Thread regarding ConocoPhillips layoffs

a DEI hire is someone who was hired for their physical characteristics, not their ability. The real racism in the job market is that way of thinking. A meritocracy is the least racist way to organize a society. When you have POC, women promotion %, and these other buckets to group unlike people as like people simply due to their outward physical characteristics, you do them and the company a disservice. And as an employer, it should not matter who you have sx with at home, its your output while you are serving the company that matters. Same for the employee, don't think you're special bcz you have relations with people of the same sx.

Get back to caring about productivity and distance ourselves from ESG/DEI.

Can you explain what is a “DEI hire”?

Leave now or regret it later.

You are a year in. Cut your losses. To best further your engineering career; plan now to exit COP in 2025 or '26. Unless you were a DEI hire, your future is limited. By the time this becomes obvious to you, you will have missed a critical developmental window in your career. Domestically, we are resource play focused. You will learn all you need to know in a year. It's repetitious thereafter. Alaska is interesting but limited. An amalgamation of quality assets developed by others with questionable upside and declining profitability. Unlikely Qatar is possible until you have 10 years of experience behind you and we may not be operating there by that time. Plan your exit.

Exercise caution with the WELLS TMT (Global Wells Members). They can be highly political, and not aligning with their personal agendas could seriously impact your career.

Stay safe.

I would be surprised if you receive a consistent answer about the culture of each location. People have their bias and judgements, and this site isn't the best one for a professional exchange.

As for how to navigate the people dynamics, it's important for people to know your name and associate you with a strong work ethic and quality work. You should treat everyone as a future boss/coworker because you never know where someone may end up. Picking and choosing based on who you think has influence today will not always work out. People retire, leaders shuffle, and sometimes people quit for a better [insert reason].

My sincere advice to a new hire is to put yourself out there in ways that give you exposure outside your core department. There are opportunities, but you may not perceive those as valuable uses of your time. But every engagement puts you around colleagues that may be coworkers that can give you good advice.

Best of luck in your early career.