oil and gas recruitment overview

1. OILAND GAS
RECRUITMENT 101

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. Service company vs. Operator
Service companies: companies
which provide technical services to
operating companies, but do not
own the hydrocarbons that are
produced
• Examples: Baker Hughes,
Cameron, CGG, Core Lab,
Fugro, Halliburton, ION
Geophysical, National
Oilwell Varco, PGS,
Schlumberger, Spectrum,
Technip, Transocean,
Weatherford, etc.
• Examples: BP, Chevron,
ExxonMobil, Shell,
ConocoPhillips, Anadarko,
Apache, Devon, Hess,
Occidental Petroleum,
Noble Energy, Marathon,
Southwestern, EOG, etc..
Operators (exploration and
production companies):
companies that decide where and
how to drill for hydrocarbons, and
own the rights once produced

6. 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

7. 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

8. Very-generalized exploration and
production workflow
E&P company interprets data and
determines a location to drill
(geologists and geophysicists:
MS, PhD)
Service companies drill the
well and record technical
data (engineers, geologists,
geophysicists: BS, MS, PhD)
If large enough reserves are
proven, field development begins
(engineers, geologists,
geophysicists: MS, PhD)
Production facilities, pipelines,
storage facilities, and
transportation are installed
(Engineers)
E&P company leases land
from the government
(landmen)
Seismic acquisition company
records seismic data over area of
interest (geophysicists: MS, PhD)

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. Resume template

18. 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

19. Contact information
• Address
• Phone number
• Professional and current e-mail address
• (sk8rboi@aol.com is NOT an example of a professional e-mail
address)

20. Objective statement:
• Needs to answer the following questions:
1. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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:
• 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

24. Examples of action verbs
http://lyndacwatts.wordpress.com/2010/12/10/resume-buzz-words-words-that-win/

25. Examples of action verbs
http://lyndacwatts.wordpress.com/2010/12/10/resume-buzz-words-words-that-win/

26. 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
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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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)

30. Work authorization
• U.S. citizen
• U.S. Permanent Resident
• F-1 Visa
• J-1 Visa

31. Example grad student resume:

32. 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!

33. Tips from a real UH recruiter
· 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

34. 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

35. 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

36. 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)

37. 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!

38. 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

39. 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

40. If you’re nervous: try the “power pose”
• http://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are.html

41. 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

42. Other options for recruitment
• AAPG/SEG Student Expo in Houston
• Rocky Mountain Rendezvous
• West Coast student Expo
• Eastern Section Expo
• Company websites!

43. 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

44. 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”

46. Other resources
• http://www.api.org/story/index.html
• http://www.adventuresinenergy.org/
• http://api.org/oil-and-natural-gas-overview/exploration-
and-production

47. 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)

48. 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

49. 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