Sometimes luck do play its part..but usually to get their attention is to be the 3 pointer grad. It's true, the grades is just the ticket to get interviews but the rest is up to your skills and personality. I'd been to many interviews in the past and the experience help me a lot with slb interviews.But tips from seniors did help too. If you think you don't have the self-confidence, practice..a lot. Get help from lecturer or friends. This is not rocket science you know .

One best thing here at SLB is that you will not stay at same position long. Meaning that your grade will go up and so do your salary. (thats RM 1000 increase).The challenges are, apart from doing your job which is terribly physical and mind burdening, you also have to take online tests and modules, reviews and go to schools. They will push you. 2 years is normally the limit. Fail and you can kiss your job good bye. So the interviews did not end when you get the job. The struggles will continue, at least when you get to certain grade which you will a the choice to stay. One thing I learned here is that you have to take your job seriously. Do not skip procedures and take short cuts. Disobey that, you can lose your job or worst, your life (or others).

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Added on October 31, 2008, 12:27 pmIt's quite difficult to say. Usually the applications went to database and stay there for a year if i am not mistaken. Sometimes it also depends on vacancy and request from managers. Open your eyes and ears for job expo or something similar, SLB just might be there. But from I heard, they say a degree holder with CGPA below 3.00 not need to apply (at those job expo). One more thing, most of the new engineer at my place usually are graduates from either UTM or UTP. These grads got more chances because SLB have recruitment program with their U's.

This post has been edited by azhanblur: Oct 31 2008, 12:27 PM

This is what've been bugging me. My university doesn't have this CGPA system. When I went for a walk-in interviews at careers fair or apply jobs online, they'd asked for my CGPA. Trivial but a bugger.

Yeah I heard slb is a serious work place. They work your arses off but the pay is good. The online tests, classes etc are only during training period, which could last for about 3-4 years yeah?

azhanblur, what is your position in slb? Are you an FET?

meaning those with cgpa below 3.0 have no chances at all getting in slb?

Fixed Step Training what they called. actually we need to complete one grade in less than a year especially the trainees. The Training n development (TDS) would advice your manager to let you go if you miss the dateline. Normally if you're doing fine with your manager, or there are severe shortage of workforce then you're save. If not..bye bye. Actually the classes, tests continue untill certain grade. and still depends on needs. Eg, if there is a void in one grade and you're the only one can fill it, then they'll push you.

No..I'm not FET. I'm just a diploma graduate. Anyway, I would not cut out to be an FET. For one, too much responsibilities. And I don't like the stuff they're doing, just not my interest. I'm a maintenance personnel, and I love maintenance....don't have to care much 'bout those coil tubing, pumping, those operation stuff. but I do hope someday there will be a maintenance engineer post
And yes, I spent most time on land

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Added on October 31, 2008, 10:59 pmI can't say no chance at all, but all especially the FET are 3 pointer graduates. Even most of FST and technicians are 3 pointers.

franksnitch, your uni don't have cgpa? Are you from french uni or something?

This post has been edited by azhanblur: Nov 1 2008, 03:05 AM

What do you mean FET have too much responsibilities? Care to elaborate? I know it's hard labour and they're dealing with machineries, aren't they?

I'm really grateful for your generosity to share your experience and information on slb with us. I will do the same too if I were offered a job in slb in the future...

This post has been edited by franksnitch: Nov 3 2008, 01:46 PM

dude, start here: http://www.slb.com/content/careers/index.asp?

SLB has alot of different segments in the operational role i.e your job is out there on the oil rigs & platforms: Wireline, D&M, Well Services, Completions, Artificial Lift, Testing.

FET = Field Engineer Trainee

not much responsibilities except to do well for 1st school (assuming you pass the entrance exam) & don't get yourself killed in the field during pre-school period (unfortunately this year we've got about 16 injuries already in my current location from all segments, most of them from trainees).

After 1st school (2 - 2.5 months) & assuming you passed, you're expected to know the basics of what you're doing & be comfortable working alone as a second/night engineer and start working towards your promotion, so you can earn offshore bonus.

Depending on location, sometimes you get alot of support or none at all. When I was a trainee in a small location in Latin America, right after school and about 1 week working with a lead engineer, there were no engineers available in town & I was forced to become the lead engineer after that in charge of a US$400K job for about a month, with another trainee as my second engineer. That was the steepest learning curve in my life but luckily, I didn't screw up that badly.

So, that's old-school SLB for you, they like to drop you in the deep end and see if you'll drown or swim. We're trying to change that, but still, anything happening on the rig will be your responsibility.

It's fun for a while until shit happens, when failure investigations starts going on & they'll try to identify where the failure originates. If it's human error (what we call Group 7 error), it's like a black mark on your work history & if repeated again, could end up in termination.

But all in all, the toughest thing for an SLB field engineer, is to deal with the work/life balance. Since oilfield operations are dealing with a 24/7 schedule & any screw-ups will cause delays, there cannot be guarantees for your vacations/days off. Worst still is the fact that sometimes you're working in a totally remote location, and you may have difficulty calling your loved ones...and I'm not talking about a matter of days but weeks. As a result, broken marriages & relationships are pretty common.

Well, so think carefully on that offer if you do get one. Money's pretty good, but I would say alot of your experience, good or bad will depend on your location assigned.

I agree with zeusu. FE have a huge responsibility. I wont be able to tell much because I'm not an FE (or FET ) If you ask about maintenance, the group of people who sweat a lot when equipment fail during job offshore, that I can you You see, although with huge responsibility, an FE is part of operation. There are many experienced guys FE can turn to when time needed during job. In other word, you exist as a team, be a team member and a leader you can get through anything..almost anything. But...when a maintenance guy like me went on board, I'm expected to function alone, make decision alone and make them fast. If a job f***ed up and was caused by let say engine failure, we eat the s@+7. So, in the end,everyone here at SLB has the fair share of responsibility I guess. It comes with the paycheck and agreement you signed.Again, it depends on location you're assign. Not all location are great, same as the people. For me jerks will be anywhere, even in SLB

ntg

This post has been edited by NX9: Dec 2 2008, 10:16 PM

Hi NX9...I have some questions you may want to think the answers thoroughly. Do you love your current job? Does it gives you any satisfaction other than money? What really motivates you to leave? Why you want to work for Schlumberger? Are you prepared to be away from your love ones, not just weeks, not months but maybe years? Are you ready to be worked like a horse? if you do, and if you are successful then every sen you earn is worth it.

Diploma..advance diploma is the same with SLB. Even with degree if you went for a post that start at grade 7, you'll start at grade 7. Only if you have highly related experience then they might consider a slightly higher grade. They may offer a post above trainee position. To answer your question, yes advanced dip is sufficient and age is not a barrier at all. I'm older than you..much more older. Heavy work may effect older guys tho

Well for stater, visit www.slb.com to find out more. SLB is not just a single entity. There are different segments with different functions and different positions available but basically I can simply put it in different categories;

1. Operation/Field

These are people who are hired to work in locations offshore or onshore. back bone on the company. Field Specialist (FS) is post offered to Diploma grads. Salary is around 4K+.You start as FST (Field Specialist Trainee) salary 3K++. Though work. Need to study hard as well (know your trade). Ever see people work at construction site (contractors)? Here is even tougher than that. difference is the salary and safety are much higher. Not much of a comparison but that served as example well i think.

2. Support Operation

These are the people who provide much needed efforts to sustain safe and profitable operation. Often called Technicians or Maintenance personnel, less popular than FS variant just because of missing Specialist word in their title and less sought out by graduates and often taken as 2nd choice when they flunk the FS interview but the salary is just the same. Now the trainees are even paid offshore allowance. (My 1st choice, I even told my interviewer that I don't want to be an FS). There are Electronic, Mechanical and other types of technicians that I might not know of. You may or may not required to be offshore depending on Segment that employ you. For my segment, maintenance personnel need to be able to stand alone during offshore operation. One maintenance personnel each for mechanical and electronic side is allowed on any operation. (SLB charge hefty amount of money to client for them sampai client tak mau la ramai2).

What happen when crude oil runs out? When that happen, your job is the least problem you want to think about...Hey, don't think too far, we might even end up dead tomorrow or the world end in 2009 who knows.

Use your diploma. 3.5 is sufficient for interview. Even 2.9 is good. In other word, just go for it, and if you got rejected upon application then you'll know..Just kidding man ..thats cgpa is good. but your interview skills, personality are far for important.

Wow...this is a damn long reply.Hmm..and they say working with SLB is "work work" (peon voice from warcraft)

Good luck.

wish to work in slb soon...

After reading the posts, I must thank Azhanblur for giving really useful insights about the work/life in Schlumberger. I am one of the candidates who is shortlisted for a FET position for 2009 intake and after reading what Azhanblur wrote, I should know what to expect if I am given the chance to join Schlumberger. Hope my interview will go well.

ntg

This post has been edited by NX9: Dec 2 2008, 10:15 PM

Hello I have just joined this forum and I want to know how can I build a rig from 50 A4 sheets of paper. I have tried to google it but I don't know exactly what to look for. What am I allowed to use when trying to build the rig ? Am I allowed to use anything else beside those sheet of A4 paper ? Thank you for your answers.

P.S. If this is the aptitude test that I am going to face at Slb interview session then I am doomed because I don't know how I can make this. Please tell me how to build this and give me more details.

Hey bro,

Are you from engineering background? If yes, then just try to sit back and apply your basic engineering knowledge on this.

Good luck!

oil will finish in the earth one day..

Yeah... I am an engineer and right now I have two golf balls, until I get the rest of six until I reach eight balls I am trying to think on how to make that rig... so I am allowed to use only paper, no glue, I am not allowed to take some holes in the paper, right ?

P.S. There are only rumours that the oil is finishing in the world just to increase its price.

as long it dries up after you retire then it is fine.

when the day comes we will all be doomed.



I guess you need to find some origami technique to apply. Its still the same interview test eh.

I have the 8 golf balls, so I have to build a rig from a maximum of 50 A4 sheets of paper with a height of 1-1.50 metres, right ? No glue, no holes, no nothing, just the paper ? I wonder if this is still their ability test at the interview.

seriously, it's not that much important if you fail to build the rig and all that.Of course the questions then are easier to answer if you successfully did it.


p/s: it's not fun to spoil how to build the rigs. have to use your eng skills.