MBA Meng Petroleum Meng Project Management cant decide! 6

[Jmoore1]

Im looking for some advice.

Im a young engineer (24) and have done pretty well so far in my career responsibility wise. I currently have several million + dollar upstream projects under my full control from design through to execution. I work in a relatively small oil company and therefore get a very wide array of experience. Field development planning, equipment design, high value purchasing, etc..

Ive spoken with quite a few people and get pretty varied input on what to do with my career. Im currently taking some time to just enjoy work and the experiences and learn, but I find myself wanting to further my education (and future career) with an online or part time degree of sorts.

I love business so originally thought of going down the MBA route and management, but when speaking with my GM he strongly suggested I get a masters of petroleum engineering. Which did get me thinking...although I love projects, I have found the drilling/completions/exploration side fairly interesting, I would love to learn more in that area. Although at the end of the day my interest in more in projects, business development (economics, finance side). I could see a Meng in petroleum engineering helping that path but at 3-4 years per part time degree, I don't see myself doing two.

Ive recently started looking into a masters in project management, which could help me leap into larger projects, and give me more credibility down the road, especially since I want to continue to work in various countries around the world.

Would love some input from some people with more years of experience, thoughts, or even personal experiences. I basically want to head down the path that will give me the most worldwide mobility.

 

[Ron]

A Masters in "Project Management" is one of those contrived degrees that doesn't mean the same from locale to locale. An MBA or a Masters in Petroleum Engineering is much more definable and recognizable. As an engineer, you are fundamentally capable of any of those if you have the desire...that will be your key to succeeding in any of those endeavors.

You're young. You can redirect a couple of times over the next 10 years....keeping in mind that most any experience you get, whether technical or managerial can be built upon and used as you progress in your career.

 

[MikeHalloran]

My friend A., working as an engineer but lacking any degree, was offered the opportunity to go to engineering school on the company's money. He wanted to keep working and do the degree part time, but the company wanted him to go full time, so it didn't happen. The company's fortunes have declined, so the opportunity is now gone. In a way, I hope he never realizes how much he lost.

---

Take your GM's advice.
Take his money, too, to pay for tuition and books.
If he's really serious about it, you might be able to go to school full time on his nickel. Ask about it.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[jpankask]

When starting for my master's degree, I originally started down the MBA route, I switched to a MS Mechanical Engineering...and I haven't regretted it. Of course, my interest lies more in the technical side vs. the financial/economics. I learned a lot that helps me in the day-to-day from the management/economics classes I did take. I've not looked into a Masters in Project Management, nor do I know anyone who has, but just from the outside looking in, I would guess that it wouldn't gain you much unless you are looking only to be a Project Manager for most of your career. You'll get project management skills from the MBA and to a lesser degree from the MS. So, which route you go will depend on whether your goal is to end up in the business side or a more technical role.

 

[peppinu]

I think your GM is sending a message. They can use a masters of petroleum engineering but not an MBA. As Ron said you are young and there would be plenty of time to do management later. Is the company paying for this?
As Mike said if your GM suggested this maybe they can sponsor you. If this is the case then grab it. These opportunities are "once in a lifetime".

 

[Jmoore1]

Thanks guys...

Meng Project Management - Ive heard some mixed reviews, but it seems that the general consensus is it doesnt provide the value the other two options do

Meng Petroleum - I think there is obvious benefits, it can really help bring my upstream knowledge up to a level that the other engineers with petroleum degrees have across various disciplines (and more importantly a general understanding of the entire company)

MBA - There is obvious benefits, but I dont see many of them at this point in my career, no one is making me GM or otherwise at this age (and level of experience)

I think I have by far the most to gain from a Meng in petroleum

Thanks for all the input....unfortunately it wont be paid for by the company, fortunately I was given a substantial pay rise to move from a contracted employee to a salaried employee that would easily cover the costs.

 

[peppinu]

Best of luck!

 

[marty007]

Just one example from my circle of friends regarding MBA at your age.

One of my friends really wanted to push into the management side of things and received her MBA in her mid-20s. However, when looking for work, most employers wouldn't even give her resume a second look, because they couldn't see her previous experience justifying the level of responsibility and pay scale normally reserved for an individual with an MBA. As a result, she is in a really tough spot career-wise. It's hard to find jobs with her previous degree because all that people see is the MBA, and it's hard to get a job based on her MBA degree because she doesn't have the experience to back it up. She's now been unemployed for ~6 months, which is creating a hole in her resume, making her job hunt even more difficult!

I don't have any personal experience or knowledge about the Meng Petroleum degree, but I wouldn't expect these same difficulties.

Just a few thoughts...

 

[Maui]

Petroleum engineering is the best paying engineering field by far. And I believe that a Master's degree in petroleum engineering will serve you quite well for years to come. You may be surprised how valuable career-wise it will be as you gain experience. I'd go for it!

Maui

http://www.EngineeringMetallurgy.com

 

[zdas04]

I have a colleague who is about to finish his Meng Petroleum in Brisbane. We've talked about the scope of the program and it has a lot of project management kind of stuff within it. I looks like a pretty useful MS to get. A degree in Project Management is generally not seen as an asset by industry (PM degrees are seen as a "Masters in MicroSoft Excel", rightly or wrongly). An MBA without serious experience is a liability. In my mind the answer would be easy.

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.
The plural of anecdote is not "data"

 

[SNORGY]

To me it's a no-brainer.

One of the degrees under consideration produces people with no brains.

So, choose the other one.

 

[bigTomHanks]

I say neither, no offense but sounds like you are too young to know what either career path really entails. I typically find younger people fresh out of college leaning toward MBA because their boss went that route and they are still in the "do whatever it takes to be the best engineer" mode. I always recommend young engineers who are thinking about getting a MBA to make arrangement with their bosses to let them be an operations manager for rank and file employees. This is where a person can really learn how to be a good manager and also feel out if this is a career path that they really want to pursue. I did this very thing when I was starting out and found that I was good at being a manager but am much happier having the ability to dig into the technical side of things. If you do find that you enjoy management then it's easy to start an MBA program as they are very plentiful and flexible. Just don't forget that every step you take on the ladder the fewer jobs are available and the people competing for those rungs are typically willing to do whatever it takes to get to the next position.