Landing a good oil and gas job requires standing out from the competition of oil and gas industry professionals. The primary aspects that help you win a new role are your CV, 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.

A cover letter is generally the first thing to make you stand out when applying for a job, 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 highlight points from your CV, show that you are seriously interested in the job, and prove that you have the competence for the position.

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.

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 oil project is pointless, just focus on areas where your skills directly translate to the position you are applying for.

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 less than 400 words (the length of this article).