Bechtel's projects are all over the world, so the company really values those who have a willingness to relocate. You need to figure out if that lifestyle is appropriate for you and your family. If it isn't, you can still have a satisfying career, but you need to realize that you probably won't end up as a senior leader. All of the leaders are those who have extensive project experience and global experience.
Working at Bechtel also requires being comfortable with change. Our customers (typically governments or large multi-national corporations) will make changes in their projects that cascade through the company. A political event in a far-off country can significantly impact the company, either because we have people in the affected area or because we are asked to help deal with the aftermath. In the early 1990s, for instance, Bechtel led the effort to put out the Kuwait oil fires. More recently, we helped the U.S. Agency for International Development rebuild the civil infrastructure (roads, bridges, ports, power facilities) in Iraq. And, we create our own change. For nearly a decade, the company has been integrating Six Sigma into its work. This has meant a lot of training and rethinking of our work processes.
