Working in the oil and gas sector can be challenging, rewarding, and even nerve-wracking. If you’re interested in joining the sector as a professional, follow these tips to get your foot in the door and succeed. Even if you don’t end up working for an oil company, you’ll likely come across many of these principles again in other roles or industries. From networking to evaluating your competition, here, oil & gas professional Surajdeen Afolabi shares his top tips for working in the oil & gas sector.
Network before you’re ready to meet people
Before you try to network with specific people, make sure you’re already comfortable meeting people in general. When you’re a young person, it’s easy to be nervous and shy when meeting new people. Make sure you’re also comfortable networking with people in your field. While there are certainly people in your field that are older than you, you’ll also meet people in your field who are younger than you and who have a lot of different career experiences. Networking can be a little nerve-wracking if you’re not familiar with it, but it’s also a great way to make connections. For example, you might know the person you’d like to meet because you follow them on Twitter and you’ve heard them mention their interest in the same industry as you. You can also use networking as a way to explore different industries and learn about different people and companies you might work with in the future.
Be thorough with your research
Before you start networking, make sure you’ve done some research on the companies you’d like to meet with. For example, Surajdeen Afolabi explains, if you’re interested in working for an oil company, research their capabilities and how they operate. Ask your friends who work for the company what their experience has been like, and read articles about other people’s experiences with the company. This will help you feel more comfortable meeting with people in the industry, and you’ll also come across information you can use to evaluate potential employers.
Be a self-starter and be your own boss
When you’re looking for a job, don’t just post your resume with one company and hope they’ll send you an offer. Instead, you should send out multiple applications with different companies. It’s fine if a company doesn’t offer you a position right away, but you should still keep applying to different companies. Sometimes companies will send out a mass email to everyone who applied to let them know they were short-listed, but don’t let that discourage you. You should also notify the companies that didn’t offer you a position that you were interested in working for. You can do this by emailing the person who put you on the short-list or by sending a LinkedIn message.
Communicate effectively and be transparent
When you send out résumés, don’t just send them out with a single company on the cover letter. Instead, include all of your relevant information, from your education to your experience. You can also add any relevant skills you’ve gained outside of work. When you’re communicating with potential employers, don’t be afraid to be transparent. If you want to work for a specific company, let them know and explain why you want to work there. If you’re interviewing for a specific position, let the company know so they don’t waste their time interviewing candidates who aren’t who they want to hire. This will help you stand out from your competition and get interviews with more companies, adds distinguished contracting & procurement strategist, Surajdeen Afolabi.
Collaborate with your team, don’t just work alone
If you’re working on a team project, don’t just tag-team with your friends. Instead, try to lead the project, give direction, and make sure everyone is solving the same problem. You may also want to join a professional network or organization, like the Professional Geoscientists for Industry or the Society for Petroleum Engineers. Working as part of a team can help you develop your communication, leadership, and teamwork skills. Working with a team can also give you an opportunity to meet new people and expand your social circles. Joining a professional network can also help you meet other professionals in your field, who can give you advice and help you navigate the oil & gas sector.
Take care of yourself – body, mind and spirit
It’s easy to get caught up in the work and forget to take care of yourself. Make sure you’re eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and taking regular breaks. If you find yourself stressed, take a break. Make sure you’re also keeping up with your stress management techniques, like yoga or meditation. It may seem like you have too many things to do, but don’t let that stress you. You can always take breaks and get back on track when you’re done. Best of all, oil and gas companies are looking for people who are ready to work hard and make a change. You can start by taking care of yourself, and you’ll be better prepared to take on the challenges ahead.
Wrapping Up
Working in the oil and gas sector can be exciting and challenging. But it also offers a lot of room for growth and innovation. This sector is also growing quickly, so there are lots of opportunities to join. To succeed in this industry, you’ll need to be open-minded, flexible, and ready to take risks. You’ll also need to be comfortable meeting with people in your field, networking, collaborating, and being flexible. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll be well on your way to a rewarding career in the oil & gas sector.