The Complete Guide to Becoming A Geothermal Production Manager

I was on the fence about a career change and this gave me a realistic picture. I appreciated the concrete numbers on pay and the honest look at shift work. I docked a star because I felt Chapter 4 could have used more regional breakdowns for states outside the West, but overall it's a solid reality check. It definitely made me rethink my timeline.

Finally a career guide that doesn't treat me like an idiot or a cheerleader. The chapter on what the job actually entails sealed it for me — the corrosion chemistry alone sounds like something I'd love. The salary tables in Chapter 4 were what I needed to justify the pivot to my spouse. Worth the read if you're serious about the geology side.

I'm a sophomore in mechanical engineering and was completely lost on what to do after graduation. This guide changed my trajectory. Chapter 5 gave me a step-by-step plan to get in without experience — I've already started networking with a local plant operator. The day-in-the-life chapter was the most honest description of any job I've ever read. This is the only career guide you need.

Useful, but not a complete picture. I liked the specifics on daily tasks and the management side, but I wish it had more on the politics of working with utilities and regulators. The self-assessment in Chapter 2 was helpful though — it made me realize I'm better suited for a field operator role than a manager. Still, a good starting point.

The book is honest and grounded, but a little dense for a casual browse. I found the comparison table in Chapter 3 particularly useful for weighing the associate's degree route versus the apprenticeship. But I felt the salary numbers in Chapter 4 didn't account for the cost of living in high-demand rural areas. It's a solid read, just not the whole story.

As a career-changer from oil and gas, I needed to know if the skills transferred and if the money was comparable. This guide answered both questions clearly and honestly. The chapter on breaking in was worth the price alone — the interview questions section in Chapter 5 was spot on. I've already scheduled my first informational interview with a plant manager. This book gave me the confidence to make the leap.

A very practical guide. I appreciated that it didn't shy away from the hard parts — the 24/7 plant schedules and the stress of being the final decision maker during a wellhead issue. The daily schedule in Chapter 6 really showed me the balance of desk work and field work. I would have liked a bit more on union environments, but it's a solid, honest read.

I gifted this to my nephew who's considering an energy degree, and I read it myself before wrapping it. The tone is grounded and the details are real. Chapter 1 alone dispelled every myth I had about this job. The checklist in Chapter 2 is something even a manager could take a lesson from. It's a great gift for anyone weighing a technical career in renewables.