It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that 2020 has shaken up the job market. Millions are unemployed and many others are working for less than what they need to be comfortable. If you are looking for a job in an industry that is stable and high-paying, you’re looking for work within the petroleum industry. The industry isn’t all about spending months at a time on a rig, although you certainly could if you wanted to. There are hundreds of thousands of jobs supported by oil and gas production, many of which provide a high salary, an interesting workplace, and opportunities for travel. Our world’s dependence on energy isn’t going anywhere, and neither are these jobs!
From engineers and geologists, to office-based roles in accounting, to working on hydrocarbon dew point calculation software, to human resources (HR), these employers require graduates with varying interests and from many different academic backgrounds. You could, just as one example, be a chef supporting the workforce on an oil rig, a chemist undertaking research and development on top-of-the-line hydrocarbon expert software, an environmental adviser ensuring that standards are met, or a subsea engineer designing and installing underwater equipment. All of these sound pretty exciting!
Alternatively, you could work on sustainable energy futures, climate change and international development for an energy giant looking to move away from a dependence on oil. If you think the world’s biggest companies aren’t planning for a way to stay in business once oil begins to get harder and harder to reach, think again!
There are many diverse roles that can be found in the oil and gas industry, including:
Geochemist
Geoscientist
Drilling engineer
Energy engineer
Mining engineer
Petroleum engineer
Engineering geologist
Hydrographic surveyor
Mudlogger
Wellsite geologist
You’ll need to have, or be expecting to graduate soon from, a good degree from a recognized university to gain entry to a “scheme.” Depending on which specialism you choose, there may be specific requirements in terms of your degree subject. This is particularly true for engineering and science programs. Once you’ve decided on a role, you can apply for a structured graduate scheme offered by one of the larger employers. For example, Shell’s graduate program allows you to choose technical, commercial business or corporate functions pathways. Similarly, the career areas for graduates at BP are business, engineering, science, and supply and trading. Centrica runs graduate programs in a number of areas including the energy marketing and trading (EM&T) analyst role. To be eligible, you’ll need a numerical 2:1 degree in a relevant subject such as maths, statistics, applied economics, engineering, physics, or chemistry.
Exploring oil and gas fields, extracting natural resources, and refining them so that they are usable for our modern way of life is one of the biggest industries in the world. Whether you spend your days out on the oil field, on a computer working with hydrocarbon expert software, or even behind a desk working in Human Resources to hire other people, the jobs in the petroleum industry are here to stay.