When Timothy Ramkissoon joined TechnipFMC in 2017, oil and gas activities in Guyana were now picking up.
“My story is a bit interesting, because when I joined, I was one of the first Guyanese hires in oil and gas,” he said.
The opportunity came unexpectedly. TechnipFMC visited the University of Guyana to meet final-year mechanical and electrical engineering students. Although he had already graduated, the company reached out to expand the interview pool. “This invite was sent out the day before the interview, which was a Sunday. The interview was on a Monday. I was at the creek with some family members, and I saw it on my email… I figured, you know, why not? Let’s apply for this and see how it goes.”
The very next day, Andrew was invited to an interview at the Marriott. He has been with the company ever since. “Eight years later, that alone speaks for itself.”
In that time, Andrew has watched TechnipFMC’s footprint in Guyana grow. “We did our one-year training program in Brazil… covering the history of oil and gas globally, and the various equipment… After that, we transitioned to supporting operations in Trinidad and GYSBI.”
When the company established operations in Guyana during the pandemic, local hires increased. “Now… we’ve transitioned over to our new building. TechnipFMC has progressed significantly… and shown support for local content.”
Andrew takes pride in seeing Guyanese take leadership roles. “Not only do we have a long-term strategy within Guyana, we have development programs… I believe we are ahead of others.”
His early challenges included adjusting to hands-on technical work and shift patterns. “It was a bit of a learning curve… but within a short few weeks to months, I gained the necessary skill set.” Offshore operations brought fast-paced work and safety demands. “Being part of the process development was a challenge, but one I humbly accepted.”
Now as Asset Integrity Program Manager, Andrew focuses on soft skills. “I’m working with a career coach to help me develop… because sometimes, as Guyanese, we have a specific way of speaking… someone from a different culture might not perceive it as intended.”
His advice to young Guyanese is to understand the industry’s complexity and commit to continuous learning. “Pursue fields like engineering, geology, project management or data analysis… Development of soft skills is important too… Stay informed about local content policies and opportunities.”
TechnipFMC’s internships with the University of Guyana and GTI, he said, provide the foundation for a long-term career. “It’s good to be here for quite a long time.”
