Nothing is impossible to a willing heart

The truth of the proverb «It's a poor soldier that never wants to become a general»  has already been proved in practice and doesn't raise doubts. Coming to the enterprise, the yesterday's high school graduate, and today a certified young specialist, can find opportunities for professional growth, and if there are any, then his future fully depends on his activity.
In April in OAO «Varieganneft» there will be  held the 4th Scientific and Technical Conference of young specialists. For the last four years more than 40 workers submitted their projects to the expert jury. The management of the enterprise revived this tradition only with a view to creating  professional staff. In spite of the difficult financial situation in the world and in the country, this year the young specialists have also been given a unique opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, to express themselves.
– The enterprise is interested in the professional formation of its young workers – says Vladimir Balaganin, the First Deputy Director General of ОАО «Varieganneft». They need to soak up all the experience, that has been gained by the enterprise. It can be transferred in several ways: first of all, in daily work; secondly, through constant study of literature; thirdly, through communication with colleagues, management, tutors. And if all these ways are used together, then an employee improves as a specialist. But very often in the cycle of work there's no time for it. Thus, there's only one way out – scientific and technical conferences. Conferencing needs thorough preparation: the order is issued, the conference themes are approved, project managers are appointed. In the course of discussions the tutor passes on his experience, and if necessary can also engage other specialists. Then the  conference participant purposefully studies relevant literature, systematizes and analyses received information. And all this, of course, contributes to his further development.
There's also another point – Scientific and Technical Conference is a good possibility for the management of the enterprise to know better the labor potential. And as you know, «Varieganneft» tries to promote young specialists in their career. During the conference we consider for how soon this or that specialist improves his professional skills, whether he can analyse the situation or not, and whether he can make right decisions or not. This becomes clear during the detailed design review and when the jury of the conference asks questions. Learning more about our specialists, exploring their potential, we easier rely on the most worthy of them. And there are really very many samples of moving up the career ladder of the participants of the Scientific and Technical Conference. This point is very important and luckily we didn't make mistakes in it.
When I was a student and then a young specialist, I also participated in Research and Practice Conferences. After graduating from the High School I worked in the Scientific-Research Institute in Western Siberia. In our family archive we have certificates, signed by the renowned scientists, who are today eminent Russian geologists. Thus, taking into account my own experience, I understand that such conferences give a lot, primarily to the specialists themselves, and that's why I maintain the tradition of organizing conferences.
Besides, conferences really benefit: we, I mean the old experienced workers, used to go on the beaten track, and sometimes we simply don't see new ways to work. But the young specialists are very-well prepared, they are theoretically literate and very often they have their own vision issues. And there are real examples. For example, the participant of the third conference, Elena Khurmatullina, developed a theme, that was very interesting and useful from the point of view of cost-effectiveness of young specialists' training; she showed on what items the costs are recovered and on what items they are not needed. As a result, her proposals were implemented in business-plan of the current year. We could optimize the structure of expenditures in this sphere. All major items, especially those which are connected with the requirements of the legislation for the staff retraining, the enterprise has fulfilled entirely and less costly. Thus, this is instructive example for the management. Of course, sometimes new ideas of the young specialists are instinctive, they are not supported by financial calculations, but when the young specialist works the project through, then its economic rationale is also considered. Accordingly, this is one more plus for business activity of the enterprise.
There are two reasons why the workers are interested in participation in Scientific and Technical Conferences. The first reason is that every young specialist, starting his work in the enterprise, doesn't want to take the same post to retirement. But at the same time, to promote his career he should improve, that is very difficult to do in everyday cycle of work. But the Scientific and Technical Conference gives a very good chance for promotion. The second reason is that the enterprise itself is interested in promotion of young specialists. I think, that if there is such possibility, one should use it to make a statement. Accordingly, one will have good career, salary, and good mood in the family.
Young specialists of OAO "Varieganneft" and participants of the conference share their impressions of the conference:
Aydar Yamaleev, Deputy Head of Department on the development of oil and gas deposits, the winner of the 3d Scientific and Technical Conference:
– The success of participation in the conference fully depends on the individual. If he wants to bring something new, that he has found in work, then he shouldn't stop. If there is opportunity one should make it real: to make a project, presentation. In most cases the works presented by the participants of the conference are applied in practice. For example, my project was applied at five wells. There were real results, and now I can speak not only about my theoretical vision of process, but also about its efficiency.
Every time, while planning geological and engineering operations, it's necessary to pick the best option. For example, in 2009 it's planned to carry out isolation works at 38 wells, but at which of them to use polymer blends will depend only on the specific characteristics of the well integrity study.
As for career advancement, meanwhile I'm holding the same position, though my salary was raised. Unfortunately, as I'm working in the enterprise for three years already, and as I'm not a young specialist any more I cannot participate in the conference again, but if there is a necessity to support the projects of my colleagues, then they can rely on me. Participation in the conference is very important: every year many young specialists start their career in the enterprise, but there'll be noticed only those who take an active part in the life of the enterprise, those who can think.
Rustam Sultanov, the Head of the production and Technical department:
– Last year during the conference I've heard a lot of new information about our enterprise. I think, that the presented projects are really interesting, and, as far as I know, are very efficient. As for my project about new technical possibilities in production by means of installation of gas transfer valves, then I can say that even now one can state a significant cost reduction. As of the time of my participation in the conference there installed gas transfer valves at 170 well, then today they are used at 250 wells. Experience has shown, that the key advantage of this technology is the reduction of costs connected with the repair of the wells. It turns out that the project has brought real benefit: economic and practical.
At the moment there are no changes in my career, I'm still working as a the Head of the Production and Technical Department. The conference has become an incentive for further development. I have some other business ideas and projects, but due to the present situation, I mean financial crisis, they will be posponed. I advise everyone, who is making projects and is going to participate in the conference, to keep resolve, because it's a very important step in the formation of a good specialist, besides the enterprise gives a real support.
Irek Akhatov, the Head of the Inventory Accounting Group, the participant of the 2d and 3d Scientific and Technical Conferences:
– I think that every young specialist should participate in the conference, because it's a step forward in career, it's a very good chance which is given to young specialists to show their potential. The topic for the 1st conference has arisen due to the necessity of the debt return control and their subsequent emergence. The topic for the second conference was mainly formulated by my supervisors and tutors. When I prepared to the conference, as the topic was new for me, I read a lot, talked with the colleagues.
In my projects I not only discovered opportunities and potential that is already available in the enterprise, but I could also self-actualize - in half a year after the conference I was offered a post of the Head of the Inventory Accounting Group (before that I worked as an accountant).
Unfortunately, I cannot participate in the conferences of the kind, but I can participate in workshop panels, discussions. They make the practitioners to advance in theory too. Anyway, all is in our hands and our future depends only on us.

Elena Khurmatullina, the Head of the Production control and Personnel training department:
– I took part in the conference, because I wanted to step up to the plate. Besides, working in the enterprise for a year, I've got some ideas, as I could already analyse the working process. Together with my tutor we decided to make a project reflecting our vision for learning. And there is a real effect  of the introduction of project, the management of the enterprise decided to organize trainings on the basis of the enterprise, that was made in 2008. This year the trainings are also organized: mid-level managers, workers of oil and gas production unit could underwent trainings. Besides, the most important thing for me is, that I could prove to management of the enterprise the necessity of sending the workers not only to trainings regulated by the legislation but also to qualification courses.
From the professional pont of view, the conference helped me to summon up all my abilities, and skills. Then we went to the regional conference to Khanty-Mansijsk, where I've got an opportunity to communicate with the colleagues from other enterprises. I can safely say that there is what to learn from them.

Alexey Lezhnev, the Senior Surveyor:
– I had a serious attitude as I wanted to try myself, and I wanted to make the most of my project, to show its relevance and importance. Until recently there were used outdated devices for taking depositions, nowadays there are used modern ones – electronic tachometers and GPS. They make the work easier, quicker and more precise. These devices to constantly control process and to continuously get the results. the project is used in practice, all the ideas are supported.
There are also some advancements in career: after the conference I became a Senior Surveyor. Yes, and in general the conference gave me a lot both in professional growth and in terms of communication with the colleagues. Listening to their ideas I found a lot of new for myself – in terms of oil production, oil deposits servicing; I also understood operating principles of the enterprise. Our enterprise has potential for growth of young specialists, there are many young people in the departments, they are all working trying to promote their career.