Is Oil & Gas the Right Industry for you?

How to Map Out Your Oil & Gas Career Path in 4 Steps

If you’re considering a career in the oil and gas industry, there are many factors to consider when determining what path will be right for you. The industry is known as a hands-on field; however there are many positions that are based in an office that don’t require any type of manual labour.

In regards to academics, some positions are available for those who did not pursue post-secondary education; however most positions require a College Diploma, University Degree, or specific Skills and Safety Certifications.

The industry as a whole is known for higher than average salaries, but that also means the competition for positions can be very tight. Another important factor in this decision is your location and your willingness to move. The oil and gas industry is bound by nature to specific regions across the world. If you are not located in one of those regions, you must be willing to relocate or travel frequently to those areas.  

Positions 
When job seekers think of oil and gas jobs, they immediately think of drillers, electricians, engineers, and labourers. What doesn’t usually come to mind is all of the positions in every other field that relate to this industry; everyone from geologists to land administrators, sales and accounting. Determine your strongest skillset and there is likely a position that will match up with your skills within this industry.

Qualifications 
There are positions available for job seekers with all levels of qualifications. Whether you have a High School Diploma, College Diploma, University Degree or Post-Graduate Degree; each qualification will align you with different positions within the industry. If you choose a path that leads to more hands-on types of roles; you can expect to complete various trades certifications as well as safety certifications prior to receiving approval to be on site. 

The biggest gap in the industry currently is a lack of skilled tradespeople to complete and lead projects on oil and gas sites across the world. Many oil and gas companies will provide apprenticeships to budding tradespeople who are interested in the industry to provide them with the skills they need to receive their trades certifications and then come on board full-time to assist in completing the project.

Salaries 
Many job seekers often look for jobs within the oil and gas industry due to the promise of a high salary. Something to keep in mind is that the salary is a reflection of the level of work that is expected of the individual, the amount of danger that is involved in the role, and the benefit to the company. Keeping this in mind, you will notice that salaries for the in-field workers are generally very high in this industry, but corporate employees working in head office locations may not see the same spike in their salaries.

Rotational Jobs 
Oil and gas jobs are often located off-shore or in remote locations. This means that the companies will provide you with housing and transportation to the site on a regular basis. Many of these positions are known as fly-in/fly-out where the employer will fly the employees in for a two-week work period and fly them home for another two weeks.