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Beyond Engineering

Beyond Engineering. By Dr. Mike O’Connor P.Eng., P.Geo., P.Geoph. Presented at the Queen’s Oil and Gas Seminar January 24, 2009. O’CONNOR ASSOCIATES Z. Wanted: Good Jobs for New Queen's Grads. Grad School. Government. Business. Sc’09. Oil & Gas. Software Develo. Construction.

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Beyond Engineering

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  1. Beyond Engineering By Dr. Mike O’Connor P.Eng., P.Geo., P.Geoph. Presented at the Queen’s Oil and Gas Seminar January 24, 2009 O’CONNOR ASSOCIATESZ

  2. Wanted: Good Jobs for New Queen's Grads

  3. Grad School Government Business Sc’09

  4. Oil & Gas Software Develo Construction Manufacturing Business

  5. You may think that these decisions will impact your life forever…

  6. That they’ll put you in a career tunnel from which you can’t escape

  7. Nothing could be further from the truth

  8. Increase your skill set Build your personal network Make you more mature Give you a clearer perspective of your short and long-term options Any thoughtful moves you make today or tomorrow will likely

  9. But they are unlikely to constrain your future options, either in your personal or professional life

  10. Engineering Geology and Geophysics

  11. How does one get from here? to here? + 40 years

  12. Looking back one thing is clear… We are unable to predict the future with the same degree of confidence that we apply to engineering and business calculations

  13. We are particularly bad at predicting certain things:

  14. Manager Amoco Junior Engineer

  15. R.I.P O'CONNOR

  16. And yet our initial career decision is often based on 3 factors: • Starting salary • Job location • Current relationships

  17. Example #1 • Ken turned down a great job in Calgary because his girlfriend was going to graduate school in Ottawa and he couldn’t bear to be without her for a couple of semesters. • She dumped him for her lab partner in the first term.

  18. Example #2 • Joe started at a big company for $5000 per month and lots of perks • Sarah joined a small company for $3000 per month and no perks

  19. After 15 years • Joe is a middle manager making $120,000 per year • His career has stagnated and he’s afraid of being laid off during the recession • Sarah is the CEO of a growing company that paid her a $500,000 bonus last year • She’s strategizing ways to expand the company in spite of the recession

  20. Example #3 • Dick had 3 good job offers after graduation. He accepted the job in Toronto so that he could remain near his family and friends. • He did well in the company and moved up rapidly, but then the company was sold to an American firm with a head office in Mississippi • He was given a choice of move or quit

  21. It’s very difficult to envisage where your career path may ultimately lead Be prepared to adapt and change as circumstances may dictate Treat all experiences as opportunities to grow and learn Bottom Line

  22. Sc’68 Reunion

  23. Teacher • Professional photographer

  24. Civil grad • MBA • Entire career spent at Esso as senior executive in jobs around the world • 14 int’l moves,6 countries

  25. Civil grad • Rhodes Scholar in same class as Bill Clinton • Masters in Management Studies from Oxford • Became Director-General of National Parks Canada • Professional photographer

  26. Civil grad • MBA • Newsprint Industry • Lawyer • Master of the Supreme Court in BC

  27. Electrical grad • Exploration geophysicist • Lawyer • Entrepreneur

  28. Chemical grad • Eye surgeon

  29. Civil grad • Harvard MBA • Owns computer and food businesses in US and Canada • Director of the Bank of Montreal • Queen’s Board of Trustees

  30. Geology and Geophysics grad • Exploration Geophysicist • MSc Geology • PhD Civil • Permafrost Research • Marine Geologist • Geotechnical Engineer • Founded Canada’s first Geo-Environmental Consultancy

  31. How can Queen’s grads in 2009 be assured of SUCCESS regardless of the career track that develops?

  32. What is Success? According to the dictionary it is • The attainment of wealth, favour, or a position of prominence/superiority • A favourable or desired outcome

  33. Fact Most people equate success with business or a career

  34. Success

  35. My Definition of Success Success is making life’s journeyasrichandstimulatinganexperience as possible, while fulfilling yourobligationsto those around you.

  36. But how do you choose the path that leads to success?

  37. You need a Personal Mission Statement A compass to help you choose the right path

  38. Your Mission Statement Should Be: • Concise • Easy to remember • Broad enough to provide guidance under a number of circumstances • Easily understood by others

  39. My own mission statement was designed to help me address my: • personal needs • professional goals • family responsibilities

  40. Mike’s Mission Statement • Have fun • Do good work • Earn a living

  41. Life is a Carousel But you probably only go around once

  42. Do Good Work

  43. Wherever a man works, he leaves something of his soul

  44. Every job is a self portrait of the person who did it. MJO Autograph your work with excellence.

  45. Have Fun Do Good Work

  46. Earn a Living

  47. Problem When I first created my mission statement it was clearly not aligned with the goals of my employer

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