Career Marathon: Immersion in Negotiations Together with Irkutsk Oil Company

On November 1, as part of the Career Marathon, INRTU hosted a negotiation training session. Evgenia Kolesnikova, head of the stock management department at the Irkutsk Oil Company (INK) central warehouses spoke to the students. The students learned certain behavior patterns to improve communication with business partners and facilitate business development.

In the beginning of the meeting Evgenia Kolesnikova said that in 2016 she graduated from Irkutsk State University with a degree in State and Municipal Management. Two years later she received a master's degree in the Logistics Management and Traffic Safety program at INRTU. At the same time, the young specialist started working on a rotational basis at the Irkutsk Oil Company. Now Evgenia Kolesnikova is the head of the stock management department at the central warehouses. This area involves regular business correspondence, meetings and other negotiation formats.

Evgenia Kolesnikova told the INRTU students about the rational and emotional side of negotiations, what phrases to use in order to promote dialog. The students were particularly eager to discuss manipulative tactics, the use of humor in corporate interaction, etc.

The speaker noted that in negotiations people often grow too emotional, and show impulsiveness, shyness or disinclination to compromise. The most effective and "mature" will be the leadership position:

"What makes a true leader is caring for people and the result as well as having a well-reasoned opinion. A leader does not bargain and does not act against his own interests, assesses the capabilities of opponents, proposes strategies that are acceptable to all parties".

Maria Luneva, a future chemical technologist, attended the event. She became acquainted with INK's activities throughout her internship in the commercial chemistry department of the Yaraktinskoye oil and gas condensate field. Maria took tests of oils and diesel fuel and is currently working in the Irkutsk office. She also says that Yevgeniya Kolesnikova's training is surely of use to those who are committed to becoming part of the work team.

"I believe that having strong communication and negotiation skills really makes you a high-achiever in your career as well as in other fields. I associate my future with Irkutsk Oil Company, so I am curious to know my senior colleagues better and learn more about the corporate culture," said Maria Luneva.

Roman Lagerev, Associate Professor of the Department of Oil and Gas Engineering was one of the listeners. The lecturer emphasizes that the ability to negotiate contributes to career growth and self-development of young people. Both the University and partner companies are interested in this issue.

"Students should master business communication and correspondence skills. This will come in handy in their senior years when they get to fill out their first resumes. I think it's great that an employee of Irkutsk Oil Company was able to come to meet with our students. Evgeniya Kolesnikova told about negotiations and behavior models in a lively form. The students, in turn, were eager to listen and ask questions," added Roman Lagerev.

Photo by Arseniy Chekmaryov