work life balance, high pay, apathy - Reservoir Engineer Shell Employee Review

4.0
Nov 29, 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

great salary and benefits and absolutely fantastic work-life balance. work 80 hours every two weeks with every other Friday off (called 9-80 schedule). salary boost of ~5% every 6 months. some travel for training. there are some really good people in the younger crowd, but the general apathy pulls them down (see below). outside of downstream, people are international and tolerant. worked with people from different countries with different religions and cultures.

Cons

people really don't care, and they get away with not caring. it's all about maintaining a facade of professionalism when in fact you're taking 2-hour lunches, leaving work early, and relying on the consensus-driven culture to shrug off any blame when deadlines aren't met. promotions are seniority-based, not merit-based, so you have to wait a while if you want to have influence. Americans don't get to work internationally. the jet-setter lifestyles are more reserved for the Europeans.

Explore other reviews about Shell

5.0
May 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Shell is a wonderful company to work for. They truly support your continued development and many employees have been here for 20+ years. The work culture is one that provides a feeling of true psychological safety.

Cons

There are lots of meetings.

4.0
Jun 3, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Early career engineers are given significant ownership and exposure to complex operational challenges. Strong focus on safety, technical development, and collaboration across disciplines. Opportunities to work on high-impact projects, interact with senior leadership, and contribute to decisions affecting major assets and infrastructure.

Cons

Workloads can be demanding, and priorities can shift quickly based on operational needs. Decision-making processes can be slow due to organizational complexity, and geographic mobility may be necessary for certain career opportunities.

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