Work as a Project Analyst - mid career change

[shelchem]

Hi,

I am a Process Engineer with 16 years of overall experience in Process design / engineering of projects in the oil&gas/refineries.

I have been called for an interview with a company which primarily does project evaluation and related activities like benchmarking evaluation, Business front end loading, turnaround evaluation, close-out evaluation, prospective analysis of projects and the like in the oil&gas / refinery related sectors.

One of my objectives for applying to this type of a company is to diversify myself into project appraisal / analysis type of the work. I realise that having in interest in a particular activity is one thing and being successful doing that activity is quite another thing notwithstanding that hard work and dedication/commitment is to be put for that particular activity.

Though it is just an interview and "many miles to travel before I reach my destinatiion", I seek guidance / advice from folks on this forum whether I am making the right choice to change my focus from process engineering to a totally uncharted territory? Thanks in advance !!

Cheers

 

[GregLocock]

I wonder how many companies ever employ that sort of consultant /twice/?


Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[mechmama]

shelchem,
I've found most people on these forums are pretty much engineer lifers and many don't want to do anything but real engineering. GregLocock's comment does at least give you an opportunity to pause & think about what the career path for your new job opportunity is beyond that first position. I once interviewed for a similar position in a division of the A/E firm I worked at. The career path wasn't much different than what I was already doing, and you were aiming towards project management, just like you might on the design side.

My biggest concern is whether you're going to a branch of a big company or some boutique consultant firm without other opps if you decide you hate project analysis. I think it would be great experience to have on your resume, since a lot of what you do would be valuable experience for a future position in business development, marketing, or at the executive level, but just make sure you know what the next step after this position is. Analyst jobs are often not as glamorous as they sound in the job description and you may feel demoted after being an engineer with 16 yrs experience. If the job IS with a special division of a larger business, prepare for that red-headed step-child feeling. I had that when I worked in project controls for a while. . ."No, see, I AM an engineer, I'm just doing this so I can learn more about project management. . ." The dyed-in-the-wool forever-an-engineer type people tend to think you're nuts : )

Either way, good luck. Hope you get an offer!

 

[Ashereng]

I think it really depends on what you want to do.

Someone once told me (a looooong time ago) that you can make money doing almost anything, as long as you are the best.

If you really want to be an analyst, I would say go for it - if finances allow. Otherwise, it you are just going because you can make more, then you need to balance that with whether you would enjoy it.

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[Murec]

Mechmama said it best.
I just started a new job as a project engineer.
I have over 20 years of experience, starting with field maintenance and later design in water/wastewater and oil&gas.
I actually interviewed for lead engineer, found myself running around with document packages and schedules.
Felt I was doing a secretary's work for a senior engineer's salary. Now I think maybe it is the next step in my career, just like progressing from field work to designing. I can't say I'm enjoying it yet!

 

[shelchem]

Hi all,

Thanks a lot for all of your valuable views. This has set me thinking on the steps that I may have to take on this issue.

Actually, I did a couple of techno-economic feasibility studies some years back and amongst them there were some lifecycle costs/economic evaluation/cost benefit analysis type of studies for some existing installations for Shell. While working on these projects, I had to brush up on some of the engineering economics concepts and for this purpose, I dug out my engg. school text-book which was long collecting dust !!!. ..(fortunately it was still lying around in the house in some corner !!!...

I found the work on the above studies to be interesting and that lead me to think... "why not more of that kind of work??".....

I had 2 options to go further in this type of work:

a) Go to a business school and take up a relevant course and after finishing the course, look for appropriate companies who would do this kind of work

b) Apply to those appropriate companies. "Tailor make" my resume to highlight/detail out on the relevant jobs and tone down/ summarise on my pure engineering design jobs.

I attended some pre-admission seminars on business schools and found that the courses were more "financial" than "technological". At least I was unable to find an appropriate course and an appropriate business school.

Then I went by option (b), above, and applied to a company by the name Independent Project Analysis Inc. (IPA. the website is

http://www.ipaglobal.com)

and finally, here I am, about to attend an interview with them...

I guess this may give you a clearer picture about my situation. I am sorry for this long "story" but I am sincerely looking for some serious advice.

Thanks,

Cheers





b)

 

[GregLamberson]

shelchem

I had a similar experience as you, however, I was in construction long ago and decided to broaden my horizons. So I started putting myself in positions where I would learn more about the business & management side of the industry. Once I got to a point where I was confident in my abilities, I become an independent consultant and now, I do very similar to what you are looking at - front end studies, project analysis, project reviews, feasibility studies, constructability reviews, etc.

To me, it is much more rewwarding, more profitable, and extremely fun. I still love construction, but I've never regretted the decision for a moment.

Greg Lamberson, BS, MBA
Consultant - Upstream Energy
Website:

http://www.oil-gas-consulting.com