You had already begun a career in the oil sector, but switched to MITAS. Why?

Before joining Maersk Oil, I worked with fracturing and stimulation for a service company in western Siberia for three years. Fracturing and stimulation are both services that increase oil production, primarily in an established field. This was my background when I applied to Maersk Oil, after learning that there were good opportunities through the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

I applied to the Stimulation Department as a specialist, but quickly chose to switch to well-site engineering, which also offers the MITAS programme. In principle, it was a step backwards, but it will give me comprehensive professional and technical training, as well as a better starting point for a career in management at Maersk Oil. During my first six months with the company, I spent most of my time in profession-specific classes on technology and management.

I chose Maersk Oil primarily because of the excellent career opportunities – also if in the future I wish to transfer to another business unit than Maersk Oil. Having the opportunity of trying different departments within Maersk Oil and not being confined to  one speciality also attracted me. In February 2008, I was stationed in Kazakhstan. Many of my colleagues prefer Qatar, but I wanted to return to Kazakhstan where I had worked before. I prefer the cold climate here to the heat in Qatar. I also have the impression that there are more challenges, both professionally and socially, even though it is perhaps a bit more primitive. It’s certainly very interesting professionally.

You are very focused on the management aspect of a career with Maersk Oil?

Yes, moving in that direction in the future interests me; I think I have a talent for it. In my view, the MITAS programme provides many management tools and an extensive network of contacts in the A.P. Møller-Mærsk group.

The fact that MITAS makes it possible to obtain direct feedback from persons who have prominent posts in the organisation is very beneficial. As a Well Site Engineer, I experience professional equality, despite the differences in experience and responsibility. At the same time, there are good prospects of quickly being included in decision making. Due to frequent rotation, one acquires comprehensive experience and a large cross-organisational and international network, which increase the options as one’s career progresses.

What are your impressions of Maersk Oil as a workplace?

Mainly positive. One is given a great deal of responsibility from the very beginning, with regards to both work and one’s own learning. In terms of development, it is really a good place to be. If one asks a question, one always gets a very informative answer. The Geologists are particularly eager to tell about their work and knowledge sharing takes place at all levels in all departments.

In my experience, there is also a good work-life balance – though I admit that I am liable to make comparisons with my previous workplace, where results were the only focus. One was under constant pressure. Maersk Oil is much quieter and calmer, though graduates coming straight from university in the beginning might experience offshore work and the many course days as a bit of a shock. With its two-week stints, even offshore duty is very humane in comparison with the seven-week duty I was accustomed to in Siberia.

Work on the rigs is well organised, despite the constant challenges with continually changing tasks and work routines. There is a lot of emphasis on safety, which I find very reassuring. People from the different companies also work well together – the crew on a rig generally come from eight to ten different companies.

Maersk Oil is a very international workplace and the social life on a rig is very good. Finally, one should not forget “the entire package”: The many benefits such as gyms, a diving club and a sailing club are a real bonus and significant to job satisfaction.