College students and recent graduates around the globe value a positive organizational culture more than fiscal perks like a competitive salary or bonus, according to figures from Rigzone’s Ideal Employer Survey (IES).
The survey, which included a total of 8,466 participants from more than 100 countries, showed that respondents who stated they were attending college/university, or recent graduates looking for a job, ranked the importance of having a positive work environment in an energy firm at 85 percent. In comparison, the same respondents scored a competitive salary and a competitive bonus at 83 and 77 percent, respectively.
Further supporting the theory that the next wave of oil and gas professionals don’t rank fiscal benefits at the top of their list, the IES survey also revealed that millennials value solid training and development programs and a commitment to health and safetyabove a competitive salary.
Shedding some light on the cause of this trend, BP plc’s Head of UK Graduate Resourcing Suzy Style suggested that current students and graduates are different than the generations before them.
“Research shows that those graduating today are less concerned with starting salary and place a high level of importance on company culture,” Style said.
“We know that they can be less swayed by prestige and instead want to make sure that the work they are doing is meaningful, and that they are working for a company with a strong social purpose,” she added.
BP was ranked as one of the top oil and gas companies among students and recent graduates in the Ideal Employer Survey, along with Chevron Corp., Schlumberger Ltd., Exxon Mobil Corporation and Royal Dutch Shell plc.
Commenting on the popularity of BP among students and recent graduates, Style suggested that the company’s positive culture likely played a significant part.
“It is a testament to the hard work we put into maintaining BP’s company culture of openness and mutual respect,” Style added.
When discussing the intricacies of BP’s organizational culture, Style emphasised that employees have a significant role to play in the maintenance of a positive environment.
“Our employees are very proud of working for BP and are focused on maintaining the company culture, which is founded on respect for others and working as one team, which we have worked hard to build,” Style said.
“We have very clear values that are absolutely part of the fabric. I have heard many employees say that what sets BP apart from its peers in the oil and gas sector is its inclusive, collaborative and friendly culture,” she added.
Desirable Location, Travel Not as Important for Students/Grads
In addition to valuing a positive organizational culture more than a competitive salary or bonus, college students and recent graduates ranked the trait higher than aspects such as company perks (63 percent), health benefits (84 percent) and the financial performance/strength of a firm (82 percent).
A positive work environment was also ranked higher than working for an industry innovator (82 percent), working in a desirable location (69 percent) or having the opportunity to travel with a company (75 percent).
When student/graduate responses were omitted from the survey responses, the IES revealed that participants valued a competitive salary (89 percent) higher than a positive organizational culture (87 percent), but lower than a competitive bonus (78 percent).
Real Work, Contribution and Culture
BP’s fellow oil giant, Shell, also highlighted the benefits of its organizational culture and offered Rigzone a number of testimonials from recent graduates around the world.
“I found I was doing real work and making a contribution straight away,” Malaysia-based Prashanthini Sunderan, subsea controls engineer at Shell Global Solutions (M) Sdn. Bhd, said.
Abhinandan Kohli, a petrophysicist at Shell Global Solutions, echoed Sunderan’s positive comments.
“Everybody is open and willing to help if you have any personal or professional issues. That’s the relationship I have with my peers; they’re like family,” he said.
Shell was ranked, overall, as the most highly-rated employer of oil and gas professionals in the Ideal Employer Survey.
Another oil major, Chevron, told Rigzone that its ‘Chevron Way’ culture has stood the test of time and guided the company to success for more than a century.
“The Chevron Way explains who we are, what we believe, how we achieve and where we aspire to go,” a Chevron spokesperson said.
“It includes our vision, values and strategies that help unify our global workforce and provide the principles, expectations and accountability for getting results the right way,” the spokesperson added.
Chevron, which added that it was proud to be ranked as one of the top five companies among students and graduates globally, gave some hope for students looking to be employed by the US-headquartered oil and gas firm during the lower oil price environment.
“Although we have reduced hiring, we have not stopped hiring and continue to invest in our employees,” the spokesperson said.
source: http://www.rigzone.com/news/oil_gas/a/148604/Ideal_Employer_Survey_Students_Graduates_Value_Culture_over_Money/?pgNum=1
