Anyone worked in energy - what's it like?

[beaker]

Had quite a few agents calling me about working in the energy industry lately eg. BP etc. Any opinions on working at these types of companies?

I've worked in telco/ISP/web industries but no exp in energy...

[NotAllThere]

I worked for Enron...

[r0bly0ns]

I spent a bit of time working at an energy supplier when in permiedom.

Quite enjoyed it but it was very political. I didn't actually work for the enrgy co, but the company I worked for had a contract with them and I was based on site at the energy co.

[Pondlife]

Had quite a few agents calling me about working in the energy industry lately eg. BP etc. Any opinions on working at these types of companies?

I've worked in telco/ISP/web industries but no exp in energy...

Current gig is for an oil company. All the cash is in upstream with downstream being the poor relation. Very disorganised and takes ages to get a decision about anything. If they weren't in the oil business they would have folded long ago IMO.

Supply chain is years behind Automotive or FMCG etc.

[Clownio]

Had quite a few agents calling me about working in the energy industry lately eg. BP etc. Any opinions on working at these types of companies?

I've done three separate contracts at Exxon. Good to work for, good rates and usually a bit of foreign travel (I've been all over Europe, North America and the far east while on contracts there).

IMHO it doesn't really matter what business the company is in, providing you know what you're doing and what is expected from you.

[Bluebird]

Energy co's like Leccy & Gas are ok, although they now seem to utilise their own staff more than contractors - they all spent heavily on IT in the last few years so I don't think there are any big projects on the horizon...


...unless anybody knows any better....

[mace]

Worked for Shell for a while. IT system was locked down. Building looked like it hadn't been refurbished since the 1960s. Essentially, they make money if they do things good or if they do things bad. Conservative, political environment.

[BoredBloke]

What is the bp role? Performance analyst at Stockley Park? If it is I'd avoid it. I did it for 11 months and it was horrible. If it is, PM me and I'll give you the low down.

[DodgyAgent]

How do the agency supplier arrangements work at these companies?

[Pondlife]

How do the agency supplier arrangements work at these companies?

Generally for SAP projects they have a consultancy partner (logica, IBM etc) who source everyone and usually through their prefered agency (Elan), who farm it out to everyone else.