Graduate Profile: Preet Sagoo
Job Title: Site Services, UK Area Operations
Studied: BA in Politics and Law at the University of Manchester; and Graduate Diploma in Law at College of Law
Started 2007
In my search for a graduate role, I focussed heavily upon finding a company that could offer me a real job where I could hold accountability from the outset. In contrast to many other blue chip companies, which offer their graduates a series of temporary placements, ExxonMobil recruit their graduates to fulfil a genuine business need. In an era of globalisation, where knowledge transcending geographic boundaries is now common practice, I was also very keen to work for a company prominent on the international stage that could offer me the opportunity of working abroad. Luckily for me, companies don’t come much more international than ExxonMobil! In addition to this, the prospect of working in an industry at the forefront of solving one of the predominant problems of my generation was also a huge bonus.
During my life as a student, I worked at various companies in my Summer breaks. It was during these temporary Summer jobs that I recognised the importance of IT as the backbone of any business. I quickly began to see the potential to utilise IT as a strategic tool to provide logical solutions to a range of business problems. Having decided that IT was the career for me, I then faced the obstacle of finding a graduate role that I could apply for given that I did not come from a technical background. Thankfully, a genuine interest in IT and a willingness to learn fulfilled the prerequisites required to apply for the IT function at ExxonMobil. IT as a career at ExxonMobil has a lot to offer in terms of responsibility, challenge, innovation and growth – each one of which was potent enough to stimulate me and therefore make me apply to join the IT function at ExxonMobil.
I have started my career at ExxonMobil in North Europe Area Operations working as part of the Desktop Support team. This role has been exceptionally challenging and a very steep learning curve, it is fortunate therefore that I love to be challenged and hope to learn for the rest of my career! The support network in ExxonMobil is second to none. As with all new job roles, there have of course been times when I have not been sure how to resolve an issue. However, at these times there has always been someone willing to take the time to help me, be it the supportive management team or my peers.
My only concern about joining ExxonMobil was that I would not be exposed to the same levels of responsibility that I would be in a smaller company. However, I have never felt like a small cog in a big machine! From the outset I was given responsibility for important projects and pieces of work. I am a valued member of a fantastic team that contribute a great deal to the Company.
To date, my role has seen me represent the UK in meetings in both Brussels and Hamburg, become the key support contact for the home office users that ExxonMobil UK has and implement various new processes within the department. In addition to all of this, I am increasing my technical knowledge everyday on the job. As stated, you will definitely get a “real job” from day one!
This is not to suggest that you will receive no formal training as a graduate at ExxonMobil, far from it in fact. I am now approximately half way through the ExxonMobil Graduate Development Programme that is run by the highly prestigious London Business School. The standard of teaching is incredible and the opportunity to socialise in London with the rest of your graduate cohort is always a bonus! The programme has been of great use to me, not having studied any business modules in the past. The programme simply reaffirms the Company’s notion that they recruit in their graduates the leaders of the future.
In the future I hope to continue to work in ExxonMobil’s diverse environment, drawing on the extensive experience and expertise of my colleagues. I hope to develop a broad knowledge of the business that will hopefully allow me to experience managerial roles and expatriate assignments.
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