad word and all that you have built can be destroyed. Having a positive attitude helps. Speaking badly of others only reflects badly on you.
Sometimes, the most valuable learning experiences come from self-initiative. If the internship isn't providing the growth you seek, take charge of your development by seeking out online courses, industry certifications, or workshops related to the oil and gas sector. This independent learning shows dedication and can supplement your on-the-job experience with broader industry knowledge.
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Brian Schulte
President Tesseral Ai | Focused on delivering industry-best solutions to your critical problems especially with AI and machine learning.
When I was much younger I actually would spend my weekends learning what I did not know and ask questions. By doing research and asking questions it helped me to understand complex things like AVO and what the attributes told us. One of things that I would then do is go in with a list of questions and would ask those around me those questions. It helped me to establish a network and to grow. There were times that maybe my supervisors or those around me did not know so I would have to do more research. Sometimes I would go to talks and write down what I did not understand, I would then do research and would reach out to the person who did the talk and ask them questions. It helped me to learn so much and understand what I was doing.
Lastly, consider that some internships may not offer a steep learning curve but still provide a foot in the door of the oil and gas industry. It's important to adjust your expectations and find value in any role, even if it seems mundane. Every task can teach you something about the industry's operations, and patience can sometimes lead to unexpected opportunities for growth.
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