Jason
Career Profiles
New Career with SLB is an Easy Switch
When he left his role in the Navy as an A-6 Intruder Jet Mechanic, Jason Bruce faced a decision commonly experienced by many military personnel when they leave the services. Where to work next?
“It’s not obvious where to be looking for work and, certainly for me, when I returned to my small hometown in the US, my unique skill set just wasn’t needed,” says Jason.
It was a move to Utah, Salt Lake City, where he first discovered SLB and where it became clear that he had the skills the company was looking for. He accepted a position with SLB as a Field Mechanic a few weeks later.
“It’s definitely that initial step that’s the hardest,” he says. “While I didn’t have the relevant industry qualifications, what I did have was the knowledge and skills needed, as well as a broader experience gained from the military.”
“Being disciplined, reliable, process and detail oriented, driven, and having already worked with heavy machinery were obvious transferable skills,” he says.
More than an overlap in skills though, he discovered other qualities that he had gained in the military that made him a perfect candidate for SLB—a need for a qualified, safety-minded and dedicated workforce.
“I was already used to working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, and under pressure, all good assets to have in someone who is leading or working as part of a team.
“My existing skill set was enough to get me through the door and then SLB has given me all I need to develop within the company, from training courses through to private tutoring.”
“It’s definitely that initial step that’s the hardest,” he says. “While I didn’t have the relevant industry qualifications, what I did have was the knowledge and skills needed, as well as a broader experience gained from the military.”
"It’s the people with a can-do spirit, commitment to safety, and a disciplined work ethic who thrive in the military. And here at SLB, it’s no different."
Jason explains that while everyone in SLB goes through a fixed-step training program, it’s the military personnel who are usually able to adapt fastest.
“It’s the people with a can-do spirit, commitment to safety, and a disciplined work ethic who thrive in the military. And here at SLB, it’s no different. Since we are already used to operating in extreme conditions, it’s an environment where a lot of the experience we’ve acquired during our service can be called upon, and that’s not always easy to find in a career outside of the military.”
From Field Mechanic, to Supervisor, to Manager, and now Recruiter, Jason attributes his success and promotions to his ability to backward plan, understand the critical path for a project and deliver results. And he’s also proof that a career in oil and gas jobs can meet the broadest aspirations.
"While I was in the Navy I did move around a lot and for those people who are used to moving around a lot, a job in SLB can definitely be similar in that respect.
“But equally, there is a lot of work onshore, so you don’t need to assume that you’ll be working offshore, posted overseas, or working on rotation.”
As a Recruiting Coordinator since June 2013, Jason experiences first-hand the satisfaction that comes from helping people begin a fulfilling career, develop their skills and have a fulfilling work life.
“We recruit former military personnel into roles as mechanics, electricians, technicians, equipment operators, and supply chain management.
“My advice to anyone considering the oil and gas industry would be to research first so you understand the environment you’re looking to come into. Another key thing is to understand what you’re offering: what are your key skills and where are you best suited?
“And always try and get your first job out of the military on your existing skills; then once you know what you’re doing, you can be a lot more focused on any further training, which here at SLB is limited only by your own ambitions.”
“The oil and gas industry are constantly evolving,” says Jason. “My career so far at SLB has provided me with plenty of room for advancement and extensive opportunities. It’s a field with a very high ceiling.
“I don’t think there’s any real secret to my success at SLB though. I put it down to motivation and being able to get multiple people to agree on a common path and execute goals. So a lot of the project management and leadership challenges I faced in the military have been directly relevant in my career here.
Certainly, the industry was, and still is, attractive because the type of work is very, very interesting. I get an enormous amount of job satisfaction, and part of it is because, like the military, it’s a dynamic and exciting place to work. I literally can’t imagine working anywhere else.”