How to Get a Job in An Oil and Gas Industry with No Experience
The oil and gas industry is undoubtedly, one of the most lucrative sectors to pursue a career for fresh graduates with no experience. In fact, even people who are employed in other sectors are also jostling for opportunities in the oil and gas industry.
The stiff competition for employment in the oil and gas industry is simply because of the enormous benefits that come with working in this sector of the economy. From the numerous allowances, travels, networks and bogus financial benefits, this makes this industry everyone’s dream.
Most fresh graduates with no experience are often confused about how to get into the oil and gas industry in the country. Given the level of experience needed in this industry, it becomes somewhat difficult for fresh graduates to get jobs.
That notwithstanding, fresh graduates also get the opportunity of working in the oil and gas industry in spite of lacking the prerequisite experience. In this article, we’ll look at how to get a job in an oil and gas industry without any experience.
Contents
1. Study Relevant Course
There is hardly any course that doesn’t have relevance in the oil and gas industry, however, some courses are actually more relevant than others. A typical upstream oil and gas company has technical, commercial and support departments.
Technical departments need graduates with a background in Engineering, Geology, Geophysics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and related fields.
Staff in the Commercial departments are usually drawn from fields like Business Administration, Economics, Marketing, and other related disciplines.
Support departments are dominated by graduates with a background in accounting, HR, IT, Administration and related discipline.
Although you can get a job in the oil and gas industry with any course, but it will be easier for graduates from Engineering, Physical Sciences, Accounting and Economics.
2. Prioritize Your Grade
If you dream of working in the oil and gas industry then you need to prioritize your grade before graduation. Most opportunities in the oil and gas industries are open just to graduates with minimum of a second class upper degree. Graduating with a lower degree will do you no good if you actually want to pursue a career in the oil and gas industry.
3. Get Skilled
The oil and gas industry is very competitive and candidates with certain skills get to work there. According to a study by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) sponsored by BP – British oil giant, there are 11 most valued skills for oil field workers.
As such, skills rated very important for successful careers in the oil and gas industry are:
- Ability to learn (69%)
- Teamwork (61%)
- Communication (60%)
- Work ethic (58%)
- Technical skills (57%)
- Knowledge (53%)
- Analytical skills (53%)
- Initiative (49%)
- Flexibility (41%)
- Computer skills (34%)
- Writing skills (26%)
Fresh graduates who desire to get into the industry must identify on time how and where to acquire some of these skills. Once you have the required skills the employment doors are open for you.
4. Explore Opportunities
Once you’re well equipped with the necessary skills, you need to search and explore opportunities in the industry. Most oil and gas companies advertise openings for fresh graduates at entry-level. You need to visit company websites to apply for these openings. You can also visit job directories for oil and gas job postings.
5. Target Your CV
As a fresh graduate, your selling point should be your CV. Your CV is your selling point to your prospective employer. The curriculum vitae is often the singular documents that give you an opportunity to get to meet with the recruiter. If need be you may hire a professional to help you write an outstanding CV.
Endeavour to capture every soft skill and experience that will make you the preferred candidate. Sometimes all the recruiter wants to see on your CV is the fact that you were part of some volunteer group even as a student.
6. Attain the Interview
When you’re invited for an interview, you need to be at your very best to nail it. You need to go there fully prepared to meet the standard of your interviewer. Do your research well. Know what the company is into and understand the nature of their engagements. Find out about their vision, mission and HR policies. You may be tested for both psychological, culture compliance and other aptitudes. Go prepared.
