[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ theme_builder_area=”post_content” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_2″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_2″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/mech.utm.my\/mechanica\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/252\/2026\/04\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-04-27-at-09.17.05-4.jpeg” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” title_text=”WhatsApp Image 2026-04-27 at 09.17.05 (4)” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Edited by Ts ChM Dr Suriani Sani<\/em><\/p>\n Building the Foundation at UTM<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Akif\u2019s journey began at UTM\u2019s Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FKM), where he developed a fascination for how machines solve real-world problems. While subjects like Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics formed his technical backbone, the \u201csleepless nights\u201d of projects and labs taught him something equally vital: discipline and mental endurance. Beyond the lecture halls, Akif was a fixture in university life. He served as the University Chess Captain and held leadership roles in SRM, PERMATA, and SASC. Balancing high-level competitive sports with a minor in Energy wasn\u2019t easy. Still, it sharpened the leadership, communication, and adaptability skills he now relies on in the fast-paced energy sector.<\/span><\/p>\n \n The Path to the Shell Graduate Programme<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Akif\u2019s interest in energy crystallized during his final year at a career fair in KLCC. A conversation with a UTM alumnus working at Shell made the dream feel attainable. Drawn to Shell\u2019s global reputation and its commitment to the energy transition, Akif set his sights on their competitive Graduate Programme. Preparation was key. He mastered the STAR Method for interviews and thoroughly researched the company\u2019s values. After a brief tenure at Texas Instruments, his persistence paid off when he joined Shell in May 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n Life on the Frontline: Wellsite Operations<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Now based in Miri, Akif works as a Wellsite Operations Engineer (WSOE). In the high-stakes world of offshore drilling, he provides critical technical support to the Drilling Supervisor. His daily responsibilities include:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cTransitioning from student to professional was a leap,\u201d Akif notes. \u201cIn the field, your decisions directly impact safety and cost. It pushes you beyond your comfort zone every single day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \n Words of Wisdom<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Akif remains deeply grateful to the FKM faculty and his mentors for the professionalism and ethics they instilled in him. To current UTM students, he offers this advice:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFocus on building strong fundamentals, but never underestimate teamwork. Success rarely happens overnight\u2014consistent effort and a growth mindset will open doors you never expected.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_3″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/mech.utm.my\/mechanica\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/252\/2026\/04\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-04-27-at-09.17.05.jpeg” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_3″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/mech.utm.my\/mechanica\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/252\/2026\/04\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-04-27-at-09.17.05-1.jpeg” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” title_text=”WhatsApp Image 2026-04-27 at 09.17.05 (1)” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_3″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/mech.utm.my\/mechanica\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/252\/2026\/04\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-04-27-at-09.17.05-2.jpeg” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” title_text=”WhatsApp Image 2026-04-27 at 09.17.05 (2)” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Origin: Terengganu Education: B.Eng Mechanical Engineering, UTM (Class of 2023) Current Role: Wellsite Operations Engineer (Drilling & Completion), Shell Malaysia Personal: State Chess Champion (7 years) & Viral Landscape Photographer Edited by Ts ChM Dr Suriani Sani Building the Foundation at UTM Akif\u2019s journey began at UTM\u2019s Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FKM), where he developed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":279,"featured_media":274,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-270","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-issue-1"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mech.utm.my\/mechanica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mech.utm.my\/mechanica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mech.utm.my\/mechanica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mech.utm.my\/mechanica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/279"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mech.utm.my\/mechanica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=270"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/mech.utm.my\/mechanica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":278,"href":"https:\/\/mech.utm.my\/mechanica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270\/revisions\/278"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mech.utm.my\/mechanica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/274"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mech.utm.my\/mechanica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=270"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mech.utm.my\/mechanica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=270"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mech.utm.my\/mechanica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=270"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n