Editor's note: "Careers" is a new addition to the EXPLORER -- a monthly column that will provide information on efforts by AAPG and others to members who are experiencing transitions within their professional careers.

Efforts Focus on Training, Information

Career Initiatives Launched

A comprehensive effort is being launched by AAPG to assist members who are being affected by the downturn in the industry.

While new initiatives are being inaugurated for those losing their jobs due to mergers and downsizing, programs for still-employed geologists are also being offered, and ongoing programs are being bolstered.

One of AAPG's major initiatives is to provide funds to lower training costs at the five Professional Development Centers, which already have received over $300,000 in funding from AAPG and the AAPG Foundation to assist in setting up the centers.

These training centers are designed for mid-career geoscientists who would like retraining in the most state-of-the-art commercial workstation programs available.

The AAPG Executive Committee agreed at a meeting in early February to underwrite a major portion of the fees charged for geoscience training at the centers. Details will be forthcoming.

The Executive Committee also committed funds for a special Careers Transition Workshop to be held at the AAPG annual meeting in San Antonio, April 11-14. The workshop will be no charge to participants.

Also, a special area will be set aside at the San Antonio meeting for those geologists wishing to show their prospects to potential investors. Contact the AAPG convention department for details.

AAPG is affiliated with the Petroleum Technology Transfer Council (PTTC), a government-funded program that provides low- or no-cost education for professionals to provide the latest in technology to the private sector.

PTTC offers a wide-array of courses of high-interest to geoscientists, and will offer 14 geological or play-oriented workshops this year.

In early 1999, AAPG began to gather information to determine the scope of the unfolding job scenario and began to determine AAPG's action plan to assist professionals being affected by the continued low oil price environment.

Science director Jack Gallagher and Frank Wantland, management consultant and EXPLORER columnist on professional issues, traveled to Houston, Dallas, Denver and other oil centers to meet with leaders of local societies, to gather information on their plans, and to seek areas in which AAPG can take both a support and leadership role.

AAPG also has been in contact with the outplacement centers of major oil companies and will make association materials available at those locations.

The association also is partnering with the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists to present a number of presentations dealing with becoming an independent geologist .

Some of the ongoing membership advantages include:

• AAPG Continuing Education. AAPG offers a number of seats at its high-quality courses at our annual meeting in San Antonio, April 9-11, and at Section meetings (when invited) at a cost of $50 per day on a first-come, first-served basis.
• The AAPG Web site offers a professional card search, where a geologist can place a summary of their skills, and interested parties can do a key-word search to find individuals with particular skills or experience. Contact Janet Brister at jbrister@aapg.org.
• Positions available are frequently posted on the Forum area of the AAPG Web site. Potential employers are urged to post jobs available on the site at no cost.
  Also, Right-McKee Associates, an international human resource consulting firm providing outplacement support to 400 displaced Phillips Petroleum employees, is also inviting companies with openings to send job postings o their JobBank. A company spokesman said the JobBank is a free recruitment tool employers can use on an ongoing basis. For information contact Susan Starling at (918) 661-8307.
• Hints for the Jobseeker written by past AAPG president James A. Gibbs, provides job-seeking tips for the petroleum geologist.
• The Web site also offers an extensive earth science gateway to other internet locations of interest to the geologist in job transition. This area also will be expanded with areas of specific interest to the job seeker.
• AAPG Insurance. This program has proven its worth over the years as our plan menu strives to be the very best and cost-effective. The program offers a wide array of insurance advantages for the geologist and their families -- and perhaps their future independent company. For information contact 1-800-337-3140, or AAPGINS@aol.com. This could be one of the most important moves a displaced geologist could make, according to many affected in the downturn of the 1980s.
• AAPG Retirement Program. If you have a rollover amount from you company, what do you do? Consider this option by contacting Retirement Plan Strategies at 1-781-356-8078, or through the AAPG Web site.

Students are also a special focus of AAPG's ongoing career efforts.

Here's some of the emphasis on student members:

• The Visiting Geologist Program, which visits campuses all over the world and offers insight and information to assist in career decision-making process.
• AAPG Career Centers are a staple at the AAPG annual meeting and at AAPG Section meetings, where resumes can be created and bolstered, jobs available are posted and potential employers can meet applicants.

Student AAPG members receive:

• Monthly subscription to the BULLETIN.
• Monthly subscription to the EXPLORER.
• Free internet posting on the AAPG Student Search Database.
• Free books -- "Career Guidance" and any AAPG publication on the application form.
• Big discounts on continuing education courses, registration at AAPG national and international meetings, along with special field trips and other benefits available on a local society basis.
• Grants-in-Aid to support graduate students.
• The recognition by the geoscience community of the professional intent and focus of the individual.

These benefits are just the beginning and more services will become available to our members in career transition as AAPG continues our information gathering and formulation of new initiatives.

You are not alone. There are many who a have weathered the storm -- and prospered. AAPG wants to assist you in this transition in any befitting manner we can.

Please let us know if you have any suggestions for further actions we can take. Contact us at postmaster@aapg.org.

Contributing to this article were Joey Mechelle Dawes, Larry Nation, Vern Stefanic, Robert Millspaugh and Janet Brister.