For Storm Shepherd, an interest in the land side of the oil and gas business became a clear career direction during an internship with ExxonMobil’s Surface Land Team.
The Jerry S. Rawls College of Businessenergy commerce student spent the summer solving real business problems alongside experienced professionals and learning how land decisions affect operations, development, and long-term strategy.
His most meaningful assignment was building a centralized fee surface database for company-owned properties across West Texas and New Mexico. Shepherd evaluated 407 fee surface tracts totaling more than 127,000 acres and consolidated information from multiple sources into an organized resource his coworkers could use for future decision-making.
“What made the experience so meaningful was seeing that the work I was doing wasn’t just another internship assignment; it had a real impact at ExxonMobil,” Shepherd said. “It was rewarding to know that the projects I contributed to helped support future development, improve efficiency, and create long-term value for ExxonMobil.”
In addition to the database, Shepherd contributed to projects involving a third-party pipeline easement, agricultural tax-savings opportunities, and potential property divestments. Together, the assignments gave him a greater appreciation for the role surface land plays in the energy industry.
The experience also gave him confidence in the career path he hopes to pursue.
“Before this internship, I knew I was interested in the land portion of the oil and gas business, but I wasn’t completely sure what I wanted my career to look like,” he said. “This experience confirmed that surface land is exactly where I want to be.”
Shepherd says the Rawls College prepared to contribute from day one. Through the college’s energy commerce program, he developed a broad understanding of the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors, as well as the commercial, financial, and land functions that keep the industry moving.
“I believe Rawls College’s energy commerce program is one of the best programs you can be a part of,” he said. “Through the knowledge, experiences, and opportunities it provides, the program prepares students to become leaders in the oil and gas industry and creates a foundation that will help them succeed throughout their careers. It is something truly special.”
His business courses strengthened his communication, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills and gave him the context to understand how the work he was doing fit into the bigger picture, while his service as president of the Energy Commerce Association (ECA) helped prepare him to collaborate with experienced professionals, ask thoughtful questions and present his work.
While the internship challenged him in new ways, he says it also reinforced that the education, leadership opportunities, and industry exposure he gained at Texas Tech translated directly into the workplace where he wants to build a career.
Q&A
Q: How did you discover the internship?
Shepherd: I discovered this internship through Meet the Industry, a career fair hosted by Rawls College’s Center for Energy Commerce specifically designed for eligible students in the program. Separate from the Rawls College Career Fair, Meet the Industry gives energy commerce students the opportunity to connect directly with companies in the energy industry, that are actively looking to recruit students from our program.
The process starts with introducing yourself to company representatives, giving your elevator pitch, handing them your résumé, and making a strong enough impression to hopefully secure an interview. From there, the interview process can be extremely competitive, so preparation and finding ways to differentiate yourself are crucial. I was fortunate to perform well throughout that process and ultimately received an internship offer from ExxonMobil.
Q: What is your favorite memory from the internship that people wouldn’t learn from reading your résumé?
Shepherd: Even though my internship was based in Midland, Texas, I did a lot of traveling, and one of my favorite memories was flying to Pennsylvania to meet landowners deep in the Appalachian Mountains. I visited their sixth-generation family farm, sat down with them, and got to hear their life stories. It was an experience that really showed me how personal the land profession can be and how important it is to build genuine relationships with landowners.
Q: What did a typical day look like in your internship?
Shepherd: I would get into the office in the morning, grab my cup of coffee, and get to work on the project I was assigned. One of the things that made my experience at ExxonMobil so special was knowing that the work I was doing actually mattered. I was given real responsibilities and projects that created value. A lot of my motivation came from knowing that the work I was doing every day would continue to be useful to my team even after I returned to school.
Another thing I really enjoyed about working as a surface landman is that every day can look different. That variety is a big part of why I enjoy my profession choice. One day you may be working through a complex land issue in the office; the next, you may be communicating with landowners or working alongside another team. Every day brings a new challenge, and that variety is something I really value.
Q: Was there anything about the internship that surprised you?
Shepherd: Going into this internship, I had no idea just how many opportunities I would have the chance to experience. ExxonMobil is as big as it gets, which is what makes it such an incredible company to be a part of early in your career. The scale of the company exposes you to different people, projects, regions, and experiences that you may never have expected when you first walked through the door.
As someone getting close to graduation, I wanted to gain as much real-world experience as possible before beginning my career, and this internship gave me exactly that. In just three short months, I had opportunities that took me across West Texas, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and New York. I was able to experience different parts of the energy industry, work with people from different backgrounds, and see firsthand just how diverse a career in land can be.
To me, this is a prime example of why choosing the right company to intern with is so important. The right internship doesn't just give you something to put on your résumé; it can open your eyes to opportunities you didn't even know existed and completely change the way you look at your future career.
Q: How did the internship influence your confidence, skills, or career direction?
Shepherd: The internship did more than help me build technical knowledge. It gave me a lot more confidence in myself, too. Working alongside experienced professionals at ExxonMobil challenged me to think through complex problems, communicate across different teams, and present my work with confidence.
Q: What advice would you give to other students considering an internship?
Shepherd: Getting your first internship is one of the hardest parts of becoming a marketable candidate in any industry. It’s competitive and can be extremely challenging, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Once you secure that first internship, it opens the door to future opportunities and makes the process much easier. You need to work hard, figure out what makes you stand out from everyone else, and continue building on those strengths.
On top of that, the company you choose to work for can have a major impact on your career path. I only had three months to learn as much as I could, which is why it’s so important to choose a company you are confident will help you grow. That’s why I knew ExxonMobil was the company for me. The number of opportunities I was given and the amount of growth I experienced during those few months put me light-years ahead of where I was when I started.