Celebrate With NACE!

When Dan Nagy was at Gulf Oil in the early 1980s, the oil industry was in its heyday. Big budgets and aggressive hiring characterized HR functions for these companies, and there were many opportunities for geologists and petroleum engineers.

"It really was their market," Nagy explains.

But markets can be fickle and karma can be cruel, as one recruit found out.

During the boom, this particular recruit walked into the office where one of Nagy's colleagues was scheduled to interview him. Without introduction, the recruit said, "Let's not waste any time here," as he began spreading sheets of paper with offers from other oil companies on the desk.

"Tell me if you can beat these," he said bluntly.

"That's not the way we work," Nagy's colleague replied. "From the offers you received from other companies, I can tell you're a good candidate. But I'd like to get to know you before making an offer."

Unsatisfied with the pace of the meeting and lack of an immediate offer, the recruit gathered up his papers and brusquely left to take his credentials elsewhere.

A year and a half later, the bottom had fallen out of the oil market. Layoffs were common and jobs were harder to come by. Gulf had since merged with Chevron, and Nagy was attending a career fair with his colleague from Gulf; both were now working for Chevron.

The recruit who 18 months earlier had his choice of offers walked up to their table with a much humbler demeanor. Nagy and his colleague recognized the recruit; however, the recruit didn't recognize them.

As the recruit stood there, Nagy's colleague began to spread papers out on the table. "Let me show you the opportunities we have for petroleum engineers," he said.

At that point, Nagy said, the recruit began to connect the dots and remember the meeting with Nagy's colleague. The recruit began to go flush.

Nagy's colleague then removed the papers until the desk was clear, looked the recruit in the eye, and said, "And these are the positions we have for you." (read the rest of Dan's story)