The recent downturn in the oil and gas industry has made the competiveness of resumes even more challenging as employers in these fields seek more-experienced workers to fill more-versatile roles. If you have not yet written your oil and gas resume or need to update your existing resume, be sure you have the knowledge you need to make yours stand out.
Why a Good Resume Is Important
Despite the downturn in the oil and gas industry, many graduates are still shocked when they leave college and witness the scarcity of jobs in these fields. Basic knowledge of current events and the economic outlook for oil and gas helps lessen the shock and underscores the need for an outstanding resume.
Right now, OPEC has elected to let supply and demand balance naturally, rather than managing the market as much as possible. Therefore, the current oil market is severely disorganized. As OPEC waits for supply and demand to balance, the price of oil has fallen from $110 to $50 per barrel. This may result in lower gas prices, but it also carries backlash, such as a lack of reinvestment funds. Increasing numbers of oil and gas companies now rely on shared services and low-cost projects. Over time, skilled employees and consultants move on, forcing companies to close their doors. Companies that stay open must freeze salaries, decrease worker wages, or outsource some of their most skilled work.
Although you may have a job in your industry now, it may not be safe for long. This depends on several factors, including what positions your employer has open, how much oil the company is actually moving, and whether outsourcing is a workable solution. Strike a balance between fearing for your job and becoming too comfortable. Stay informed about your company’s current events; if you know layoffs are coming or outsourcing is a possibility, start working on your resume as much as possible.
How to Write an Outstanding Oil and Gas Resume
Of course, a well-written resume may not guarantee you a job, particularly in a small or mid-size company. Our economy is slowly recovering, but hundreds of people still line up for one or two specific jobs every time a position opens. Unfortunately, those one or two positions within one company may only have room for five to 10 people or fewer. If you want to progress past the initial resume readings and interviews, your resume must truly stand out from the others in the pile.
- Keep your resume, curriculum vitae, and profiles current with technology. Today, most recent graduates are millennials, so they are used to working in a technology-dependent environment. That said, some graduates are not fully aware of how specific networking sites and other useful forms of technology work. Familiarize yourself with sites such as LinkedIn and FlexJobs, and be prepared to invest in subscriptions. If you've never built a profile for one of these sites, get help from a friend or family member who is familiar with them. Check your profiles regularly and participate in work-related discussion boards and forums, even if the topics are not related to your field. You may gain knowledge from new connections that will help make you more flexible and broaden your interests.
- Let SEO be your friend. Search engine optimization relies on keywords and phrases. When crafting or updating your resume, brainstorm a list of the keywords and phrases you would want employers to remember. Search for these keywords when uploading your resume to a job search site; you will be more likely to find sites specific to your field of study that way.
- Brainstorming is essential, not only for keywords but for the “meat” of the resume itself. Before you begin writing, make a list of the top five skills and abilities you want to market to employers. List any position you think you would be qualified for, and research employers’ requirements for those or similar positions in your area. Consider carefully how you will word your strengths and market yourself.
Spelling and Grammar Count
Oil, gas, and engineering may not be known as writing-dependent industries, but every employer wants candidates on board who can write well. If your resume is riddled with spelling and grammar mistakes, it will likely be moved to the bottom of the pile or thrown out. Ensure that both your spelling and grammar are impeccable.
Additionally, do not use headers, footers, or graphics in a resume or save your file as a PDF document. Not every computer scans PDF files well; do not take the chance that your file will be unreadable.
CourthouseDirect.com wishes you the best of luck in your oil and gas job hunting.
