Why are you on a drilling rig off the coast of Angola?
That’s an interesting story. I moved to Finland to pursue my Master’s Degree and eventually went on to work for a Finnish pulp and paper company. The paper industry, however, is a very mature industry. Most engineering work is about optimisation and not so focused on new development.

My superiors at the paper company recommended that I look at opportunities outside the pulp and paper industry. I knew Maersk Line & Maersk Logistics as a supplier, and my research led me to discovering the MITAS program. So I joined Maersk Oil and went to Denmark. The very first weekend I went on the drilling rig – after attending the necessary safety courses, of course.

What’s the first half year been like?
Offshore work gives you a lot of humility. Everybody on the rig is an important part of work, and the economic scale is immense. As a Well Site Engineer, you assist the rig supervisor in the daily operations and are entrusted with definite responsibilities. One wrong move on your side influences everybody. It’s not just about economy or efficiency, but also about safety. At Maersk Oil, it’s always safety first. You learn so much from this experience, and what you learn can be applied in very many roles, offshore, onshore or in other business units.

One of the most important things that new graduates learn in Maersk Oil is to understand the concept of cost. You learn the economics of the game, you realize there is a clear line between what is economically feasible and what would be a technological marvel

How do you view Maersk Oil as a workplace?
I think that what I have experienced as a Well Site Engineer characterises not only Maersk Oil but the A. P. Moller - Maersk Group as a whole. You are empowered to shape your own career. Your supervisors give feedback, not orders. They give you a) the opportunity to really be part of the work, b) clear responsibility, and  eventually c) the chance to be part of the actual decision making. It is clearly a company that trusts and invests in it’s workforce. They believe in polishing the diamonds to get more value in the end.

In the longer run I would definitely like to achieve big things in my career. All Well Site Engineers, I believe, are ambitious, we work hard and play hard, and I believe that if you are motivated you can achieve anything. Being in Maersk is simply a good career move, a stamp of approval. As a Maersk employee people trust you and know what to expect. It opens doors to a world of opportunities.