OIL AND GAS
RECRUITMENT 101
Disclaimer
• Any views or opinions presented in this presentation are
solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Department of Earth and
Atmospheric Sciences, College of Natural Sciences and
Mathmatics, or the University of Houston.
Outline
• Definitions and oil industry overview
• Types of jobs offered in the oil and gas industry based on
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degree
Overview of recruiting companies at UH (2014)
Resume writing
Interview tips
Networking
Q&A
Petroleum industry structure
• Upstream – exploration and
production sector: collecting
data and drilling wells
• Midstream- transportation of raw
petroleum to refineries, typically
by pipeline, rail, barge, tanker,
truck, etc..
• Downstream – the refining,
processing, marketing, and
distribution of refined petroleum
products
Source: API
Service company vs. Operator
Service companies: companies
which provide technical services to
operating companies, but do not
own the hydrocarbons that are
produced
Operators (exploration and
production companies):
companies that decide where and
how to drill for hydrocarbons, and
own the rights once produced
• Examples: Baker Hughes,
• Examples: BP, Chevron,
Cameron, CGG, Core Lab,
Fugro, Halliburton, ION
Geophysical, National
Oilwell Varco, PGS,
Schlumberger, Spectrum,
Technip, Transocean,
Weatherford, etc.
ExxonMobil, Shell,
ConocoPhillips, Anadarko,
Apache, Devon, Hess,
Occidental Petroleum,
Noble Energy, Marathon,
Southwestern, EOG, etc..
Types of service companies
• Diversified: Schlumberger, Halliburton, Weatherford,
Baker Hughes
• Equipment: National Oilwell Varco, Cameron
• Seismic acquisition: ION, CGG, Spectrum, TGS, PGS
• Drilling rigs: Transocean, Noble Corporation, Hercules
Offshore, Nabors Industries
Types of exploration and production companies
• Integrated/Supermajors (upstream and downstream):
BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, Total
• Exploration and Production/Independents (just
upstream): ConocoPhillips, Anadarko, Apache, Noble
Energy, EOG Resources, Marathon Oil, Hess
Corporation, etc..
• National Oil Companies (NOC): Ecopetrol, Gazprom,
PEMEX, Petrobras, Petronas, PDVSA, Rosneft, Sinopec,
Sonangol
Very-generalized exploration and
production workflow
Seismic acquisition company
records seismic data over area of
interest (geophysicists: MS, PhD)
Service companies drill the
well and record technical
data (engineers, geologists,
geophysicists: BS, MS, PhD)
E&P company leases land
from the government
(landmen)
If large enough reserves are
proven, field development begins
(engineers, geologists,
geophysicists: MS, PhD)
E&P company interprets data and
determines a location to drill
(geologists and geophysicists:
MS, PhD)
Production facilities, pipelines,
storage facilities, and
transportation are installed
(Engineers)
Outline
• Definitions and oil industry overview
• Types of jobs offered in the oil and gas industry
•
•
•
•
based on degree
Overview of recruiting companies at (UH 2014)
Resume writing
Interview tips
Q&A
Types of jobs: BS (Geology or Geophysics)
• Mud logging/ wellsite geology (service companies)
• Software support (service companies)
• Geotechnical support staff (operators)
• Typically hired by service companies
• Starting salary range: $30k-60k
Types of jobs: MS (Geology or Geophysics)
• Entry level geologist or geophysicist (operators or service)
• MS degree is REQUIRED for entry level positions by
almost 100% of operators
• Starting salary range: $100k-$115k
• Typical signing bonus: $5-15k
Types of jobs: PhD (Geology or Geophysics)
• Entry level geologist or geophysicist at operator
• Experienced hire as a specialist in a research/technology
group within a service or operating company
• Consultant/research role in a service or operating
company
• Starting salary range: $100k-$130k
• Typical signing bonus: $5-25k
Outline
• Definitions and oil industry overview
• Types of jobs offered in the oil and gas industry based on
•
•
•
•
•
degree
Overview of recruiting companies at UH (2014)
Resume writing
Interview tips
Networking
Q&A
Overview of recruiting companies at UH
• Chevron, ExxonMobil: “Supermajors,” integrated oil
companies, global footprints, 60,000-80,000 employees
• EOG, Hess, Marathon Oil, Noble Energy,
Southwestern Energy : “Independents,” global
footprints, 2,000 – 4,000 employees
For a full description of each company please refer to the
company website or attend the info session
Outline
• Definitions and oil industry overview
• Types of jobs offered in the oil and gas industry based on
•
•
•
•
•
degree
Overview of recruiting companies at UH (2014)
Resume writing
Interview tips
Networking
Q&A
Formatting
• One page for undergrads
• Two pages for grad students
• Do NOT submit a resume longer than two pages for on-
campus recruiting for an oil or gas company
• Font: should be a reasonable size and theme (Arial,
Times New Roman, 11-12pt)
• Margins: (0.5”-1.0”)
• Should be neat and balanced
• NO wrap up sentences
• NO periods ANYWHERE
• NO clipart
• Use bullets wisely
Resume template
Parts of a resume
• Contact information
• Objective statement
• Education (degree, including GPA if above 3.0)
• Relevant Coursework
• Work/research experience
• List of skills
• Professional and/or student organizations
• Awards/honors/activities
• Abstracts/Publications
Contact information
• Address
• Phone number
• Professional and current e-mail address
• (sk8rboi@aol.com is NOT an example of a professional e-mail
address)
Objective statement:
• Needs to answer the following questions:
What type of position am I looking for? (full-time vs internship)
2. What type of role am I looking for? (geologist, geophysicist,
petrophysicist, operations geologist, exploration geophysicist,
mudlogging geologist, wellsite geologist, processing
geophysicist, etc.).
• Can include a start date (ex: Summer 2015 internship)
• Does not need to be longer than one sentence
• Ex: A full-time position as an exploration geologist in the oil and
gas industry
• Ex: An internship as a geophysicist in the petroleum exploration
industry for Summer 2015
• Ex: A full-time position as an exploration geophysicist in the oil and
gas industry starting December 2014
1.
Education
• Degree, major
• Bachelor of Science, Geology
• Master of Science, Geophysics
• Doctor of Philosophy, Geology
• Expected graduation date
• Month and year
• University/college and department attended
• University of Houston, Department of Earth and Atmospheric
Sciences
• GPA (if above 3.0); thesis title; advisor’s name
Skills (formatted in a list)
• Technical or specialty software you know
• Language skills (proficiency, conversational, or native
language)
• Skills need to be applicable to the job in which you are
applying (i.e. don’t include that you are an awesome
babysitter or waiter)
• Ex: Petrel, SMT Kingdom, Echos, VISTA, Petromod,
ArcGIS, Microsoft Office suite, Linux, Proficient in Spanish
Experience (in reverse chronological order*)
• Work, research, or volunteer
• Job title, name of employer, dates of employment, location
• Don’t include non-geoscience related positions (ex: waiter, golf
caddy, sales rep, cashier, retail positions, etc..)
• DO include military service (if applicable)
• Use action verbs to describe your tasks, responsibilities,
accomplishments, and results in a bulleted list
• Examples of action verbs:
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I conducted lab experiments….
I provided software support to…
I aided senior geologists in…
I loaded 2D seismic data…
I built a velocity model…
I interpreted 3D seismic data…
I processed seismic data…
*reverse chronological order: newest first, oldest last
Examples of action verbs
http://lyndacwatts.wordpress.com/2010/12/10/resume-buzz-words-words-that-win/
Examples of action verbs
http://lyndacwatts.wordpress.com/2010/12/10/resume-buzz-words-words-that-win/
Activities, Honors, or Awards
• Scholarships, grants, honors (do not list dollar amounts)
• By semester or year in reverse chronological order
• List activities/honors/awards relevant to geosciences
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before any other areas
Also can include short courses or technical software
training courses attended
Do not include high school activities/honors
Can include: Eagle Scout or Gold Award Girl Scout
Can include: National Merit Scholar, Valedictorian,
Salutatorian
Do not include any other high school activities
Professional and student organizations
• Aim for at least one national and one local organization
• National: AAPG, SEG, AGU, SEPM, etc.
• Local: AAPG Wildcatters, SEG Wavelets, GeoSociety, AEG, GSH,
HGS
• It helps to have leadership experience in these
organizations and/or show that you are actively involved
Relevant coursework
• Include already completed and current coursework that is
relevant to the job in which you are apply
• If pressed for space, you may omit this section
• Important for undergrads or students who have less
experience
• Include Imperial Barrel Award (IBA), if applicable
Publications or abstracts
• Optional section, if applicable
• Looks great to recruiters and can set you apart from your
peers
• Ex: Smith, J., Structural and stratigraphic history of the
Gulf of Mexico, AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition,
2013 (poster)
Work authorization
• U.S. citizen
• U.S. Permanent Resident
• F-1 Visa
• J-1 Visa
Example grad student resume:
How to submit:
• Click “Student Industry
Employment
Opportunities” link on
www.eas.uh.edu and
follow the subsequent
instructions
• Deadline is August
25th at 5pm!
Tips from a real UH recruiter
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Black & white text only (no colored ink)
No MS Word art or clipart
Use the Spelling & Grammar check
Ask one or two people (advisor, professor, or UH Career
Services) to review for spelling & grammar mistakes
not caught by the software
Format should be visually pleasing to read and easy
to find information
Punctuation (May.2013) May is not an abbreviation
Recruiters will accept updated versions at any time
Outline
• Definitions and oil industry overview
• Types of jobs offered in the oil and gas industry based on
•
•
•
•
•
degree
Overview of recruiting companies at UH (2014)
Resume writing
Interview tips
Networking
Q&A
What are companies looking for?
• Strong technical skills
• Excellent soft skills
• Excellent communication
• Team player
• World-class scientists
• It doesn’t matter if you study geology or geophysics- just be great
at what you do!
• Be enthusiastic
What to wear?
• Business casual or business formal
• Two or three pieces of clothing (top, bottom, jacket)
• Shoes: low heels, clean, shined, conservative/classic style
• Colors: conservative are best
• Black, navy, white, khaki
• Neat, clean, pressed, well-fitting
• Do NOT wear:
• Jeans, tennis shoes, t-shirt, shorts, open-toed shoes or sandals,
old, dirty, or smelly clothing, hat or cap, perfume or cologne,
colored nail polish, large or too much jewelry, cover tattoos or
piercings (other than ear)
First impression
• Prepare clothing the day before
• Wear deodorant
• Arrive EARLY
• Be nice, polite, relaxed
• SMILE! 
• Practice with someone before the real interview
• During an info session: DON’T ASK A QUESTION JUST
TO BE ASKING A QUESTION- IT DOESN’T MAKE YOU
LOOK SMARTER!
During the interview:
• Bring copies of resume and transcripts
• Memorize the interviewer’s name
• Make eye contact
• Listen carefully, think before you speak!
• Use good body language and posture
• Eliminate “um,” “ah,” “like,” “ya know”
• Bring a bottle of water if you need it
• Come prepared with a list of questions for the interviewer!
• They are looking for a good fit
Types of questions
• Informal:
• Tell me about yourself
• How did you become interested in geology?
• Tell me about your thesis
• Behavioral questions: Past behavior predicts future behavior
• Tell me about a time you had a conflict when working in a team
• Tell me about a time when you had to take initiative
• Tell me about a time you had to work with someone more
experienced than you
• Use the STAR approach
• Situation Task Action Result
If you’re nervous: try the “power pose”
• http://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are.html
After the interview
• Thank the interviewer
• Hand shake before you leave
• Write a thank you e-mail within 24 hours of the interview
• Don’t discount hand written letters
• Don’t leave without their business card
• Write down the questions they asked and evaluate your
performance
Other options for recruitment
• AAPG/SEG Student Expo in Houston
• Rocky Mountain Rendezvous
• West Coast student Expo
• Eastern Section Expo
• Company websites!
Outline
• Definitions and oil industry overview
• Types of jobs offered in the oil and gas industry based on
•
•
•
•
•
degree
Overview of recruiting companies at UH (2014)
Resume writing
Interview tips
Networking
Q&A
Networking
• UH Alumni Events
• Check website for updates
• GSH, HGS events
• Weekly seminars/talks
• National meetings (AAPG, SEG)
• LinkedIn
• Shake hands, make good first impressions, follow up
afterward (but don’t pester or be annoying)
• Don’t discount networking
• “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”
Other resources
• http://www.api.org/story/index.html
• http://www.adventuresinenergy.org/
• http://api.org/oil-and-natural-gas-overview/exploration-
and-production
Ways to increase your marketability
• Present work at annual meetings
• Publish papers
• Attend short courses
• Participate in the IBA competition
• http://www.aapg.org/iba/
• Be active in student groups (Wildcatters, Wavelets,
GeoSociety)
Closing remarks:
• Be a world-class scientist
• Don’t ever be average
• Be passionate, inspire others
• Make everyone around you better
• Be resilient- don’t be discouraged if you
don’t land the top job from your first
interview, even great candidates are
passed up due to reasons out of their
control
Outline
• Definitions and oil industry overview
• Types of jobs offered in the oil and gas industry based on
•
•
•
•
•
degree
Overview of recruiting companies at UH (2014)
Resume writing
Interview tips
Networking
Q&A