Session with Future Leaders from UPM

On Thursday 7th October 2021, a session with our future leaders from UPM was organised by Koh Mui Han, UPM and CiRNeT, I shared my journey on the following:

1.Why and how I became an engineer and end up in PETRONAS?

Heavily influenced by my late father whom was a Mining Engineer. At one stage, because I was not doing good in Add Maths as oppose to Chemistry and Biology in school, I wanted to become a doctor instead. Nevertheless, at the end my results were good so I pursued my studies in Mechanical and Aeronautics Engineering. Worked in a nuclear power plant in UK with British Energy, had a short 3 days stint as a spacecraft engineer bound for Washington before joining the oil and gas industry through Schlumberger. Followed by a stint with Shell in Miri and Talisman in KL before joining PETRONAS.

2. Three (3) top skills I look for when I interview a fresh grad?

If you already being called for an interview, I am quite confident that you already know all the basic engineering principles. What makes one candidate have the edge over another? The following are the 3 top skills I look for in a fresh grad:

Willingness for continuous learning - what more do you seek when you start working, how do you do find answers as you work and face problems? etc...

Flexibility and agility to adapt to changes fast - we are in a VUCA world with lots of IoT disruptions. This can be shown by candidates experience in doing their final year projects, facing failed experiments etc.

Communication skills to interact with the team - from social works or extra co-curriculum activities interacting with friends and society committees.

3. What were my challenges when I started in oil and gas industry?

Basically, the only knowledge of oil and gas I have 21 years ago is how to fill up petrol into the car. Not having a Petroleum Engineer background didn't really help me when after 2 weeks of offshore survival and BOSIET training, I was put on Hakuryu 3 drilling rig as a an assistant cementer. I didn't know what were the chemicals for, pump maintenance, batch mixer but my 3 skills above helped me to get through my first 5 weeks hitch with trouble free cementing operations.

4. What are the misconceptions students/people have about oil and gas industry?

You need PE background to join - Not true. Any engineering background can join, just need ensure which section or position you are aiming for.

Lucrative - yes and no. Depends on which section and position you will be joining and it comes with great sacrifice especially if you are joining upstream offshore based position. Social life, friend's weddings, Hari Raya, family time etc are some of the things I missed when I started off in the industry. I also explained the difference between joining an operator or service company and how it will impact your life.

5. Does OSH have a place in oil and gas industry?

Definitely, in fact that could be one of the highest demand in the industry and will remain a demand as HSE is the industry top priority.

6. Does PhD holders have a place here?

Definitely, the challenge is however, it needs to match with the job you are applying for. If you have a PhD, and applying for a fresh grad drilling engineer position and expect to be paid more that bachelor degree fresh grad, that will generally be wrong. However, if you go and apply a job in a research centre, you may be able to have the edge of bachelor degree holders.

7. For an interview, do I look for education or experience?

I would not look for work experience but life experience for fresh grads in the candidates that shows the top 3 skills I mentioned above.

8. What would you say to your 20 year old Shahril if you can go back in time?

Study harder lah wei ??. I played a lot in my 1st year in Brighton. Jamming with my band every week. Went to many concerts. Work on the weekend to make more money to buy HiFi. I still got good results for my 1st year..... but maybe not too much playing ??

Thank you Mui Han for the opportunity.