Q&A With PGS Employees

There is no good reason to work at PGS when the oil price is down, but when it is up that is a good time.

Overall good company when oil price is good. Bad company when oil price is low which leads to layoffs. No one is spared.

PGS Houston is very flexible if you have a flexible manager.

Depends ultimately on your manager. Some are strict 8-5, some are laissez faire...

Depends on your manager.

Strict 8am-5pm at PGS Austin, no one leaves early ever. Work from home granted in rare special emergency cases.

They don’t handle real issues well such as bosses or coworkers that demean other employees. They let pay stagnate, at least in US offices.

Both

Only saw people who had parents working at PGS ever get internships there.

PGS Austin office has a startup vibe. You work too many hours for no reward and little recognition. Lots of turnover of contractors and hourly staff due to project funding contingent on the health of the oil industry. Continual waves of layoffs for everyone when the industry is down. A couple of managers insist on mandatory meetings at 8-8:15am everyday, which is the most un-Austin thing you can do to a workplace.

Stop putting managers in place that don't have the proper credentials for their area of work that they oversee. Stop putting managers in technical areas that have a business degree only, don't have a technical degree, or have no degree for that matter. This is bad policy at such a technically focused company.

There was not a clear career map or ladder for a long time and it is still bad.

2 weeks for early career US based employees . 3 weeks for mid-career US employees. 4+ weeks for senior US employees.

Raises happen in upturns, but not in downturns.

High paced in the US based offices when work is there.

Secure during upturns in the oil & gas industry. Not secure during downturns.

Having a social life is tough if you work at the PGS Austin office since it is straight 8-5 Monday through Friday. Hard to believe this exists in a laid back place such as Austin, Texas in this day and age.

Challenging work, but managers are often not present enough in the office or checking in on their workers' tasks to keep the challenge going.

There are no team outings during downturns. During upturns, it was mostly eating and golf.

What a niche industry it is and how that is bad for a career long term if you stay a long time.

Low morale and negativity during downturns. High morale and cocksuredness during upturns.

PGS is fairly diverse if you work across groups in different countries, otherwise not the most diverse workplace if you only work with people in your local office.

Some offices have open floor plan with offices for higher ups, while others have an office for every person.

Good health benefits in US offices. No office perks otherwise. Flexible schedule under some managers, but not at the PGS Austin office which is straight up 8-5 Monday through Friday.

Easy process overall, but this was during an upturn of the oil industry. Downturns are different and sometimes you get chosen for exit interviews.

1.5-2 hours

Dress well, show up on time, and get along with the people you interview with.

If you follow up with people you interviewed with, some will get back promptly while others will wait weeks.