In-Demand Career Spotlight
Michael Porter, BP Decatur Michael Porter, now an Instrumentation and Electrical (I&E) Foreman at BP in Decatur, started out in the construction field as a millwright. He started talking to people who did electrical work on different construction jobs and got interested in his current field. In his current role and with I&E Technicians he leads, work is done on a daily basis to maintain and fix critical equipment at the site. People in operations and maintenance provide Michael and his team with equipment that needs to be checked and they then make a judgment call about what needs to be done to fix the problem. They also work on a planned schedule to address instrumentation and electrical equipment needs. Most of the job involves troubleshooting and problem solving. Michael says, “It is a lot of working with your brain.” Highlights of the job include countless opportunities to learn something new. The technology is always changing and Michael emphasizes his enjoyment in learning different things constantly. In addition, the field enjoys high wages and good benefits, in the case of Michael working for BP, and high demand. “We’ve had trouble finding qualified people in the field for at the least ten years,” says Michael. In addition, the field offers the opportunity to work in a variety of settings – manufacturing, construction, etc. – and provides the opportunity to work anywhere in the world. “If you like travel, this could be a good field for you,” says Michael, “There are many contract and short term assignments all over the world of which to take advantage.” Job security is also an added bonus. “Because things are constantly being automated, this is a skill set that is still required to keep the plant running. There will always be a need for someone to fix the PLCs or other equipment that keep the processes running,” he says. For people interested in the field, Michael recommends both trade or technical school and on-thejob experience. “I would go to school to get an Associates Degree in instrumentation and/or electrical and then try to work as a helper on a construction site while going to school to be able to learn in the field. It is helpful to be able to have the opportunity to apply what you are learning in the classroom out in the field.” For more information about careers as in I&E Technician, click here. For local educational pathways to this career, click here. Interested in learning more about in-demand careers in Morgan County? Visit www.careerpathway.info and like “Career Pathway” on Facebook.