Also, I've been involved with recruiting ever since I was an intern, and I’m happy that my current role has the flexibility to let me continue. I was involved with the Purdue recruiting team when I was based at the company’s Lafayette office. In Houston, I've still been involved with Purdue recruiting and am also participating at Texas A&M. I really enjoy representing Caterpillar at recruiting events, answering questions and sharing my own experiences. Caterpillar was the best internship that I had throughout my college years, and I like encouraging others to consider becoming interns.

Q: DO YOU MOSTLY WORK ALONE OR WITH OTHERS?

A: I have a healthy mix of working by myself and with a team, which is good because I like to collaborate. And, of course, I work with our customers, which I thoroughly enjoy.

Q: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE COMPANY CULTURE AT CATERPILLAR?

A: From a cultural standpoint, the thing that struck me as a young engineer just out of college is how focused Caterpillar is on professional development. The engineering rotational development program is about development by nature, but outside of that, I've always felt that my managers cared about development. They made sure I was being challenged and growing in my role and that I had access to training when it was needed. But really, everyone at Caterpillar has been willing to help me, whether it's a simple 15-minute phone call, a project question or just getting to know people. Everyone has been very supportive. Along with that great support, the culture is highly collaborative. We compete in business but we don’t compete with each other.

Q: DO YOU HAVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATIONS?

A: Continuous learning is very important. Seek formal and informal training that will help you in your current job. Whether it's some external training or getting to know team members - it's going to be different for different people. I learned from a number of people, including sales support engineers, application and installation engineers, and external partners. That was a huge part of the onboarding process for me in this position. I'd also highly recommend finding a mentor. Having someone who is trustworthy and willing to give guidance or perspective on a situation is immensely helpful.

Q: WHAT’S YOUR ADVICE FOR AN ENGINEER WHO IS JUST STARTING THEIR CAREER?

A: I think that the most important advice I can give is to ask questions. That may sound like something that everyone would do, but it can be easy to hang back when you’re just out of college and starting a career. In fact, being new gives you permission to ask any and all questions about the company and your job, and I think it’s important to take advantage of this and really dive into what you need to know to succeed.

You can hear more from Lizzie on The Energy Pipeline podcast. As a co-host, Lizzie will discuss key developments, opportunities and challenges shaping the future of oil and gas.