1. Managing
Your Career as a
Geoscientist
From Many AAPG Geoscientists

2. Take Responsibility
It Is Your Career
It Is Your Responsibility

3. Your Career
Can Take Many Directions

4. You
Set the Direction

5. Geoscience
Professional Development
Independent
Manager
Broadening Succession
Planned Assignments
Entry Training Development
Student Level
Assignments Mentored Consultant
Formal by Experts
Mentoring Mentors
others Mentors others
Senior
Interpreter
Specialist
Now is the Time to Start Planning Your Career

6. To Arrive at Your
Destination
You Must
Maintain Your Career

7. Your Responsibility
Maintain Or Not
Your Career

8. Is a
Geoscience Career
The Right
Career for You?

9. Successful Geoscientists
Love Geology
Creative Problem Solvers
Win-win attitude
Team player
Perseverance and flexibility
Realistic appraisal of career market

10. Society Needs our Expertise
Resource Assessment: Fossil fuels
Stratigraphic minerals
Environmental Quality: Water supplies
Waste management
Catastrophe Management: Landslides, Floods,
Tidal Waves
Bolide Impacts
Climate Change: Documentation
Coastal management
024623

11. THE GEOSCIENCE
GRADUATE’S OPTIONS
Environment,
Minerals Oil & Gas Engr, Other

12. Projected World Energy Demand
Hydroelectric
1993
100
100 BILLION
BARRELS Solar, W ind
Geothermal
80
Billion World Energy Demand
Barrels Nuclear Electric
of Oil Coal
60
Equivalent
per Year
(GBOE) Natural
Gas
40
Crude Oil
20
1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020 2040 2060 2080 3000
0 35 024839-2
after Edwards,
24929
AAPG 8/97

13. Current Industry
Geoscience Demographics
Age Brackets for Geoscientists Worldwide (2008*)
300
250
200
150 Global Demand
100
50
0
>25 26-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60+
Age (YRS)

14. Successful Geoscientists
Love Geology
Creative Problem Solver
Win-win attitude
Team player
Perseverance and flexibility
Realistic appraisal of career market

15. Build
A Solid Foundation

16. Geoscience Foundation
Geoscience Careers
Strong basic-discipline training
Develop supplementary skills
Math and Statistics
Physics
Computer and Workstation
Excellent communication skills
Oral, written, graphical
English

17. Geologic
Mapping and Sampling
• Gravity • Seismic Reflection
• Magnetics • Geologic Mapping
JMA
Armentrout 2000, from American Petroleum Institute, 1986

18. Stratigraphy and
Depositional Systems
Understanding the processes creating sedimentary units
Clastic Sedimentology Record missing due to
MESOZOIC
CENOZOIC
erosion: Must recon -struct
&
history from regional data
Sd
h
a
lt
e
/a
We
Sn
Tn
o d
p
o
fS
Ga
s
a
Bn
aa
s d
e
o
fS
G
a
s
U
L
PERMIAN
Rock Physics U
p
pe
r
Pn
e
ra
mi
U
PEN.
M
CARBOMNISIF.EROUS
L M-
U
Pln
e vn
na
n i
s a
y
Log Correlation Depositional Systems
From Armentrout, 2000, AAPG.org

19. Structural Geology
Understanding the process of deformation of the subsurface
Seismic Interpretation Contouring
From Armentrout, 2000, AAPG.org

20. Exploration Geochemistry
Characterizing the type, history and origin of petroleum
P ci u
ri Oa
et l
d Qyl
it
G
a
s
Dm
e ie
t n
e
r Li
te
H
e
av O
y il
G a Dt Rti
a
mm e y ei t
n
si sv
i
sy Af
g
eo Oi
l
O
i
ls
GenrationRate
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...........
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. .
1m
0y
0 0
my
C
oa
l
y
S ed
o M
u o
r
c e
l S e cr i in
o R Pc
u o et
r
c k d o
La
eg
ae
k
A un
c lt
c a
u i
m o
S
e
al Se
en
qc
ue
Rv
e o
s i
er
r
Plu
ee
t
r m
Mo
o
irin
gat S gh
ttr y
r a
a p
i
Plu
ee
t
r m
o
Ce
har
g
S ec
o R
u o
r
c k
Mint a
ir oa y
ga P
t hs
w
From Armentrout, 2000, AAPG.org

21. Reservoir Characterization
Reservoir Characterization focuses on data integration to model
reservoir architecture and flow properties
CUM
PROD
TIME
Seismic visualization
Fracture characterization
Resistivity modeling
Production data inversion
Outcrop studies
Reservoir Optimization
Geostatistics
QUANTIFIED UNCERTAINTY
Volumetric and reserve Reservoir
estimation simulation
From Armentrout, 2000, AAPG.org

22. Geoscience Foundation
Geoscience Careers
Strong basic-discipline training
Develop supplementary skills
Math and Statistics
Physics
Computer and Workstation
Excellent communication skills
Oral, written, graphical
English

23. COMPUTER SKILLS
• PC skills Required
– Word Processing
– Spreadsheet
– Power Point
– ArcGIS
• Workstation
– Try to get exposure
– Interpretation most important
Heath, 2002

24. COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Must be able to Present Your Work
In English Kaldi, 2004

25. Successful Geoscientists
Love Geology
Creative Problem Solver
Win-win attitude
Team player
Perseverance and flexibility
Realistic appraisal of career market

26. Professionalism
Professionalism
Professionalism
• Initiative
• Ethics and Integrity
• Enthusiasm
• Adaptability
• Cooperation
• Team Work
Essential Job Market Skills Heath, 2002

27. Job Market Expectations
Corporate Recruiters Assume:
You have a Solid Geoscience Foundation
You have a strong background in Math/Computers
And That You Are
Self-motivated
Team Player Professional
Excellent Communicator

28. Job Market Expectations
Corporate Managers Require
Immediate Impact
Bottom Line Focus
High Productivity
Continuous Training
Creative Problem Solving Skills
Professionalism

29. AAPG
Professionalism

30. Cost of Student Membership
$0.00

31. Student Membership
www.aapg.org

32. STUDENT CHAPTER ACTIVITIES
• Distinguished Lecturers from AAPG and Industry
• Short Courses
and Seminars
• Field Trips
• Exhibits at
Conferences
• Other Events:
on Campus
& off Campus
Univ Sriwijaya geophysical survey in Sumatra
21 Feb 2004

33. AAPG STUDENT BENEFITS
• Great Publications: Bulletin, Explorer
• Books, Books, Books
– Publication Pipeline
– Discounts on AAPG Books
– $500 Book Gift (3 yr cycle)
• Grants-in-Aid for Grad Study
• Weeks Grants (SC and student)
www.aapg.org Students@aapg.org

34. WEEKS GRANT
$500/yr for Chapter
$500/yr for Student
www.aapg.org
Students@aapg.org

35. Geoscience
Professional Development
Independent
Manager
Broadening Succession
Planned Assignments
Entry Training Development
Level
Assignments Mentored Consultant
Formal by Experts
Mentoring Mentors
others Mentors others
Senior
Interpreter
Graduation
Specialist
Now is the Time to Start Building Your Career

36. You Only Have
A Solid Foundation

37. Career Strategies
• Set Goals –
– Direction
– Timing
• Prepare to Compete
– Stay Versatile
– Be Patient
• Network
• Keep Growing
– Find, use a Mentor
– Develop New Skills
CAC 2005

38. AAPG Can Help You
Build and Manage Your Career

39. Cyclic Job Market
Typical of Today’s Global Industries
Retrench
Employment
1973 1996 2003 ? ??
Time
The Business Cycle 024658

40. Cyclic Job Market
The Better Professional You Are
Layed Off Nov 00
Retrench Re-Hired Dec 00
Employment
1973 1996 2003 ? ??
Time
The Better Your Career Potential 024658

41. Join Professional Societies
Geological Society of Thailand
AAPG
SEAPEX
• Learn more about your career
• Increase your knowledge
• Exposure to leaders in science and industry
• Expand organizational, & management skills
• Network – interaction with peers
• Helps you throughout your career

42. Professional Societies
Don’t Just Join - Participate
• Attend Meetings
• Give Papers / Posters
• Seek Mentors
– Serve on Committees
– Volunteer

43. AAPG
Professional Standing & Recognition
• Code of ethics
• Recognized as a trained professional
• Professional certification available
• Networking opportunities
• Present your work at meetings & conventions
• Regional & international contacts & events
• Honors & Awards

44. Membership Value Pyramid
Included in
Professionalism
Membership
Personal Member
Programs
Discounted
and/or
Supported
Professional
Development
And Outreach
Programs Mostly
Subsidized
Basic Included in
Programs Membership

45. It Is Your Career
Manage It Well
Good Luck