5 Tips To Start Your Oil And Gas Career
The oil and gas industry is continuously evolving, with new developments being made today that transform the industry and make bigger impacts in society. Coincidentally, this means more opportunities for employment in oil and gas, with companies seeking to expand their manpower and hire engineers, technical personnel, and other professionals to fill open positions in their growing businesses.
If you are thinking about pursuing a career in the oil and gas industry, you need to be aware of employment trends and tips that will make you a competitive candidate. In this article, we give you five tips to help you get started on your professional venture into the oil and gas industry.
How to Get Started in the Oil and Gas Industry: 5 Tips
Be Aware of Available Opportunities
The oil and gas industry might be intimidating at first glance, which is why many professionals opt to steer clear of it. They think that their skill sets, education, or experience may not be relevant in a technical industry such as oil and gas. However, the good news is that there are many disciplines in the industry and job opportunities for all types of workers and experience levels.
The bottom line is you shouldn’t let your current job, skill sets, work history, etc. hold you back from pursuing an oil and gas career. If you do a little perusing, you’ll find that there are job opportunities that suit your skills, knowledge, and experience. Although engineers are the most common professionals in the industry, there are also open positions for pipeline jobs, talent acquisition managers, project managers, and other technicians.
Also, you should know that while skills and experience are important, there are hiring managers out there that don’t consider those as non-negotiable prerequisites. Many employers welcome people with the willingness to learn — even with no prior experience.
Identify Your Interests and Skill Sets
The reason there are many available job positions in the oil and gas industry is because of the way it operates. Companies in these sectors adopt many different processes that require the skills of different departments and their respective professionals. A typical life cycle for an oil and gas company includes conception, design, decommissioning, refining, etc.
Each of these steps requires different professionals and a wide array of unique skill sets. Hence, when identifying possible opportunities for you in the oil and gas industry, make sure that you identify what you are interested in and the current skills that you have in your arsenal. Then look for an opportunity that best matches them.
Why You Need to Study to Work in Oil & Gas
On the contrary, some candidates opt to get additional training and education to fill certain positions in the oil and gas industry. It’s helpful to consider attending classes, enrolling in courses, or perusing reading materials to expand your knowledge about the industry and the position that you’re interested in applying for. Hiring managers value education and experience, so these are helpful to add to your arsenal to increase your chances of getting hired.
Get Experience
To get a job in the oil and gas industry, you need to have the basic know-how on going about the day-to-day responsibilities that will be assigned to you. Big companies would require a certain level of experience in the sector. If you don’t have any experience, it’s worth it to gain some extra specialized training. Consider interning or volunteering for organizations in the industry.
How to Get Into the Oil Industry with No Experience
There are ways you can get a job in the oil and gas industry without experience, such as getting an entry-level job. Some positions like a truck driver, health claims analyst, machine operator, or mechanic, do not require prior experience as you will be trained when you get hired. While entry-level jobs don’t sound enticing, remember that the oil and gas industry pays well even for starting positions.
Another strategy is to expand your network. Having a contact inside an oil and gas industry that you are eying will help you get the job and recommend specialized training that you can endeavor.
Identify Your Job Priorities
As mentioned, there are many different disciplines and fields in the oil and gas industry. The various positions available each entails different responsibilities and have different characteristics, such as work hours, contract terms, roles, deadlines, and even location of work.
It’s important that you know what your priorities are when it comes to your career. What are the hours you’re willing to work? Are you amenable to relocation? Are there certain tasks that you’re not able to perform? Setting your priorities straight will help you tailor your job search and apply only for positions that best match your skills, experience, and priorities.
Create a Great CV
Last but not the least, you need to have a great CV that can impress hiring managers. Here are some best practices in creating your resume:
Keep it short-focus only on the most important and relevant points. Other details can be discussed in your interview.
Make sure it’s complete - add your contact information, skill sets, experience, education, and employment history.
Add a list of references - including the names of people who can refer you to the job.
Proofread - before sending your CV in, make sure that you take a second look and ensure that everything is up to par with your standards, as well as that of the companies. Ask a friend to take a second look to ensure everything is in order.
And you’re all set! Take these tips to help kickstart your career in oil and gas. If you are looking for available opportunities, browse our job portal today!