The petroleum industry can provide a rewarding career, as well as the chance for a more than comfortable lifestyle. Salaries are competitive, if not higher, than those in other U.S. industries.
Most companies offer liberal benefit packages, including paid vacations and holidays. Most provide at least part of an insurance program, including all or some life, health, disability, travel, and accident. Other substantial benefits include pension plans, as well as stock bonus plans, which let employees share in the company's success.
By the beginning of 1998, the shortage of petroleum workers became crucial, mirroring what happened a decade earlier. Newspaper classified advertisements once again were seeking geologists, land men, and other experienced professionals.
Geologists, in particular, were in demand and companies began paying bonuses to those who decided to remain with the firm for an agreed upon number of years.
Working conditions vary from job to job, as well as location. Personnel in the exploration, drilling, and production divisions perform physically demanding work in a variety of settings and climates. They also may work irregular shifts and travel frequently to perform duties associated with their jobs.
Some petroleum companies, or support service firms, offer on-the-job training, while others encourage additional education courses. Advancement is offered to those who are motivated and willing to learn.
PREPARING FOR A FUTURE IN THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
If you're still in high school, a good place to begin is with your guidance counselor. Your skills and aptitudes already should have been analyzed through a variety of standard examinations. These should give you a clear idea of the area in which you already excel. For any career route you take, don't forget that the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic are important. Companies today require that employees have a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
If you're leaning towards a professional career in the petroleum industry that requires a college degree, you should study courses in high school that will prepare you for a tougher college curriculum. For instance, future engineers should take as
many science and math courses as possible. Learning the basics of using a computer is essential.
You also should begin to inquire about entrance requirements to colleges and universities that specialize in petroleum-related fields. Be sure it is in an area of the country that you will be happy living in and one that you can afford.
If money is a problem, ask about scholarships, grants, and other sources of funding for your education. Many local chapters of national and international petroleum organizations and associations award scholarships to high school graduates, as well as college freshmen in a particular petroleum discipline. For a list of cities with local chapters, write to those organizations listed in Appendix C.
If you're interested in learning a specific trade, there are a number of both private and public vocational-technical schools that offer a variety of courses that would be applicable to a career in the petroleum industry. Whether you enter college or a trade school, you should make an effort to find out as much as you can about the school. Try to talk to a recent graduate and learn about the school's reputation in that particular field.
If you're lucky, you can sometimes get a job in the petroleum industry that provides on-the-job training. This is the way a number of companies hire various types of personnel, including laborers, clerks, and secretaries, for example. Many of them also provide in-house training for a particular job and opportunities for advancement.
Adults who want to change careers but cannot afford to leave their present job may want to consider taking evening courses through an adult education program. Many cities offer weekend or night programs for adults. Others living in a college town may want to consider obtaining another degree or completing a degree.
In some oil towns, colleges and trade schools design curriculum around an oil field worker's seven-and-seven schedule. You may want to consider taking a job that caters to this schedule. This would enable you to continue working while furthering your education at the same time.
Contact others in your field of interest and ask them to recommend training programs. Other sources of information include trade journals, the commercial listings in your telephone book, and local and state boards of education.
LOOKING FOR A JOB
One of the most crucial tools needed in your job search is a resume. It is a must for anyone who is seeking employment, whether after college, after training, or right out of high school.
There is much debate about how long a resume should be, whether it should include personal information, or if references should be included. The general consensus is that a resume should be no longer than one page, should include a work history that lists your most current position first, and should highlight your accomplishments. References should be listed on a separate sheet and submitted only when requested. Equal opportunity laws make it illegal for a prospective employer to ask for a person's age, sex, race, religion, or marital status; therefore, personal information is optional. Be sure to include your name, address, and telephone number.
Don't print your resume on colored paper in order to be noticed. You may give the wrong kind of impression. Use only white, off-white, or buff-colored paper for a more professional, polished look.
If you're about to complete your college studies, one of the best places to start is the placement office at your university. Because oil companies use a variety of personnel in their daily operations, many like to recruit recent college graduates. Oil companies contact placement offices and schedule time for the company recruiter to visit the campus. So, if you're still in school, check periodically with the placement office. Some offices post the notices of the company recruiter's visit on highly visible bulletin boards near the placement office. Others are posted in heavily trafficked areas throughout campus, such as student unions or buildings where most courses associated with a curriculum are taught. You will need to schedule an appointment with the recruiter prior to the visit.
Even if you're out of school, you may be able to register with the placement office. A number of schools allow their graduates to complete an information card, which is then matched to companies seeking employees. Also, keep in touch with your curriculum advisors. They may come across opportunities not initially available to you.
Another good job-hunting source is the local chapter of trade organizations or professional societies. Members are in touch with others in the industry and may hear of openings that fit your education and training. Some associations have student chapters on campus.
The classified section of the daily newspaper is another option for job seekers. Many companies advertise in the state's largest newspaper or in the publication closest to the area's oil patch. Be prepared to answer blind ads. These are advertisements that describe a position, but give a box number as an address. Many companies use this method in order to screen applicants and avoid a deluge of phone calls and resumes from those who may not qualify for the position.
Employment agencies sometimes offer jobs in the petroleum field. However, they charge finder's fees that are sometimes paid by the employer; otherwise, the fee must be paid by the worker once hired. Be wary of agencies that request an up-front fee.
A head-hunting agency is usually hired by an employer seeking a special type of person in a particular field. This worker is usually already employed and the agency attempts to woo him or her away. Fees to head-hunting agencies are almost always paid by the employer.
The U.S. Department of Labor and state employment services have offices in major cities, and this is another option when job hunting. Check on other city or county services that may be offered in your particular area. The Internet also is a good source for job hunting.
Other ways of getting information on jobs include talking to a recognized expert in the field or a management consultant, the local Chamber of Commerce, and others who have recently graduated in your curriculum and have found jobs. Also, attend petroleum exhibits and conferences that attract top executives from the industry. One of the largest shows is the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas, which attracts hundreds of oil company exhibitors from all over the world.
Thousands of visitors attend the conference, which is usually held each year in early May. In Lafayette, Louisiana, the Louisiana Gulf Coast Oil Exposition is held in odd-numbered years and features new technology. A similar show is held in Odessa, Texas, in even-numbered years. Other shows are held periodically throughout the United States and the world.
Use the telephone. While it is a good idea to contact company personnel departments, don't forget to call the department heads of companies you are interested in working for and ask for an interview. These people usually know before the personnel department whether an opening is anticipated. Be brief, but to the point. Remember, these people are busy. Do your homework and have a short statement prepared on how you can help the company. If talking to the personnel department, ask about sending your resume to keep on file. Also, ask about a summer job or internship program.
Mailing a resume to the personnel department or department head is a good idea but it's an even better idea if the resume is preceded by a personal phone call. In any case, whether responding to an ad for a specific job, or taking a shot in the dark with a department head, a good cover letter is a must. It serves as your personal introduction to a prospective employer. Make it interesting, but to the point. Do not write a generic letter for use in any situation. Write a separate letter specially tailored for a specific job. In closing, be sure to ask for an interview at the employer's convenience.
INTERVIEWING
One of the most difficult parts of the job-hunting process is the interview. This is where you sell yourself to a prospective employer, so it is essential to be prepared.
First, decide in advance what you are going to wear to the interview. Make sure you are dressed properly, your clothes are neat and clean, and your shoes are polished. Get a good night's sleep and leave early enough to allow for the unexpected, such as car trouble or excessive traffic. Be sure you have the exact name and title of the person you are going to interview with. And take note that it's important to make a good impression with the receptionist, as well as any other employee you might meet during your visit to the company.
Investigate the company before the interview. Learn the company's products and services, the competition, the problems. The city or county library is a good place to start. Most companies also have a site on the World Wide Web, making it easy to learn about the services or products offered. If possible, call the daily newspaper's business editor or someone in that department to find out more information. Also, be sure you understand the job for which you are applying. If necessary, call in advance for more details if you are unsure about any aspect of the position.
Most interviewers usually begin an interview by asking applicants to give a brief description of them-selves. Keep the personal aspect brief. Instead, use this opportunity to highlight your professional achievements, particularly as they relate to the position for which you're applying. Be prepared to tell the interviewer about personal accomplishments as well as explain gaps in your work history and short employment periods. In advance of the interview, work on answers that might turn any negatives into positives.
One of the trickiest parts of an interview is the discussion of pay. It is important to know the salary range in advance and be prepared to give an answer both you and the interviewer can live with.
An applicant also should have a list of questions to ask the interviewer. This is a good indication that the applicant has done his or her homework and is truly interested in the position. Some questions could include asking about the person who previously held the job, daily duties, working conditions, and chances for advancement.
The most important question to ask, however, is for the job. If you feel the interview has gone well and you're truly interested, make it clear to the interviewer that you would like the position. Before you leave, be sure to thank the interviewer while giving a strong handshake.
A handwritten note, either mailed the next day or hand delivered, is also appropriate. It should thank the interviewer for his or her time, briefly recap your conversation, and stress your desire and ability to fit the position.
For more details on resume-writing and interviewing techniques, check your city or county library for books written on the art of job hunting, such as How to Write a Winning Resume, Resumes Made Easy, and Job Interviews Made Easy, all published by VGM Career Horizons.
Times have changed since your parents and grandparents entered the workforce. Workers of their day typically selected a career and remained in the same field until they reached retirement age. Today, career experts predict that most of us will change careers several times during our lifetimes.
We live in a global world and are faced with increased competition from other countries. In many cases, it is politics, not economics that play a major role in American industrial competitiveness. When that happens, we have no control over our careers.
If you plan on making the petroleum industry a lifelong career, keep in mind the cyclical nature of the business. A personality to cope with the industry's ups and downs is crucial to survival, as is being financially prepared to weather the expected boom-to-bust cycle.
Lack of a U.S. energy policy and continued dependence on foreign oil sources add to the uncertainty of this industry. However, with trillions of barrels of oil yet to be discovered, a growing population throughout the world and an increase in petroleum products from emerging countries, there will be a market for petroleum workers-at least in the foreseeable future.
