Finding useful information related to starting an oil and gas career can be challenging. Most listings will display a requirement of 5 to 10 years’ experience, which can leave you wondering where to start.
A career in this industry is competitive but also rewarding, both emotionally and financially.
Here are the most useful tips on starting an oil and gas career:
1. Skills and Qualifications
Your education, current job, or work history won’t stop you from finding jobs in the oil and gas industry. Many jobs are available for engineers at different levels.
Examples include pipeline jobs that require welding engineers and oil refinery opportunities that need talent acquisition managers.
Industries like construction and power sectors usually have transferable skills. Hiring managers recruit people with the necessary skills but willing to learn along the way. So, high self-esteem comes in handy here.
2. Discover Your Interest
Jobs in the oil and gas industry go beyond drilling platforms and being on offshore rigs. As the gas and oil project evolves from its conceptual phase through decommissioning and finally to the refinery, diverse skills come into play, and engineering is just one of them.
Most companies are seeking the best personnel to deliver on their projects, and your skills could be a perfect fit.
3. Experience
Some of the best oil and gas companies to work for, including BP, Shell, Total, and Chevron, have apprentice schemes aimed at giving you a chance to taste and know what it feels like working in this sector. However, they’ll consider you if you have some relevant education or skills.
If your educational background doesn’t include science, technology, engineering, and mathematics subjects, then you shouldn’t panic.
Most locations have schemes designed to train new engineers. Thus, you may want to explore such opportunities to position yourself for placement in the gas and oil sector.
4. Pros and Cons
The energy industry has lots of opportunities for worldwide travel, with similarly many technical challenges to address. This means choosing the oil field career allows you to travel the world and broaden your mind as well.
If you desire variety, this industry delivers on that too. There’s not only a broad array of disciplines to select from, but you’ve got the option of working on a permanent or temporary (contract) basis. The income potential and other job benefits can be lucrative as well.
Like other professions, international engineering jobs have some challenges too. For example, you may be required to work at home tanks for long hours, beat tight deadlines, and be away from your family and friends. So, you should be flexible to take up the job’s demands.
5. Prepare your CV
To increase the chances of impressing the hiring managers, tailor your CV to each application by:
- Keeping it brief and focused on the main points
- Including your contact information, relevant experience, skills, education, and working history in the reverse chronological format.
- After organizing your CV, start networking with different professionals in the gas and oil industry, such as talent acquisition managers, recruiters, and energy engineers.
- Get on professional networking platforms like LinkedIn. Once there, make connections, follow industry news as well as thought leaders and influencers so you can broaden market knowledge.
- Go to industry events so you can grow your network.
Starting an Oil and Gas Career
Starting an oil and gas career requires determination, relevant skills, and education, willingness to learn new skills, and flexibility. Remain focused, and you’ll enjoy working in this industry.
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