TalEng's Posts - RecruitingBlogs2024-03-28T12:38:39ZTalEnghttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/PhilHoustonhttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1527029637?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://recruitingblogs.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=0i6v4ojykuek6&xn_auth=noOil and Gas Job Interview Tips – Part 3, The Technical Interviewtag:recruitingblogs.com,2019-01-10:502551:BlogPost:20975092019-01-10T11:00:31.000ZTalEnghttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/PhilHouston
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<p>This is part 3 in our<span> </span><strong>oil and gas job interview</strong><span> </span>series, helping you find your ideal position.</p>
<h2>The Technical Interview</h2>
<p>Technical interviews can range from describing how you performed work on a previous oil and gas project, right down to answering an hour long technical exam. For…</p>
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<p>This is part 3 in our<span> </span><strong>oil and gas job interview</strong><span> </span>series, helping you find your ideal position.</p>
<h2>The Technical Interview</h2>
<p>Technical interviews can range from describing how you performed work on a previous oil and gas project, right down to answering an hour long technical exam. For senior engineering specialists it is less likely that they will be asked technical questions, but for junior or graduate interviews these questions should be expected.</p>
<p>Preparing for a technical interview is not easy as there are multiple topics that could be picked, and multiple questions within each topic, meaning you are unlikely to guess what will come up. If you choose to perform some revision, then brushing up on the fundamentals of the area you are applying for (pipelines, process, drilling, etc.) is recommended. It is also worthwhile revising any future trends and developments that might be occurring in your engineering specialist area, as this will show you can consider other factors when making technical decisions.</p>
<p>We asked some of our approved members to tell us of technical questions they have been asked during interviews, and the following are examples of what we received:</p>
<ul>
<li>Describe the different SIL levels and how you determine them? (safety job)</li>
<li>As a first pass – what size well tubing would you use for a new gas field? (flow assurance job)</li>
<li>Why is a PSV sized for maximum relief at a pressure higher than the system design pressure? (process engineer job)</li>
<li>How would you determine the stability of an offshore structure in an earthquake zone? (structural job)</li>
<li>Here is a scope of work from a client – please produce a proposal to win this work, you have 30 minutes (consultancy job)</li>
</ul>
<p>As with all interviews, the actual answer you give is not the most important factor, but you must at least show that you understand the principles that define your engineering specialist role. The way you approach these problems will also be reviewed, and if you don’t know the final answer but can break down a technical challenge and show some knowledge of the question then it is likely you will still be considered for a role.</p>
<p>Technical interviews for<span> </span><a href="https://staging.talengpro.com/news/category/oil-and-gas-jobs/">oil and gas jobs</a><span> </span>are part of the package that companies use to sort through the multiple applicants that apply for each position, and it is worth preparing for them prior to attending an interview to make sure you don’t slip up and miss a role that you should have got.</p>
<p><span>Source: </span><a rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.talengpro.com/news/oil-gas-job-recruitment-talent-gap/" target="_blank">TalEngPro</a></p>Oil and Gas Job Interview Tips – Part 2, Sell your Skillstag:recruitingblogs.com,2018-12-05:502551:BlogPost:20940382018-12-05T08:42:38.000ZTalEnghttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/PhilHouston
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<p>This is part 2 in our oil and gas job interview series, helping you find your ideal position.</p>
<h2>Part 2 – Sell Your Skills</h2>
<p>No matter if you are applying for an<span> </span><strong>oil and gas freelance job</strong>, staff position or long term contract role, interviews are about two things:</p>
<p>1) Selling your skills to prove you can…</p>
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<p>This is part 2 in our oil and gas job interview series, helping you find your ideal position.</p>
<h2>Part 2 – Sell Your Skills</h2>
<p>No matter if you are applying for an<span> </span><strong>oil and gas freelance job</strong>, staff position or long term contract role, interviews are about two things:</p>
<p>1) Selling your skills to prove you can do a job<br/>2) Finding out whether this job / company / project is right for you</p>
<p>Selling your skills might sound like an obvious thing to do, but for an<span> </span><strong>oil and gas job interview</strong><span> </span>it is easy to get caught up in technical details of previous projects, when it is better to focus on the essential skills that are required for a job and how you are able to perform them. When giving work examples from previous<span> </span><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/find-projects">oil and gas projects</a>, you should include why you were uniquely able to perform your role, demonstrating how you have the skills required to do the job above other candidates. It is also worth linking previous examples you give to the role you are applying for, therefore linking the skills you have used in the past to the job you will be doing in the future.</p>
<p>You also need to make sure that you reiterate technical knowledge or other skills you have on your CV which are relevant for the role. An interviewer should question you on such details, but if they do not it us up to you to remind them of your software ability, technical knowledge or people skills. You should aim to leave the interviewer in no doubt that you are capable of performing the job, so reminding them that you have the required skillset is an essential part of an interview.</p>
<p>If you are not sure about what is required from a position, then ask questions about the role at the start of the interview in order to be ready to provide correct responses to later questions.<span> </span><strong>Oil and gas projects</strong><span> </span>require a significant number of people and as more projects kick off now is the time to start brushing up on these interview skills.</p>
<p><em class="markup--em markup--p-em">Originally published at<span> </span></em><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/news/oil-gas-job-interview-tips-part-2-sell-skills/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.talengpro.com</a><em class="markup--em markup--p-em"><span> </span>on October 10, 2018.</em></p>
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</div>Oil and Gas Job Interview Tips- Part 1, Researchtag:recruitingblogs.com,2018-10-04:502551:BlogPost:20885462018-10-04T13:25:14.000ZTalEnghttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/PhilHouston
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<p>So your<span> </span><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/news/writing-oil-gas-job-search-cv/">CV is up to date</a>,<span> </span><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/news/write-cover-letter-oil-gas-job/">cover letters</a><span> </span>sent, and you have been successfully offered an interview… Oil and gas job interviews can come in many forms; from general chats over…</p>
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<p>So your<span> </span><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/news/writing-oil-gas-job-search-cv/">CV is up to date</a>,<span> </span><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/news/write-cover-letter-oil-gas-job/">cover letters</a><span> </span>sent, and you have been successfully offered an interview… Oil and gas job interviews can come in many forms; from general chats over coffee up to 3 rounds of formal interviews including a technical exam. We have included some tips to help you succeed at all types of interviews. This is part 1 of the series – researching your employer.</p>
<h2>Research your Employer</h2>
<p>It is always well advised to research an employer prior to sitting down for an interview, however for<span> </span><strong>technical specialist jobs</strong><span> </span>it is crucial to understand exactly what type of projects the company has coming up to make sure you can sell your skills as best as possible. If you are interviewing for an<span> </span><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/find-project">oil and gas freelance job</a><span> </span>on a major project, then relevant skills to that project are essential. This could include expertise in a particular technology, or the ability to work to a fast track schedule, and knowing what an interviewer is likely to ask will allow you to prepare answers to these questions. It is also worth knowing whether the role you are applying for requires additional skills above technical ability, such as<span> </span><strong>sales or management skills</strong>, which you will be asked to demonstrate in an interview.</p>
<p>Researching an employer and their upcoming<span> </span><strong>oil and gas projects</strong><span> </span>will also help you to critically review your CV for areas that a hiring manager might consider a weakness, and allow you to prepare answers to questions that might come up regarding this. At an initial interview stage the only information someone has from you is a CV, cover letter and<span> </span><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/news/oil-gas-job-search-digital-age-part-1/">linkedin profile</a>, so reviewing this information compared against the initial job specification should help identify what areas someone would want more information on.</p>
<p>Researching the person interviewing you is also well advised (if possible). If you are speaking to a department manager, project manager or someone from HR, they are likely to ask different types of questions, and knowing who will be speaking to you will help with your interview preparations.</p>
<p>In addition, if you are more prepared you are more likely to be confident and relaxed which will bring out the best in your<span> </span><a href="https://www.peoplescout.com/the-importance-of-body-language-in-an-interview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">body language</a><span> </span>and help make a good first impression, all essential factors in landing your next oil and gas job.</p>How to Write a Cover Letter For an Oil & Gas Job?tag:recruitingblogs.com,2018-08-20:502551:BlogPost:20845332018-08-20T06:00:00.000ZTalEnghttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/PhilHouston
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<p>Landing a good oil and gas job requires standing out from the competition of<span> </span><strong>oil and gas industry professionals</strong>. The primary aspects that help you win a new role are your<strong> <a href="https://www.talengpro.com/news/writing-oil-gas-job-search-cv/">CV</a></strong>, a good cover letter, and then your interview skills. A cover letter can…</p>
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<p>Landing a good oil and gas job requires standing out from the competition of<span> </span><strong>oil and gas industry professionals</strong>. The primary aspects that help you win a new role are your<strong> <a href="https://www.talengpro.com/news/writing-oil-gas-job-search-cv/">CV</a></strong>, a good cover letter, and then your interview skills. A cover letter can help explain your reasons for applying to a role and why you are perfect for the position; however it is often neglected compared to other parts of the application process and given less attention.</p>
<p>A<span> </span><strong>cover letter</strong><span> </span>is generally the first thing to make you stand out when<span> </span><strong><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/sign-up/">applying for a job</a></strong>, and they are hard to write as there is no specific template that can be used for all situations. We have however put together some helpful guidance which should get you started. The primary reason for a cover letter is to<span> </span><strong>highlight points from your CV</strong>, show that you are seriously interested in the job, and prove that you have the competence for the position.</p>
<p>Cover letters should always be unique to the position you are applying for, and it is important to perform some research into the company to prove you are the right person to work there. Showing that you understand not only the job requirements but also that you understand a company and how you will help them in the future will help progress you to the interview stage.</p>
<p>Technical oil and gas jobs require specific experience relating to software, geographical knowledge or previous project experience. This might already be on your CV but re-stating that you have this information in your cover letter will increase the chance that you are viewed as a viable candidate. It is worth finding out what type of project you will be working on and highlighting similar ones from past experience. Listing 17 years’ of experience in gas processing when you want a role on a heavy<strong> <a href="https://www.talengpro.com/find-projects">oil project</a></strong><span> </span>is pointless, just focus on areas where your skills directly translate to the position you are applying for.</p>
<p>As with all things related to oil and gas job applications, keep it short – employers don’t have time to read pages of information. The purpose is to get a potential employer to take an interest in you, show them why you can do the job, and prove that you fit with the company. All this should be covered in<span> </span><strong>less than 400 words</strong><span> </span>(the length of this article).</p>
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</div>How to Explain Gap In Oil & Gas Job CV ?tag:recruitingblogs.com,2018-07-11:502551:BlogPost:20798482018-07-11T07:18:27.000ZTalEnghttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/PhilHouston
<p><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Oil-and-gas-job-CV-Gap.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="https://www.talengpro.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Oil-and-gas-job-CV-Gap.jpg"></img></a></p>
<p>Lots of oil and gas industry professionals have had time out of work over the last few years but this is slowly changing and jobs are starting to appear. If there is a gap in your CV then it can stand out as a weak point when being selected for a new role, so it is important to explain this to a hiring manager when applying for an<span> …</span></p>
<p><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Oil-and-gas-job-CV-Gap.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://www.talengpro.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Oil-and-gas-job-CV-Gap.jpg" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>Lots of oil and gas industry professionals have had time out of work over the last few years but this is slowly changing and jobs are starting to appear. If there is a gap in your CV then it can stand out as a weak point when being selected for a new role, so it is important to explain this to a hiring manager when applying for an<span> </span><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/news/40000-new-oil-gas-jobs/">oil and gas job</a><span> </span>or having an interview.</p>
<p>For a lot of people out of work they had little choice in the matter – they were either fired or no new oil and gas freelance jobs were available. However, a<span> </span><strong>gap in your CV</strong>still requires explaining, and if the answer is that you spent a few years away from work to focus on family / travel / doing the garden, then being truthful about it would be recommended – most hiring managers understand how hard the industry has been and will not hold this against you, they will however question why you are now applying to roles. Also make sure to highlight any further training or charity work you have undertaken while out of work as this will help you stand out and show your motivation, all positives when trying to land a new<strong><span> </span>oil and gas job</strong>.</p>
<p>If you managed to pick up work outside of oil and gas but are now looking to get back in, then an interviewer will surely want to ask why you want back into the industry. Answering “<strong>because it pays more</strong>” is not recommended (even if it is true), but you should focus on the fact that as an<span> </span><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/find-specialist">oil and gas industry professional</a><span> </span>your skills are going to waste in another industry, or emphasise that even though the downturn was bad O&G is still an exciting place to be and an industry you want to be involved in.</p>
<p>Your cover letter is a great place to explain any work breaks as you can easily use a couple of sentences to highlight why you were out of work, what you did, and why you now want to get back.</p>
<p>For those of you trying to find a new job after an enforced career break – we wish you luck with your<span> </span><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/news/writing-oil-gas-job-search-cv/">oil and gas job search</a>.</p>Are Oil and Gas Companies Scared to Hire Againtag:recruitingblogs.com,2018-05-21:502551:BlogPost:20706732018-05-21T10:55:38.000ZTalEnghttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/PhilHouston
<p></p>
<p><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/companies-scared-hire.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="https://www.talengpro.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/companies-scared-hire.jpg"></img></a> Since the oil price has recovered there is more activity within the industry, with CAPEX spend increasing and more projects being kicked off. Companies should therefore be considering re-hiring all the<span> </span><strong>oil and gas industry professionals</strong><span> </span>they fired during the downturn, but instead they seem to be asking…</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/companies-scared-hire.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://www.talengpro.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/companies-scared-hire.jpg" class="align-full"/></a>Since the oil price has recovered there is more activity within the industry, with CAPEX spend increasing and more projects being kicked off. Companies should therefore be considering re-hiring all the<span> </span><strong>oil and gas industry professionals</strong><span> </span>they fired during the downturn, but instead they seem to be asking their existing workforce to just work harder. It seems the industry has now become scared to start hiring again.</p>
<p>This problem extends to the supply chain, where oil companies are still securing deals that result in <a href="https://www.talengpro.com/news/oil-companies-start-paying-supply-chain-properly/">no profit for supply chain companies</a>, meaning that even though more projects are arriving there still are not many oil and gas jobs on the market.</p>
<p>Those who were lucky enough to keep their jobs seem to be under more pressure than ever before, with a lot of employed people who have good positions (on paper) contacting us to say they will accept anything to leave their current companies as they can’t take the relentless abuse from middle management any more. Until companies start hiring again the pressure on current employees will continue to increase, making them more likely to leave as soon as the job market picks up.</p>
<p>At some point we are confident that the oil and gas jobs will arrive, but trying to guess when isn’t easy. When companies do press the hire button again, make sure you consider<span> </span><strong>TalEng</strong><span> </span>for your<span> </span><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/find-projects"><strong>oil and gas job</strong><span> </span>search</a>.</p>
<p>Article Source- <a href="https://www.talengpro.com/news/oil-gas-companies-scared-hire/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TalEng</a></p>
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</div>Can Engineering Companies Just Offer Engineering Anymore?tag:recruitingblogs.com,2018-04-11:502551:BlogPost:20661412018-04-11T14:06:33.000ZTalEnghttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/PhilHouston
<p><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/engineering-services.jpg" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img class="align-full" src="https://www.talengpro.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/engineering-services.jpg"></img></a></p>
<p>Back before the oil price crash there were a lot of engineering companies and consultancies that offered engineering services for the standard rate to engineer + 50% overhead cost + 15% profit margin. They didn’t construct or install anything, just focussing on engineering deliverables. These were the source of a lot of good and…</p>
<p><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/engineering-services.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://www.talengpro.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/engineering-services.jpg" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>Back before the oil price crash there were a lot of engineering companies and consultancies that offered engineering services for the standard rate to engineer + 50% overhead cost + 15% profit margin. They didn’t construct or install anything, just focussing on engineering deliverables. These were the source of a lot of good and well-paid<span> </span><strong>oil and gas engineering jobs</strong>, however nowadays, it is unlikely that companies can survive doing just engineering specialist work. The market has shifted to projects being delivered by companies providing engineering along with installation, construction or drilling services.</p>
<h2>Why pay for engineering when it comes free…</h2>
<p>Engineering work is now being done at cost (or sometimes for free) by companies that are interested in selling something else, normally the installation or construction of something. When an oil company gets two comparable proposals they typically select the one which is cheaper, meaning if you only offer engineering you are likely to keep losing out. Oil companies are also now looking for complete solutions, where a single company comes in to perform conceptual design, FEED and EPIC without having to go back and redesign “because that subsea manifold can’t be installed by the vessel we are using”.</p>
<p>Using a company interested in<span> </span><strong>installation or construction</strong><span> </span>to do your concept or FEED does however come with problems, as designs will be tailored so they are the only companies that can install or build things. However, if you can get a project to FID cheaper this way then it is an understandable approach that oil companies are taking.</p>
<p>So for engineering houses that have provided many thousands of manhours on major projects in the past, it is unlikely that they will be doing as much of this in the future. Even as the number of projects increases these are more likely to be given to companies that provide the full package, i.e. more than just engineering. Some business models might need re-adjustment or we will probably see some more industry consolidation taking place.</p>
<h2>Does it matter for your oil and gas job search?</h2>
<p>For us<span> </span><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/find-specialist">engineering specialists</a><span> </span>trying to find work we need to factor this in when deciding what oil and gas engineering jobs we go for. The rate squeeze will stay for longer if you are working for someone who is trying to deliver an<span> </span><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/find-project">oil and gas project</a><span> </span>that they have bought by reducing their profit margin down to zero.<span> </span><strong>Oil and gas recruitment</strong><span> </span>seems to be following this trend, with engineering companies currently advertising less oil and gas jobs than their EPIC ready competitors.</p>
<p>Source- <a href="https://www.talengpro.com/news/can-engineering-companies-just-offer-engineering-anymore/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Talengpro</a></p>Oil and Gas Job Recruitment – The Talent Gaptag:recruitingblogs.com,2018-03-12:502551:BlogPost:20634252018-03-12T13:08:39.000ZTalEnghttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/PhilHouston
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557636103?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557636103?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a></p>
<p>Hiring cycles in the oil and gas industry follow industry cycles of oil price. Downturns in 1986, 1998, 2008, and 2014 mean that there have been periods in the industry where<span> </span><strong>oil and gas job recruitment </strong>was non-existent, and people left the industry in their thousands.</p>
<p>We are therefore looking at massive talent gaps of certain…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557636103?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557636103?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>Hiring cycles in the oil and gas industry follow industry cycles of oil price. Downturns in 1986, 1998, 2008, and 2014 mean that there have been periods in the industry where<span> </span><strong>oil and gas job recruitment </strong>was non-existent, and people left the industry in their thousands.</p>
<p>We are therefore looking at massive talent gaps of certain ages, with the workforce now consisting of:</p>
<ul>
<li>Lots of managers (who will all retire in next 5 years)</li>
<li>A talent gap below to fill the grey haired retirees</li>
<li>Lots of “principal engineers” who are used to overseeing technical work, but who seem unable to actually do the work themselves. They also only get out of bed for $1000 a day.</li>
<li>A chronic lack of “doers”, 6 to 10 years’ experience and able to crunch the numbers that are needed to make a difference</li>
<li>No graduates available to step up</li>
</ul>
<p>Companies have completely neglected the talent gaps when considering their hiring practices during every downturn we have had, and this chronic mismanagement of the<span> </span><strong>engineering specialist</strong>workforce shows an incredible lack of foresight by industry leaders who have taken the short term option yet again. This hasn’t always been their fault, as companies were generally under pressure from investors and staring at big losses. Culling<span> </span><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/news/taleng-more-than-recruitment/">oil and gas recruitment</a><span> </span>was the easy short term option, so they took it.</p>
<p>But this will come back and bite them when the industry picks up. For engineering specialists and<span> </span><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/find-specialist">oil and gas consultants</a><span> </span>who know their stuff, and can deliver on projects, the companies are going to come calling and the rates are going to start rising. Not bad news considering the hammering we have all taken over the last 3 years, but companies will start to notice project costs rising faster than the $/bbl, and profits suffering as a result.</p>
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.talengpro.com/news/oil-gas-job-recruitment-talent-gap/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TalEngPro</a></p>
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</div>Where did all the Engineering Specialists Go?tag:recruitingblogs.com,2018-02-07:502551:BlogPost:20582612018-02-07T07:17:15.000ZTalEnghttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/PhilHouston
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557633457?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557633457?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a> The hierarchy of engineering companies has long looked like the typical pyramid shape, with thousands of<span> </span><strong>engineering specialists</strong><span> </span>propping up layers of management. During the industry downturn engineering companies have had to downsize, however this seems to have been done by removing all the workers yet leaving all the management…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557633457?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557633457?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a>The hierarchy of engineering companies has long looked like the typical pyramid shape, with thousands of<span> </span><strong>engineering specialists</strong><span> </span>propping up layers of management. During the industry downturn engineering companies have had to downsize, however this seems to have been done by removing all the workers yet leaving all the management positions in place.</p>
<p>Business structures no longer look like a pyramid, as the bottom layer is now the same size (if not smaller) than the one above it. When the industry picks up again there is going to be a lot of<span> </span><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/find-project">oil and gas freelance jobs</a><span> </span>appear to try and re-fill this bottom layer, and it will be interesting to see whether there is the<span> </span><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/find-specialist">engineering specialist</a><span> </span>workforce out there ready to fill all these<span> </span><strong>oil and gas jobs</strong>. In our opinion, there will be an<span> </span><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/sign-up/specialist">oil and gas industry professional</a><span> </span>talent shortage, which will result in companies having to adopt leaner working practices that use the engineering specialist workforce more flexibly, the very thing that we provide through TalEng.</p>
<p>Also, it must be hard to justify your role as a manager with no employees underneath you, but I guess they just manage each other all day in the hope that no one notices they are no longer needed.</p>
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</div>Oil and Gas Job Search in the Digital Age: Part 4, Be Flexibletag:recruitingblogs.com,2017-12-29:502551:BlogPost:20540962017-12-29T11:29:01.000ZTalEnghttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/PhilHouston
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557632101?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557632101?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a></p>
<p>Oil and gas companies are starting to kick off more projects than they have done for years, meaning that after the prolonged downturn and layoffs,<span> </span><strong>oil and gas jobs</strong><span> </span>are now starting to appear again. However competition is fierce, rates have reduced, and clients want new working arrangements which allow them to complete…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557632101?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557632101?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>Oil and gas companies are starting to kick off more projects than they have done for years, meaning that after the prolonged downturn and layoffs,<span> </span><strong>oil and gas jobs</strong><span> </span>are now starting to appear again. However competition is fierce, rates have reduced, and clients want new working arrangements which allow them to complete projects at lower cost. For oil & gas consultants trying to return to work, an increased level of flexibility will be required in order to get the perfect oil and gas freelance job.</p>
<p>This is our final part of our 4 part oil and gas job search series which provides the tools to help oil and gas industry professionals connect with the best oil and gas engineering jobs.</p>
<h2>Part 4 – Be Flexible</h2>
<p>Following the industry downturn<span> </span><strong>oil and gas freelance jobs</strong><span> </span>do not last for months at a time, companies are now offering much shorter contracts and choosing to use people who can offer them fast solutions to their problems. Winning new contracts will therefore require a level of flexibility that has not been previously required.</p>
<p>When searching for a new<span> </span><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/find-projects">oil and gas job</a>, or negotiating a contract, flexibility must be offered in order to win a role. This flexibility extends to the job types you are chasing, the rates you demand and the contract length you achieve:</p>
<p><strong>Job Types</strong><span> </span>– Stepping backwards in your career might not sound like a good idea, but it can offer many benefits when you are coming back to the industry. Accepting an oil and gas engineering job at a lower level will allow you to find your feet, and then you can progress your career following this step backwards. If you are applying for a job level that is a step backwards recruitment agencies are sure to question you on this so make sure you are prepared to explain why this is a good choice for you, and why you won’t jump ship at the first job offer you get from elsewhere.</p>
<p><strong>Rates / Salary</strong><span> </span>– The amount<span> </span><strong>oil and gas industry professionals</strong><span> </span>can earn is less than it was before the industry downturn, and you have to be aware of this when applying for roles. It is also likely that you will be applying for many roles including ones that are not an ideal match to your skillset, but that you are still capable of doing. If a job specification is not an ideal match, the only option to stand out from the crowd is to reduce your rates to make sure you are competitive. When you find the perfect job for your skillset, this is where you will get the chance to go all in and demand the high rates that oil and gas industry professionals are used to. The key here is flexibility, tailor your rate to each job prospect and how well matched you are to it.</p>
<p><strong>Contract Length</strong><span> </span>– Most companies in the O&G industry now recognise that offering 12 month contracts to freelance technical engineering specialists is not cost efficient. Many companies want to adopt to the<span> </span><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/business-38930048" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">gig economy</a><span> </span>method of working, where oil and gas freelance jobs consist of completing technical work one task at a time and companies don’t pay for any hours that are not producing deliverables. Oil and gas consultants now have to accept that they will be working on a larger number of much smaller contracts, and should plan for this when approaching new roles.</p>
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</div>Oil and Gas Job Search in the Digital Age: Part 3, Online Communicationtag:recruitingblogs.com,2017-12-28:502551:BlogPost:20538822017-12-28T12:46:11.000ZTalEnghttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/PhilHouston
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557630410?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557630410?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a></p>
<p>Remote working is becoming more common in all industries, and the O&G industry is now waking up to the benefits that outsourcing scopes of work to remote engineering specialists can bring to their<span> </span><strong>oil and gas projects</strong><span> </span>in terms of time and cost savings. Studies indicate that up to 50% of workers in the US are expected to…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557630410?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557630410?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>Remote working is becoming more common in all industries, and the O&G industry is now waking up to the benefits that outsourcing scopes of work to remote engineering specialists can bring to their<span> </span><strong>oil and gas projects</strong><span> </span>in terms of time and cost savings. Studies indicate that up to 50% of workers in the US are expected to be remote by 2020, with this trend forecast to continue in the future. However communication is key for oil and gas projects and we need to make sure that our communication methods adapt to ensure project success.</p>
<p>This is part 3 of our 4 part<span> </span><strong>oil and gas job search</strong><span> </span>discussion, helping<span> </span><strong>oil and gas industry professionals</strong><span> </span>connect with the best oil and gas projects.</p>
<h2>Part 3 – Online Communication</h2>
<p>Performing oil and gas consulting or engineering jobs remotely does not mean that you can stop working on your relationships with clients. Any remote worker should have strategies in place to ensure they are building relationships with their remote customer base both during and after projects. When working through an online market place there are a number of interaction points which are key in relationship building with new clients:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Project Proposal</strong><span> </span>– The first time you make contact with someone will probably be through a proposal for a piece of work. Your proposal should answer any questions that are asked, show your skillset and experience, and prove that you are capable of performing this work. At<span> </span><a href="http://www.talengpro.com/">TalEng</a>the winning proposals often give something additional to the standard answers, and go on to prove that you are not only able to perform the piece of work, but that you are an oil & gas consultant who can be considered a subject matter expert who will add value to any<span> </span><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/news/oil-gas-projects-future/">oil and gas projects</a>. Examples of this include writing a brief technical paper about East Mediterranean geology for a subsurface project in Egypt, or attaching previous deliverables and a CAD user methodology for a project requiring technical drawings. Proving you can deliver is the best way to ensure you win the work.</li>
<li><strong>Interviews</strong><span> </span>– Approaching a remote interview is very similar to the face-to-face equivalents which we are all familiar with (if you need an interview preparation reminder then you can<span> </span><a href="https://www.thebalance.com/top-interview-tips-2058577" target="_blank" rel="dofollow noopener">find some good advice here</a>). However, there are some small changes to consider:<ul>
<li>Connection – Too many times we are left failing to connect via skype or other online tools. So have a telephone at hand as a backup.</li>
<li>Expertise – Hiring a remote worker is done to fill a specific skills gap, and for an oil & gas consultant your value is the skills and knowledge you possess. This means the interviewer is sure to quiz you on your technical experience and ability to perform the task required. Make sure to brush up on any technical points that might come up related to your engineering specialism.</li>
<li>Your work method – Make sure you know how you will work, when you will be online and available, and how you will communicate with the rest of the project team. Even if these questions aren’t asked, you should have a plan in place and bring it up in an interview to prove that you are able to work remotely effectively.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Communication During a Project</strong><span> </span>– Now you are remote there is no one able to verify that you are working as you say you are, and you need to build trust with a new client before they will consider you as part of their team. The easiest way to do this is to communicate regularly and to make sure your schedule is known to the client.</li>
<li><strong>Project Close Out</strong><span> </span>– A proper de-brief where both parties can learn how to work better in the future helps everyone in the remote working world. This is also where you sign off a project and part ways with a client, so is your last chance to impress them to make sure they come back to you for the next study. As an<span> </span><strong>oil and gas consultant</strong><span> </span>remote working will increasingly become the norm, so these close-out discussions are key to realising how you need to improve.</li>
<li><strong>Follow Up</strong><span> </span>– It’s not much to ask to keep relationships going, and repeat work is the easiest form of business development you have in the remote working world. Maintain regular contact with people you have worked with previously, and don’t be scared to reach out to say “I might have some spare time coming up”, you never know when it might lead to a future project.</li>
</ul>Oil and Gas Job Search in the Digital Age: Part 2, Think Worldwidetag:recruitingblogs.com,2017-12-27:502551:BlogPost:20539442017-12-27T06:44:44.000ZTalEnghttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/PhilHouston
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557630594?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557630594?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a></p>
<p>Through the click of a mouse we are all now able to connect and work with people from around the world. This is no different when hiring<span> </span><strong>oil and gas industry professionals</strong><span> </span>who can now work remotely on projects without having to travel to a client’s office. For oil & gas consultants the working world is therefore…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557630594?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557630594?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>Through the click of a mouse we are all now able to connect and work with people from around the world. This is no different when hiring<span> </span><strong>oil and gas industry professionals</strong><span> </span>who can now work remotely on projects without having to travel to a client’s office. For oil & gas consultants the working world is therefore shrinking, and our<span> </span><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/find-project">oil and gas job search</a><span> </span>needs to adapt.</p>
<p>This is part 2 of our 4 part discussion on<span> </span><strong>oil and gas recruitment</strong><span> </span>and how to land the perfect job.</p>
<h2>Part 2 – Think Worldwide</h2>
<p>Gone are the days where companies are limited to hiring those who can commute to their office. Online work platforms like<span> </span><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/">TalEng</a><span> </span>now allow companies to connect to engineering specialists from around the world, meaning you are able to work on<span> </span><strong>oil and gas projects</strong><span> </span>based anywhere, without having to get on a plane to perform the work. This opens up much more opportunity for oil and gas consultants and<span> </span><strong>engineering specialists</strong>, and additionally helps companies perform projects in locations where engineering talent is sparse or where the local supply chain is already at full capacity.</p>
<p>This ability to connect worldwide does however mean that you are now competing with talent on a worldwide level, potentially against those who have a very different cost basis due to their location, and who can undercut you on price. Therefore the need to show your specific skillset online is ever more important. For a short term oil and gas consulting position recruitment agencies typically select on quality over cost and you need to show your abilities to potential<span> </span><a href="https://www.trepup.com/talengpro/post/1050710" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">hiring managers</a><span> </span>via your CV, job proposals, and online profile to make sure the expertise and knowledge you have is known and your higher rate is therefore justified.</p>
<p>Competing with worldwide talent might seem like a scary prospect, however do not be pushed into lowering your rates to make yourself the cheapest. Clients look for a balance of cost and expertise when selecting someone to perform work and will always hire someone who has a track record in delivering what they need over a cheaper proposal that might not complete a task properly. In addition,<span> </span><strong>oil and gas engineering jobs</strong><span> </span>are typically paid by the hour so if your experience means you can do a task quicker, your overall cost should still be lower than someone who is cheaper but lacks the skills or experience to deliver.</p>
<p>Worldwide flexible working opens up more opportunities for us all, but as<span> </span><strong>oil and gas consultants</strong><span> </span>or engineering specialists we now have to make sure we offer something that cannot be delivered for a fraction of the price somewhere else in the world.</p>Oil and Gas Job Search in the Digital Age: Part 1, Online Presencetag:recruitingblogs.com,2017-12-26:502551:BlogPost:20540172017-12-26T06:00:00.000ZTalEnghttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/PhilHouston
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557631268?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557631268?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a> Since the oil price crash in 2014 there have been massive layoffs throughout the oil industry and its supply chain. Worldwide estimates of job losses indicate that up to 30% of<span> </span><strong>oil and gas industry professionals</strong><span> </span>have been made redundant, pushed to early retirement, or jumped to industries with better prospects. The oil and gas…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557631268?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1557631268?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a>Since the oil price crash in 2014 there have been massive layoffs throughout the oil industry and its supply chain. Worldwide estimates of job losses indicate that up to 30% of<span> </span><strong>oil and gas industry professionals</strong><span> </span>have been made redundant, pushed to early retirement, or jumped to industries with better prospects. The oil and gas industry is however starting to turn around, and with oil prices stabilising and even climbing, more<span> </span><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/news/oil-gas-projects-future/">oil and gas projects</a><span> </span>are being sanctioned and industry confidence is higher than it has been for years.</p>
<p>A number of people are now looking to get back into the industry, but times have changed since 2014 and finding a well-paid<span> </span><strong>oil and gas engineering job</strong><span> </span>will be different in the future. This is part 1 of our 4 part discussion on how<span> </span><a href="https://www.talengpro.com/find-specialist">engineering specialists</a><span> </span>can succeed with their<span> </span><strong>oil and gas job search</strong><span> </span>in the digital age.</p>
<h2>Part 1 – Online Presence</h2>
<p>Whether you are of the opinion that social media is a source of enlightenment, or you feel it is pure evil and has corrupted the minds of a generation, nobody can deny that it has changed the way we interact with each other and that the modern day job search has changed forever. A good linkedin profile can mean<span> </span><strong>oil and gas recruitment agencies</strong><span> </span>come to you when roles are available, and a recruitment agent can find out a lot more about you than they could with just a CV.</p>
<p>Recruitment agents typically spend 10 seconds initially reviewing a CV for a freelance position, then progress to your linkedin profile as a second step. 90% of hiring managers also admit to searching for a candidate online, with inappropriate facebook posts resulting in many a potential offer never being made. Our online presence is therefore important when searching for a new role, and should be given attention before a job search starts.</p>
<p>For<span> </span><strong>engineering specialist</strong><span> </span>roles in the oil and gas industry, the two most important things that are looked at are:</p>
<ul>
<li>The ability and track record of performing the required tasks. Think use of certain software, discipline specialist knowledge, or geographical experience.</li>
<li>Your work history. The years’ of experience gained working with a reputable company and working on successful oil and gas projects is what gets hiring managers to progress you to the interview stage.</li>
</ul>
<p>Maintaining a good online presence is therefore essential, and should be the number 1 priority for anyone looking to get back into the<span> </span><a href="https://www.rigzone.com/news/wire/oil_and_gas_industry_future_looks_attractive-10-nov-2017-152422-article/" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">oil and gas industry</a>.</p>