[乖乖猫]

我一个熟人在美国东部一所专业排名不错的大学读生物医学工程博士，所学方向是医学成像。最近面临毕业找工作。他所在的实验室以前毕业的学生都去了著名大公司（通用电气之类）的医疗部门做相关的医疗设备的研发了。他的课题比较偏向信号处理和医学物理。他最近在北美拿到一家石油勘探公司的 offer，做seismic imaging，薪水跟医疗设备行业差不多。

虽然都是做成像的，但因为从医学成像到石油勘探领域跨度太大， 他比较犹豫，到底是继续去本行业大公司做医疗设备研发好，还是去石油服务公司做勘探成像? 他自己不怕学习新的知识。 但从职业发展角度，想知道石油勘探前景如何（10年内，10-20年后）。

如果去做石油勘探，可拿到的学位是生物工程学位（其实做的东西偏向EE），这是否会影响到他日后在石油行业的工作提升等问题？

在这里想听听前辈们的建议，参考参考。谢谢！

[ytlee]

tell your 熟人 to ask him/herself the following questions.

What was the original reason(s) he/she study his/her chosen field.
How he/she envisions his/her education in his/her career
What are his/her life goals?

Although the imagining technique are similar, there are major differences. For one, medical imaging can be verified while no one truly examine an underground reservoir. Second, if the result of imaging is incorrect, seismic imaging only result in loss of monetary values, the other is human life. So if your 熟人 is talented, I would want him/her stay in medical, which has higher calling. But that is my opinion.

On the other hand, if money is important to you, seismic imaging career does offer opportunity of higher earning but come with professional risks, being laid off.

Granted, making money to support a family is very important, but that shouldn't be the only reason for being a human. I believe there is higher calling for your 熟人. Let he/she makes his/her choice.

BTW, no one has a crystalball for 10-20 year predication. If ones does, one will be in trading and speculation. Oil & gas is known for volatility, oilmen can be rich one day, dirt poor next. we only live for today.

[topset]

引用框（乖乖猫 ＠ 01-15-2012 - 16:45）

。他最近在北美拿到一家石油勘探公司的 offer，做seismic imaging，薪水跟医疗设备行业差不多。

薪水差不多干嘛要转行?

[ytlee]

引用框（topset ＠ 01-16-2012 - 00:47）

引用框（乖乖猫 ＠ 01-15-2012 - 16:45）

。他最近在北美拿到一家石油勘探公司的 offer，做seismic imaging，薪水跟医疗设备行业差不多。

薪水差不多干嘛要转行?

people who want to join the oil & gas industry often ask the wrong question. In US, salary is not the right question, other than NDA issue, salary and career are two completely different things. If you are not right for oil&gas career, you will not get the salary.If you can stay in o&g, you can get the big payday. It is just that simple.

You should ask the following questions before you select an o&g career:

1. Am I the person who need a lot of stability in my job?
2. How well do I respond to unpredictability?
3. Am I detail orientated?
4. Am I thinking about future economics will be?
5. Is my long term career goal important?











If you answer three or more yes, oil & gas may not be right for you.

Oil & gas is very volatile, the only thing predictable is there will be boom and there will be doom. If you want an "iron rice bowl" and not flexible in career planning, you will be greatly disappointed.

[乖乖猫]

谢谢楼上的回复。

考虑转行实在是迫不得已。我熟人本身不想转，但他的另一半在德州学化工的，认为两个人同一行业可以挣钱更快，安定下来更快。好像美国搞石油的都在德州，北部很少。暂时不考虑回国了话，为了家庭团聚两个人必须有一个妥协，他自己本身也有很好的职业发展，所以也很犹豫。

但楼上的回复非常具有建设性意义。

谢谢！

引用框（ytlee ＠ 01-17-2012 - 13:03）

引用框（topset ＠ 01-16-2012 - 00:47）

引用框（乖乖猫 ＠ 01-15-2012 - 16:45）

。他最近在北美拿到一家石油勘探公司的 offer，做seismic imaging，薪水跟医疗设备行业差不多。

薪水差不多干嘛要转行?

people who want to join the oil & gas industry often ask the wrong question. In US, salary is not the right question, other than NDA issue, salary and career are two completely different things. If you are not right for oil&gas career, you will not get the salary.If you can stay in o&g, you can get the big payday. It is just that simple.

You should ask the following questions before you select an o&g career:

1. Am I the person who need a lot of stability in my job?
2. How well do I respond to unpredictability?
3. Am I detail orientated?
4. Am I thinking about future economics will be?
5. Is my long term career goal important?











If you answer three or more yes, oil & gas may not be right for you.

Oil & gas is very volatile, the only thing predictable is there will be boom and there will be doom. If you want an "iron rice bowl" and not flexible in career planning, you will be greatly disappointed.

[ytlee]

引用框（乖乖猫 ＠ 02-13-2012 - 17:17）

谢谢楼上的回复。

考虑转行实在是迫不得已。我熟人本身不想转，但他的另一半在德州学化工的，认为两个人同一行业可以挣钱更快，安定下来更快。好像美国搞石油的都在德州，北部很少。暂时不考虑回国了话，为了家庭团聚两个人必须有一个妥协，他自己本身也有很好的职业发展，所以也很犹豫。
薪水差不多干嘛要转行?

What happen both caught by the the down turn and don't have the job? In Houston, husband and wife normally don't want to be in the same industry. Many companies have nepotism rule to prevent husband and wife in the same department or same company. Other than prevent couple playing favour to their spouse, the rule is also designed to prevent couple bring their marriage problems to work.