Name, age, where lives:
Catrin Dickson, 23, Aberdeen
What is your day job today?
Graduate HSE advisor – communications and planning at Talisman Sinopec UK
Degree – Actuarial Science (Maths and Statistics)
Why did you choose your career in the oil and gas industry?
It was the diverse nature of oil and gas production that really attracted me to the industry, and I felt it would give me a challenging and changing environment to work in. I knew it would also open the door for me to work across the world, and this is something I would like to be able to consider in the future.
Who or what has influenced you most in your career to date?
One of my earliest tasks at TSE UK was to assist in the organisation of the HSEOI Quarterly meetings. It was a great chance to meet lots of different people from the business – both onshore and offshore.
It was really my first networking opportunity and gave me the opportunity to meet a real cross-section of people, gain insight into their working relationships, learn about their own experiences and create links which I will look to build on in the future.
It was inspiring because it showed me a whole range of people at different stages of their careers and the possibilities that were potentially open to me as I look to progress in the future.
Where do you see your career going?
I am looking forward to working offshore and getting some more hands-on experience. I’m really excited to work in an offshore environment and within a different sort of team than I’ve previously been part of. Lots of people talk about becoming part of an offshore family and I feel these circumstances will allow me to learn more, develop my knowledge across the various disciplines in the business, and build my own skills further. I enjoy being challenged and working in unfamiliar situations.
What advice would you give to others looking to get into the oil and gas industry?
I think it is important not to see your degree subject as something that limits the areas in which you can build a career in the energy industry. Many disciplines look at a much wider range of transferable skills and abilities and, personally, I would encourage people to make the effort to go and take a look at what’s available.
Speaking to others in the oil and gas industry and finding out all you can will help put you in a much better position. And don’t be frightened to accept opportunities that are presented to you! Actually doing something is the best way to learn, and to find out if it’s something you would like to do more of!
If you weren’t doing the job you are in now, what else would you be doing?
I would most likely be in a planning role, perhaps even in another industry altogether.
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