Questions & Answers on Oil & Gas Career (iii)

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Hello Brother,

Please I saw your comments and advices on Nairaland and wish to mail you and seek some advice for my desired career path.

I finished from UNN in 2008 and NYSC 2010. I read Agric and Bioresources Engineering and made a 2:1. My interest is in Oil and Gas. I’ve been applying for jobs especially in oil firms since I graduated but has only been called for one aptitude test which later I was told the position was for OND and HND graduates. It’s been a source of serious concern to me but I am still not giving up because I believe I will get there someday.

Currently I am combining the marketing job I have now with my M.Eng also in Agric and Bioresources Engineering with research interest in Biodiesel which I will soon round off. Please, I wish to know what I should do more to get into oil and gas. Even if is not a top one but start with the small ones and gain the required experiences then find my way into the top shots of oil sector. Please advise me on what to do and how to go about it.
NB: The marketing job was just to get something doing and to be able to run my masters’.

Thanks bros, as I await your response.

Kingsley O.

*****

ghana oil1

Dear Kingsley,

I mentioned in my articles on this subject that, while oil industry no doubt yields a better financial return, especially in the short-run, you can actually lead a decent living in any sector you find yourself. So I always like to first douse the fixation with oil industry, even as there is nothing wrong in someone aiming for the best for himself.

The reason you may not have got the job – and indeed many invites – is that the industry is extremely competitive. You had a 2.1 in Agric and Bioresources from UNN – good, but the issue is, there are many others that had First Class and 2.1, from more industry relevant courses (chemical, mechanical, electrical, computer  engineering), from top schools in Nigeria and abroad (although UNN is also a top school). These are your competitors for the few places that are available.

There is also an element of luck, I must admit. You may also not be getting the right information. To overcome this, and probably brighten your chances (although still not a guarantee), you can be monitoring job information more closely, subscribe to job websites, join oil and gas groups on Linkedin, build a network, read well about the global energy sector to be conversant with the industry in case the opportunity comes. While at that, continue with your current marketing job and your M.Eng

Hello Jarus,
I stumbled over your conversation online about petroleum engineering/oil and gas industry. I just completed an Advanced Diploma in Oil and Gas Management from iPED – UK.
What’s the market viability in Nigeria for an internship/work. Do they accept foreign certification in the country. Thank You.

L.

chemeng1

Sure, foreign certifications are accepted and even cherished. There are also internship opportunities, but informal information, rather than formal advertisement, usually guides this in most firms. So you have to find ways of dropping your CV and expression of internship interests in the many companies in teh industry, especially the independents.

 

Hi
Jarus, I’m a 200 Level Petroleum Engineering Student of Uniport. Saw your thread on breaking into the oil and gas industry and wanted to get practical tips relating to the industry and how I could gain leverage such as software packages I could learn and building my grades. I’m currently on a 4.10 GPA which is not exactly ideal but I’m working hard to improve on it.

Try and push your CGPA into First Class (=>4.50) and stands you in a better position. But if you can’t achieve that, try and stay above 4.0. Practical tips relating to the industry? Read every material you can lay your hands on on the industry. Join linkedin groups that discuss oil and gas industries. You may try some IT professional certifications while you’re still in school. Develop yourself. You work in PH, the oil capital of Nigeria, make friends with people that work inn oil companies, and build a network. It will be useful to you when you graduate and are looking for job.

 

Hey Jarus

How do you do? I trust your day went well for you.

First and Foremost, I’m Okpolua Kome by name, and I studied Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from Federal University of Technology Akure. Then, followed with my NYSC at Lagos and decided to go for My Masters degree immediately after my NYSC at University of Lagos.

I have always wanted to be an Engineer from childhood because I love planes and parts of equipment when I was young. I grew up knowing and praying for the strength to study Engineering in a Federal school worth it, which God helped me with.
Ghana oil3

Right now I’m done with Education and looking for job but to no avail. So I decided to go for trainings on Piping, PDMS which are expensive but I struggled to get it done because I want to work with Oil and Gas or Engineering company. To be honest with you I feel bored and angry because the Job is not forthcoming.I’m sending you this mail to seek for advice because right now I really don’t know what to do. I do apply for any opening that comes out online and also I go out to submit my CV from companies to companies but it’s really annoying when I don’t hear from all these companies. Please I would be much oblige if I can hear from you. Do have a lovely evening.

It is still the competition. It is a highly competitive industry and nobody is guaranteed placement. You did not tell me what you graduated with. My advise: try other industries while you continue to be on the look out for day your efforts on oil and gas industry would yield desired result.

 

Please sir, I want to know the chances of someone who read Biochemistry to work in an oil and gas firm. And is there any additional certification that one needs to get to boost the chances?

Yes, there are chances. But very few, compared to engineering and Geology. On certifications, I don’t know, and don’t think so.

 

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